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Grilled chicken thighs with chimichurri sauce and lemons.

Grilled Chimichurri Chicken Thighs with Fresh Herbs

Allie Hagerty
These grilled chimichurri chicken thighs are marinated in a fresh herb chimichurri made with parsley, cilantro, and chives, then grilled over medium-high heat until charred and juicy. The two-batch method keeps your serving sauce pristine and the chives are the secret ingredient that sets this chimichurri apart. Ready in about an hour and built for summer hosting.
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Course Main Course
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Large rimmed baking sheet or platter
  • Food processor (optional; see note)
  • instant read thermometer
  • Grill or grill pan
  • Paper towels and neutral oil for the grates
  • cutting board
  • Sharp knife

Ingredients
  

For the chimichurri:

  • 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley tightly packed
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro tightly packed
  • 1/4 cup fresh chives roughly chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves roughly chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup good olive oil

For the chicken:

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs about 6-8 thighs
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Neutral oil for the grill grates

Instructions
 

  • Combine the parsley, cilantro, chives, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Pulse 8-10 times until finely chopped but not pureed; you want texture, not a paste. No food processor? No problem; finely chop everything by hand with a sharp knife and stir together in a bowl. Transfer to a bowl, stir in the red wine vinegar, then stream in the olive oil and stir to combine. Taste and adjust salt.
    1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, 1/4 cup fresh chives, 4 garlic cloves, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup good olive oil
  • Spoon half the chimichurri into a separate bowl and cover tightly; this is your serving sauce and it stays pristine. Season the chicken thighs generously on both sides with salt and pepper, add them to the remaining chimichurri, and toss to coat. To marinate, you have two options: at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes, or covered in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours. The room temperature method is great if you're grilling right away. If you're prepping ahead, the fridge is your friend. Either way, pull the chicken out 30 minutes before grilling so it is not cold when it hits the grates.
    2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high. Once hot, brush the grates with a folded paper towel dipped in neutral oil for a clean, well-oiled surface.
    Neutral oil
  • Remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off any excess; large herb pieces on the surface will burn rather than char. Lay the thighs flat on the grill and cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes until they release easily with good char marks. Flip and cook another 4-5 minutes until cooked through and the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C).
  • Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes. Slice against the grain or serve whole, arrange on a platter, and spoon the reserved chimichurri generously over the top. Put the rest of the chimichurri on the table.

Notes

Pulse, don't blend — or just use a knife. A food processor on pulse gives you a rustic, chopped chimichurri with real body and texture. Blending makes it smooth and saucy; it loses the character that makes chimichurri worth making.
No food processor? Finely chop everything by hand with a sharp knife; honestly, some argue the hand-chopped version has even more texture and character.
The two-batch method is non-negotiable. Chimichurri that has touched raw chicken cannot go back on the table. Reserve your serving portion before anything else touches it.
Shake off the marinade before grilling. Wet herbs on high heat burn rather than char. A quick shake gets you clean grill marks without any bitterness.
Don't skip the chives. They are the quiet star of this chimichurri; a mild allium note that ties the cilantro and parsley together without overpowering either.
Storage: Leftover chimichurri keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. The grilled chicken keeps for up to 3 days and is excellent sliced cold over arugula with shaved Parmesan the next day.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 284kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 44gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 215mgSodium: 507mgPotassium: 678mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 1636IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 3mg
Keyword chimichurri, grilling
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