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Delicious Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.6 from 31 reviews
  • Author: Sienna
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Grilling
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This Grilled Mediterranean Chicken and Vegetables recipe features tender marinated chicken thighs paired with a colorful mix of grilled vegetables and a refreshing herby tzatziki sauce. Perfect for a healthy, protein-packed summer meal served with warm pita and optional sides like roasted chickpeas or rice.


Ingredients

Scale

For the chicken:

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • ½ cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • Zest and juice from 1 lemon
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped dill
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

For the herby tzatziki:

  • 1 cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 Persian cucumber, shredded
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill and parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, grated
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

For the grilled vegetables:

  • 1 red onion, peeled and cut into ½ inch thick rounds or quarters
  • 1 zucchini, ends removed and cut vertically into ¼ inch slices
  • 1 red bell pepper, halved or cut into ½ inch thick strips
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, halved or cut into ½ inch thick strips
  • 1 orange bell pepper, halved or cut into ½ inch thick strips
  • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For serving:

  • Roasted chickpeas, rice, or pearl couscous
  • Warm torn pita
  • Pickled red onion
  • Extra fresh chopped dill and parsley


Instructions

  1. Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs with yogurt, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, minced garlic, chopped dill, kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and dried oregano. Mix well to coat all the chicken evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to let the flavors infuse while you prepare other components.
  2. Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, shredded Persian cucumber, chopped dill and parsley, grated garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Stir until well combined. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This tzatziki sauce can be prepared a day in advance to deepen the flavors.
  3. Preheat the grill: Heat your grill to medium-high, around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Clean the grill grates by scraping off any residue from previous use to ensure clean grilling surfaces.
  4. Prepare the vegetables: Drizzle the sliced vegetables with extra-virgin olive oil and season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss them with your hands to coat them thoroughly for even grilling.
  5. Cook the chicken and vegetables: Arrange the marinated chicken thighs in a single layer on one side of the grill, and place the vegetables in a single layer on the opposite side, leaving at least one inch between items for even heat circulation. Close the grill lid and cook for 6 to 8 minutes per side, flipping halfway, until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The vegetables should also grill for approximately the same time until tender and charred.
  6. Rest the chicken: Remove the chicken and vegetables from the grill onto a platter. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes to retain its juicy texture.
  7. Warm the pita: With the grill still hot, turn off the heat and place the torn pita bread on the grill grates. Close the lid and warm the pita for 2 minutes on each side until soft and slightly toasted.
  8. Chop the chicken and vegetables: Roughly chop the grilled vegetables so they are uniform in size. Slice or chop the rested chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces for easy serving.
  9. Serve: In a shallow bowl, add a generous scoop of the herby tzatziki sauce. Arrange the grilled vegetables, chopped chicken, and roasted chickpeas if using around the sauce. Top with pickled red onion, extra fresh dill and parsley, and serve alongside warm toasted pita or your choice of grains.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, marinate the chicken up to 2 hours in advance.
  • If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the chicken and vegetables on a stovetop grill pan or bake the vegetables in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
  • Use Greek yogurt with at least 2% fat for a creamy consistency in both marinade and tzatziki.
  • Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the marinade for a spicy kick.
  • Leftover grilled chicken and vegetables make excellent wraps or salads the next day.
  • Substitute fresh dill with mint for a different herbaceous note in the tzatziki.
  • Warm the pita carefully on the grill to avoid burning; you want soft and pliable bread, not charred.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving (chicken, vegetables & sauce)
  • Calories: 507 kcal
  • Sugar: 7.4 g
  • Sodium: 850 mg
  • Fat: 25.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6.3 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14 g
  • Fiber: 2.5 g
  • Protein: 55.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 110 mg