Cilantro Chimichurri Chicken is a simple and flavor-packed recipe. This marinated chicken is bursting with flavor in every bite. Serve it with your favorite sides or dice it up for tacos!
Happy New Year friends!! I saved this recipe for new years because I wanted to start with a delicious flavorful family recipe. Today kids are back in school, and I’m back to work, a new year feels so fresh! Cilantro Chimichurri Chicken is a perfect weeknight dinner. Serve it up with some Easy Pasta Salad or Perfect Mashed Potatoes, and a big green salad.
We have been eating a lot of chicken dinners, and this one is easy and tastes so GOOD! You can top this cilantro chimichurri sauce on just about anything! Its grillings BFF! It tastes amazing on any protein or veggie, it’s just so versatile!
Coming off Christmas break and a crazy 2020, I’d say we can all use more easy recipes this year. I used chicken leg quarters, got them on sale! However any cut of chicken will work for this recipe, but time may vary depending on the size of the chicken.
HOW TO MAKE THIS CILANTRO CHIMICHURRI CHICKEN YOU WILL NEED:
- 4-5 Chicken Leg quarters, or cut of choice
- Cilantro
- jalapeño
- garlic cloves
- lemon juice
- apple cider vinegar
- avocado oil
- spices (cumin, oregano, salt)
Once you make your chimichurri sauce lather up your chicken and let it marinate for 4 hours- overnight. The longer you marinate it the more flavorful it will be. Do not dump all the chimichurri on the chicken reserve some for serving.
Grilling
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When ready to cook, oil the grill grates then preheat the grill to medium-high.
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Place the chicken quarters skin side down and cook on medium-high heat for 8 – 10 minutes until the outside is seared.
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Turn pieces over and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. The outside of the chicken should be crisp and brown.
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Turn the grill to medium-low and continue to cook flipping chicken pieces every 8- 10 minutes. The chicken will be done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads about 180 degrees.
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Remove from grill and let rest for 3 to 5 minutes, brush with chimichurri before serving.
FOLLOW KAY’S CLEAN EATS
Cilantro Chimichurri Chicken
Cilantro Chimichurri Chicken is a simple and flavor-packed recipe. A simple marinated chicken (any chicken cut) that is grilled to perfection. Serve it with your favorite sides or dice it up for tacos!
Ingredients
- 4-5 chicken leg quarters, or cut of choice
- 1 cup cilantro
- 1 small thumb up jalapeño, about a 1 inch
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 1/2 tbsp of lemon juice
- 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tbsp of avocado oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano 
Instructions
- To a blender add cilantro, jalapeno, garlic cloves, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, salt, avocado oil, cumin, and oregano. Blend until smooth. Reserve 1-2 tbsp for serving.
- Put the chicken in a baking dish and season with salt and pepper generously. Pour the remaining chimichurri over the chicken and turn to coat the chicken with it, even under the skin. Cover and let marinate for 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
- When ready to cook, oil the grill grates. Then preheat the grill to medium-high. Place the chicken quarters skin side down and cook on medium-high heat for 8 - 10 minutes until the outside is seared.
- Turn pieces over and cook for 8 - 10minutes. The outside of the chicken should be crisp and brown.
Turn the grill to medium-low and continue to cook flipping chicken pieces every 8- 10 minutes. The chicken will be done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads about 180 degrees. - Remove from grill and let rest for 3 to 5 minutes, brush with chimichurri before serving.
