Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Thighs
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My recipe for Mediterranean grilled chicken thighs is packed with Mediterranean flavor thanks to a simple marinade made with sun-dried tomatoes, yogurt and lemon.
It’s one of the best grilling marinades for chicken you can make. And, if you don’t have a grill or the weather isn’t great, throw them in the oven and use the grill setting, just as we often do!
This post includes tips, possible substitutions, and additional grilling recipes for BBQ.
Tools, utensils and gadgets:
- Grill – Or oven with grill setting.
- Baking sheet/tray with baking rack – Only when using the oven!
- Mixing bowl or resealable plastic bag – For marinating the chicken.
- Spoon – Or fork, spatula – Anything to mix the Mediterranean marinade ingredients.
- Food processor – You will need it for sun-dried tomatoes.
- Garlic press – A fine cheese grater is a good alternative.
Possible substitutions:
- Boneless chicken thighs – Bone-in works too. This marinade also pairs well with pork or lamb.
- Lemon – Lime will also work great here.
- Greek yogurt – Use unsweetened plain yogurt or sour cream as an alternative.
Marinate the chicken in the fridge for up to 24 hours for the best flavor. Avoid marinating for longer, as the acids in the yogurt and lemon can start to break down the meat, making it mushy.
Yes, you can. We like cilantro dip that you can easily turn into a sauce by thinning it down.
Store them in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 2 days. I simply slice the chicken pieces and place them on top of a tossed salad for a quick lunch.
What are the best sides for grilled chicken?
Salads – One of the best and easiest summer side dishes. We like creamy cucumber tomato salad for its simple preparation.
Other tasty options include coleslaw, pan-fried or grilled vegetables.
Rustic bread slices – These are best right from the grill!
Julia’s tips
Chicken thighs are our go-to for BBQs: they’re flavorful, budget-friendly, and soak up marinades beautifully. Plus, the prep for marinating literally takes 5 minutes!
This recipe can be easily halved when making this for two people.
More summer grilling recipes
Grilled boneless chicken thighs – one of our most popular recipes for summer.
Balsamic chicken skewers – a tasty and easy grilled dinner.
Grilled hot dogs – the simplest summer BBQ classic, upgraded with gourmet ingredients.
For more ideas, browse our favorite grilling recipes for warm-weather meals.
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe
Ingredients
Marinade:
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil (100 grams), see note 1
- ½ cup oil from sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (240 grams), see note 2
- 1 lemon (juice and zest)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste (concentrated)
- 2 teaspoons garlic (pressed)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Meat:
- 2 pounds chicken thighs (boneless and skinless, 900 grams), see note 3
Instructions
- In a food processor, process sun-dried tomatoes with the oil until paste-like, about a minute. Set aside.
- To a large mixing bowl or a resealable plastic bag, add unflavored Greek yogurt, juice and zest from lemon, tomato paste, pressed garlic, salt, black pepper and the sun-dried tomato paste. Mix well.
- Add the chicken thighs and move them around so that they are all coated in the marinade.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or seal the bag and refrigerate for 24 hours or overnight.
- Cook on a hot grill until cooked through and charred to your liking, about 20 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- First, you reserve ½ cup of oil from the sun-dried tomatoes, then measure 1 cup of the tomatoes. You can use slightly less as well.
- Unsweetened natural yogurt or sour cream will also work just fine!
- This is a thick marinade. It can be used for chicken, lamb or pork.
- Cooking time can vary depending on the temperature inside your grill. You can also cook them in the oven. Either way, ensure that they are cooked until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74 °C), but I recommend cooking for slightly longer.