Harissa Grilled Chicken with Lemon Mint Yogurt Sauce

30 minute, 6 ingredient spicy grilled harissa chicken thighs with a creamy lemon mint yogurt sauce are an easy and delicious dinner option for busy weeknights. (gluten-free, nut-free)

Quick and easy weeknight dinners don't have to be boring! Nor do they have to come from a takeout window or a box. (Not that those things are bad every once in a while, but they're probably not the best every night.) A simple dinner can be delicious and full of new, interesting flavors without too much effort. That's exactly what this harissa chicken achieves, perfect for any night of the week!

Why You'll Love Harissa Grilled Chicken

These harissa grilled chicken thighs make a super delicious meal in almost no time. The chicken itself requires only 2 ingredients. And the sauce contains just 3 more simple ingredients, so you can get dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less! The lemon mint yogurt sauce might be my favorite part of this recipe. The tang and freshness cools down the spicy chicken thighs beautifully. And it tastes so good, I could eat it by itself. Throwing the chicken on the grill means extra flavor and minimal cleanup.

What is Harissa?

Harissa is a spicy paste common in North African and Middle Eastern cooking. It's typically made with spicy red peppers, garlic, olive oil, and spices like caraway, cumin, and coriander, for a flavor that's spicy and a little smoky. In this recipe, I use harissa seasoning to make things easier, and because seasoning lasts much longer in the spice cabinet versus keeping a jar of paste in the refrigerator. You can usually find harissa seasoning in the spice aisle of the grocery store, or on Amazon. You could also make your own if that's your jam.

Why Use Chicken Thighs?

For easy, delicious dinners, I love chicken thighs. They cook super quickly, take on flavors easily, and are so juicy. Because the fat content is a bit higher, it's almost impossible to dry them out, which is great if you're newer to grilling. That said, you could also use chicken breast if you want.

How To Make Harissa Grilled Chicken with Lemon Mint Yogurt

Make The Yogurt Sauce

1. While the grill heats up, whisk together yogurt, lemon and mint.
2. Refrigerate until you're ready to serve.

Make the Chicken

1. Rub chicken thighs with harissa seasoning and oil. Lightly oil a halved onion.
2. Grill chicken thighs on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side. Lower the heat and continue cooking until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F, about 8-10 minutes. Place onion, cut side down, on the grill and cook undisturbed while you grill the chicken.
3. Slice the onion and serve chicken with onion and yogurt sauce.

Recipe Variations

• As mentioned, you can use chicken breast in place of thighs. I recommend butterflying them so that they cook more quickly.
• You can use harissa paste if that's what you have. Since the paste typically has oil in it already, you really won't need to add any. Just rub the thighs with the paste before grilling.
• If you have Greek yogurt, thin it with about a tablespoon of cold water or milk.
• You can use a grill pan or cast iron skillet on the stove for this recipe. Cover the pan when you lower the heat to lock in moisture.

What To Serve With Harissa Grilled Chicken

For easy side dishes try:

• Canned chickpeas or black beans
• Grilling your favorite vegetable (zucchini, squash, red bell pepper, and asparagus are all easy and delicious!)
• A simple green salad
• My Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges (they're delicious dipped in the yogurt sauce!)

If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating in the comments!

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