Grilled Garlic Herb Chicken Thighs

Grilled Garlic Herb Chicken Thighs are juicy, flavorful, and perfect for warm-weather dinners, BBQs, and easy meal prep. The fresh basil, thyme, garlic, shallot, white wine vinegar, and olive oil come together into a bright, savory marinade that makes the chicken taste fresh and summery.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients
• How to Make Grilled Garlic Herb Chicken
• How Long to Marinate Chicken
• What to Serve with Garlic Herb Chicken
• Storage & Reheating
• Grilled Garlic Herb Chicken Thighs
• More Delicious Grilling Recipes to Try
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I love this recipe with chicken thighs because they stay tender on the grill, but the marinade is also great with vegetables, pork, or other proteins. Just be sure to reserve any extra marinade before adding the raw chicken if you want to drizzle some over the finished dish.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This grilled garlic herb chicken is simple, flavorful, and perfect for grilling season. It uses fresh herbs, garlic, shallot, olive oil, and white wine vinegar to make a bright marinade that works beautifully with juicy chicken thighs.

You'll love this recipe because it is:

• Fresh, savory, and full of garlic herb flavor
• Great for summer BBQs and cookouts
• Easy to prep ahead
• Naturally low carb and gluten free, depending on your ingredients
• Great with grilled vegetables, salad, potatoes, or rice
• Versatile enough to use with chicken, vegetables, or pork

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients for this grilled garlic herb chicken marinade:

• Chicken thighs - Chicken thighs stay juicy and flavorful on the grill. You can use boneless or bone-in thighs, but cooking time may vary.
• Fresh basil - Fresh basil gives the marinade a bright, summery flavor.
• Fresh thyme - Thyme adds an earthy herb flavor that pairs well with garlic and chicken.
• Garlic - Fresh garlic gives this marinade tons of flavor.
• Shallot - Shallot adds a mild onion flavor without being too sharp.
• White wine vinegar - Adds brightness and a little tang to balance the olive oil.
• Olive oil - Helps carry the herb flavor and keeps the chicken moist.
• Sea salt - Seasons the chicken and marinade.

You can use dried herbs in a pinch, but fresh basil and thyme will give the marinade the best flavor. Fresh herbs make it taste brighter and more summery, while dried herbs will be more muted.

How to Make Grilled Garlic Herb Chicken

First, gather your ingredients:

• 1 medium shallot
• 5 cloves garlic
• 3 ounces fresh basil
• 3 tablespoons fresh thyme
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• ⅛ cup + 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 cup olive oil
• 2-3 lbs chicken thighs

Step 1: Prep the herbs and aromatics

Roughly chop the shallot, garlic, basil, and thyme.

You don't need to chop everything perfectly since it will all be blended together.

Step 2: Make the marinade

Add the shallot, garlic, basil, thyme, salt, and white wine vinegar to a food processor.

Pour the olive oil over the top and blend for about 45 seconds, or until the large pieces are broken down and the marinade is combined.

You can also use an immersion blender in a large mason jar or bowl.

Step 3: Marinate the chicken

Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl, baking dish, or zip-top bag.

Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss until evenly coated.

Important: If you want to use some of the marinade for vegetables or drizzling over the finished chicken, reserve ¼ to ½ cup before adding the raw chicken.

Let the chicken marinate for 2-3 hours.

Step 4: Grill the chicken

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.

Grill the chicken for about 6-8 minutes per side, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken thighs.

Step 5: Serve

Serve the grilled chicken warm with your favorite sides. I love it with grilled asparagus, zucchini, salad, roasted potatoes, or rice.

How Long to Marinate Chicken

For this recipe, I recommend marinating the chicken for 2-3 hours.

That gives the chicken enough time to absorb the garlic herb flavor without getting mushy from the vinegar.

If you're short on time, even 30 minutes will still add flavor. I would avoid marinating it overnight because the vinegar can start to affect the texture of the chicken.

What to Serve with Garlic Herb Chicken

This grilled garlic herb chicken goes well with so many easy sides. Try it with:

• Grilled asparagus
• Grilled zucchini
• Roasted potatoes
• Potato salad
• Cucumber salad
• Steamed rice
• Simple green salad
• Stir fry vegetables

It's also great for meal prep. You can slice the leftovers and serve them over salads, rice bowls, or with roasted vegetables.

Storage & Reheating

Store leftover grilled chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

To reheat, warm it gently in the microwave or in a skillet over medium-low heat until heated through. Try not to overheat it, or the chicken may dry out.

You can also enjoy the leftovers cold or room temperature over a salad.

More Delicious Grilling Recipes to Try

Looking for more flavorful recipes to throw on the grill? Try these easy grilling favorites next:

• Asian Flanken Ribs - Juicy, flavorful cross cut short ribs marinated with soy sauce, honey, garlic, and sesame oil. These can be grilled, pan-fried, or air fried.
• Easy Cumin Lamb Chops - Tender lamb chops seasoned with cumin and spices, with instructions for pan-frying or grilling.
• Grilled Teriyaki Chicken - A sweet and savory grilled chicken recipe made with a simple homemade teriyaki-style marinade.
• Soy Garlic Steak - A flavorful soy garlic marinade that's perfect for grilled or pan-seared steak.

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