Best Grilled Mediterranean Inspired Citrus Chicken Thighs Recipes

EASY MEDITERRANEAN LEMON CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, add the spices and mix to make the spice mixture.
• In another bowl or large measuring cup, combine the lemon juice, olive oil and garlic to make the marinade.
• Pat the chicken dry and season with kosher salt and pepper and sprinkle the spice mixture on both sides.
• Place the chicken in a bowl and add the onions. Pour in the marinade and work the chicken a bit to make sure all the pieces are well covered with the marinade.
• Leave the chicken to marinate at room temperature while you heat up the grill or griddle. OR, if you have the time, cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours (or up to 8 hours).
• When ready, heat a grill pan over medium-high heat (or an outdoor grill over medium-high heat). Do not add oil yet to the pan. Add the lemon halves, flesh side down, and grill briefly. Remove the grilled lemons and set aside for now.
• Now, brush the pan with a little extra virgin olive oil. Using a pair of tongs, add the chicken pieces in one layer (discard any remaining marinade). Cook for 6 minutes or so on each side or until chicken is well cooked through (you can adjust heat to medium, if needed. If using an outdoor grill, carefully oil the grates and cook the chicken over medium-high heat for the same amount of time. (Chicken's internal temperature should register 165 degrees F).
• Transfer the grilled lemon chicken to a serving platter. Add the grilled lemons (which you can squeeze for a little more juice), and garnish with parsley. See notes for serving ideas.

MEDITERRANEAN GRILLED CHICKEN THIGHS AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• For the chicken: Combine the olive oil, sumac, salt, granulated garlic, pepper and lemon zest and juice in a large shallow dish or a resealable plastic bag. Add chicken thighs and mix to coat with the marinade. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
• For the eggplant and naan: Use a paring knife to make crosshatch marks on the flesh side of each eggplant half. Drizzle both sides of the eggplant with oil and sprinkle with sumac, salt and pepper.
• Preheat a grill for cooking over direct and indirect medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and grill, flipping once, until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes on each side.
• Meanwhile, grill the eggplant, starting flesh-side down, for 5 minutes. Flip and cook 5 minutes more, then move to indirect heat to cook until tender, an 5 additional minutes.
• Turn one of the burners to high heat. Lightly brush both sides of naan bread with olive oil and grill over high heat, flipping frequently, until slightly charred and warmed through, 3 to 5 minutes total.
• For the yogurt tahini sauce: Whisk together the yogurt, tahini, parsley, honey, olive oil, cumin and lemon juice in a bowl, then season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange chicken and eggplant on a platter. Drizzle with honey and olive oil. Top with fresh mint and parsley leaves. Serve with yogurt tahini sauce and grilled naan bread on the side.

GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN-INSPIRED CITRUS CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, and pepper together in a bowl and pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add chicken thighs, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken thighs from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 4 to 7 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

MIDDLE EASTERN-INSPIRED HERB AND GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine chicken with all but 1 teaspoon of the grated garlic (save that teaspoon for the yogurt sauce), the zest and juice of 1 lemon, oil, parsley, mint, thyme, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the sesame seeds and sumac, if using. Cover and marinate for 15 to 30 minutes at room temperature; you can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.
• Heat grill or broiler. If grilling, cook chicken over high heat until charred in spots, 4 to 7 minutes. Flip pieces and continue grilling until just cooked through, another 4 to 7 minutes. If broiling, arrange a rack 3 to 4 inches from flame. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spread chicken out in a single layer. Broil chicken, turning halfway through cooking, until well colored and charred in spots, 4 to 7 minutes per side. Be careful that it doesn't burn.
• While chicken cooks, place yogurt in a small bowl. Stir in the reserved grated garlic and lemon zest and season to taste with salt. Serve the chicken drizzled with olive oil, remaining lemon juice to taste, black pepper, parsley and sesame seeds and sumac, if using, with the yogurt alongside for dipping.

MEDITERRANEAN-INSPIRED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, skin-side down, to the hot oil. Sear until skin is browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn and brown the other side, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and drain excess fat from the skillet.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add chicken broth, 2 lemon wedges, and rosemary sprigs. Reserve remaining lemon wedges for serving. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
• Cover skillet and place in the preheated oven. Bake until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Remove from the oven and squeeze juice from the 2 hot lemon wedges over the chicken. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with additional lemon wedges.