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Moroccan Grilled Chicken with Herby Lemon Olive Vinaigrette! This quick marinated Moroccan grilled chicken takes chicken from boring and flavorless to exciting and beyond delicious. Served with a lemon and olive vinaigrette for a fresh pop of flavor and color and all made in just about 30 minutes. It doesn’t get easier or more delicious than this grilled chicken.
Hey, hi and welcome to the first official post of Super Simple Summer Thursdays!
After everyone’s response to last Thursday’s post, I decided to make super simple Thursday a thing for the summer! I think we can all agree that summer recipes should be quick, simple, and easy so that we can spend a little less time inside and so much more time outside. Summer is short, so we need to enjoy all of the warmth, sunshine, and long nights that we can.
So. Super Simple Summer Thursdays!
Here’s how super simple Thursdays will work. The recipes will use minimal ingredients, pantry staple ingredients, easy cooking methods, and well, just be all around SIMPLE. Sound good? OK. Cool.
If you guys have any requests or suggestions for super simple recipes, please let me know in the comments or shoot me an email!
OKAY. That’s the intro, on to today’s recipe.
Moroccan grilled chicken with an extra lemony olive vinaigrette. To simply put it? This chicken is addictingly good and fun too! Because um, hello? Everything on a stick is just that much more fun to eat. I don’t know why, but it’s true.
There’s simply nothing not to love about this easy grilled chicken. It’s seasoned with Moroccan spices and herbs, is tender, and so flavorful. I did a quick marinade (because I can never remember to marinate overnight), adding in Greek yogurt to help tenderize the chicken in a short amount of time. Using Greek yogurt is my secret ingredient for keeping chicken tender without having to let it sit in a marinade for hours and hours. Works like a charm.
While the chicken grills up, I made a quick vinaigrette, using pantry staples, to drizzle over the chicken. This provides yet another layer of flavor. The lemon vinaigrette is essential to this recipe…but then again you guys know how much I love a good sauce or salsa. They’re my favorite.
The vinaigrette provides freshness and color, just trust me, you need it.
Finish it off with some goat cheese or feta and DONE.
You see? Super simple!
It’s dinner in thirty minutes, it’s healthy, and it’s GOOD! I recommend serving the chicken with some quinoa or couscous (which takes just five minutes to make) and maybe grill up some veggies too. OR try adding the chicken to a salad full of your favorite greens, you’ve already got the vinaigrette all figured out.
Also? I can’t even believe this, but I’m already thinking about the 4th of July. Normally I’m not organized enough to be prepping 4th of July recipes this early into June, but with a big trip ahead of me in a couple of weeks (heading to the Caribbean for vacation and then NYC for work), I’ve had to force myself to get organized and think a little further in advance than usual. Enter this chicken. Perfect for an easy Thursday night dinner, but equally great for any and all summer cookouts, including the 4th of July!
I’ve already made this multiple times over the last two weeks. It’s becoming a bit of a staple on nights when I’m just not up for cooking a huge meal or I am running behind. It’s great because as long as you have a stocked spice cabinet, lemons, and chicken, you can make this dinner without even having to run to the grocery store.
If you make this Moroccan grilled chicken, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every one of you. Oh, and of course, if you do make this, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram so I can see! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Moroccan Grilled Chicken with Herby Lemon Olive Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size chunks
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
- kosher salt
Herby Lemon Olive Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice + 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup pitted green olives, torn
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt
- 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese
Instructions
- 1. In a gallon size zip top bag, combine the chicken, olive oil, yogurt, paprika, cilantro, cumin, garlic, ginger, and a large pinch of salt. Marinate for 15 minutes or up to overnight in the fridge. 2. Set your grill, grill pan or skillet to medium-high heat. Take skewers and thread the chicken pieces on.4. Brush the chicken on the skewers lightly with olive oil. Grill the skewers until lightly charred and cooked through, turning them occasionally throughout cooking, about 10 to 12 minutes total.5. To make the vinaigrette, combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, cilantro, olives, crushed red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Stir in the cheese. 6. Serve the skewers drizzled with vinaigrette. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
YES. PLEASE.
I recently discovered your IG and site and have loved the couple dishes I’ve made so far. We’re mostly dairy-free so I made this without the yogurt (subbed more olive oil) and cheese and it was awesome. Not wanting to grill in 7 degree weather, I used chicken thighs and used the same oven temp and timing from your sheet pan harissa chicken and loved it (425 for about 40 minutes). Even the kids had seconds!
That is so amazing! I am so glad you all loved this recipe, Meredith! Thank you!
Hi! This tastes amazing! I wonder if I can make this in advance, say a week, and just put it in the freezer until it’s time to cook it? The recipe states marinating overnight is okay. What if it takes more than that? Will it has a negative effect on the flavor?
HI! Yes, you can make ahead and freeze. That will be great! Just taw the chicken before cooking. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! x Tieghan
MY MARINADE IS THICK, ALMOST A PASTE. IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS THICK? THX!
HI! The marinade should not be thick. Maybe you use too many herbs? Did you change anything about the recipe?
I made this 2 weeks ago and everyone LOVED it, my son requested it again tonight!!
Thank you Eileen! I am so happy to hear that!
Would the marinade work without the yogurt for my dairy sensitive husband?
Yes, you can just omit the yogurt. The chicken will still be great! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
this looks amazing! is there a substitute for the cilantro-haters?
I would use fresh parsley or basil! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
My kids loved this recipe and want me to make it again. Absolutely tasty and delicious!
Thank you so much Meliza!
I’m all about the summer skewers and these look so good! The herby lemon olive vinaigrette sounds pretty much perfect with any meal!
Thank you so much Laura!
These were delicious! I made them last week & already planning when I can make them again!! Another winner… thanks!
I am so glad you loved this! Thank you Shelley!
i’m so hungry
Haha glad you like this!
Let me tell you…. I’ve been cooking and grilling all my life and all the time and this has been the most delicious chicken ever. The chicken flavors combined with vinaigrette makes me wanna cry. Thank you!
Thank you so much Kristina!
This sounds wonderful. What would you serve it with?
Thanks! I recommend serving it with couscous or wild rice! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Trying this out tonight! Sounds so so so delish!
Thank you Lauren!
Would it be possible to see nutrition facts or an estimated calorie value?
Hi Theresa! I am working on adding these to my blog, but for now I do not have them! I am so sorry about that! I hope you love this recipe!
This was a family effort last night! Mom got everything marinating while we were at work, dad grilled and i whipped up the vinaigrette. We paired it with some basmati rice and it was delicious! Super easy and the leftovers keep great for next day lunch!
Thank you so much Erika! I am so glad you and your family loved this recipe!