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Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken Thighs with Couscous
Annie Graves

Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken Thighs with Couscous

5 from 3 votes
Try these Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken Thighs with Couscous! Juicy, flavorful chicken thighs marinated in lemon and garlic, served over light and fluffy couscous.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken Thighs
  • 6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (or boneless if preferred)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • Zest and juice of 2 lemons
  • 1 tsp dried oregano or 1 tbsp fresh
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)
Couscous
  • 1 cup couscous
  • 1 1/4 cups chicken or vegetable broth or water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional Add-Ins
  • A handful of cherry tomatoes halved, for a pop of color in the couscous
  • Crumbled feta cheese for an extra creamy and tangy touch
Substitutions
  • Gluten-Free: Use quinoa or rice instead of couscous for a gluten-free option.
  • Dairy-Free: This recipe is naturally dairy-free.

Method
 

Marinate the Chicken
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  2. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat them thoroughly.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours for maximum flavor.
Cook the Couscous
  1. In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth (or water) to a boil.
  2. Stir in the couscous and olive oil, cover, and remove from heat.
  3. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then fluff the couscous with a fork.
  4. Stir in the lemon juice, fresh parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Set aside and keep warm.
Grill the Chicken Thighs
  1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
  2. Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill for 6-7 minutes per side, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C) and has a nice char.
  3. If using bone-in chicken, it may take a little longer.
  4. Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Serve
  1. Serve the Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken Thighs over a bed of couscous.
  2. Garnish with fresh parsley and, if desired, a squeeze of lemon juice for extra brightness.
  3. Enjoy!

Notes

Nutritional Information (Per Serving):

  • Calories: 450-500
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Protein: 28g
  • Fat: 25g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Sodium: 400mg
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Sugar: 1g
 

Notes/Advice:

  • Additions/Subtractions:
    • If you prefer boneless chicken thighs, they will cook a bit faster—about 4-5 minutes per side.
    • Feel free to add more garlic or lemon to the marinade if you love those flavors. You can never have too much!
    • For a richer flavor, you can use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, but boneless thighs or breasts work great as well.