Easy Grilled Citrus-Marinated Chicken Thighs

This tried-and-true, Easy Grilled Citrus-Marinated Chicken Thighs recipe is juicy and delicious! The secret is the mouthwatering Citrus Marinade for the chicken, overflowing with citrus flavors, spices, and a beautiful golden color thanks to Turmeric.

If you love El Pollo Loco’s flavors, this fabulous grilled chicken recipe will quickly become a family favorite. Grilling this chicken recipe is highly recommended! Outdoor grilling is ideal for creating that extra char and mouthwatering flavor for this chicken thigh recipe, but an indoor grill pan works great.

This is one of my BEST recipes for boneless chicken thighs. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a weeknight dinner hero. They are versatile, less expensive than chicken breast, and, might I add, so flavorful. Chicken thighs are on weekly rotation here at home; some of our favorite dinners are Chicken Thighs with Za’atar, Carrots and Currants, Easy Boneless Chicken Cacciatore and Easy Chicken Schnitzel.

Citrus Chicken Marinade

This Citrus chicken marinade is the hero of this recipe. I use three different types of citrus and seven different spices for zest, seasoning, and depth. And don’t skip out on the Turmeric! Besides adding fabulous color, it gives it the last touch of flavor that brings this recipe over the top. Believe my friends!

Pro-tips for this recipe

• Don’t overmarinate the chicken; 2-3 hours is plenty. Acid is fantastic for marinades, but if marinated too long, it can cause the chicken meat to toughen when cooked.
• Citrus marinades help tenderize the meat, allowing the chicken to cook faster.
• Chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature is 165℉. Use a fast-read meat thermometer.
• Add some sweetness, like honey or agave syrup, to balance out the citrus. A little granulated sugar also works.
• Grilling is the preferred method for this recipe. Grilling imparts the oh-so-delicious char and smoky flavor to the chicken. An indoor grill pan and a cast-iron skillet also work great. (Don’t overcrowd the chicken on the cast-iron skillet when cooking.)
• Use fresh, ripe citrus. It’s naturally sweeter.
• Mexican or Latin Adobo seasoning: Use a brand that doesn’t have salt. If you opt for one with salt, cut Kosher salt in half.
• Use fresh dried spices; they are always bolder and flavorful.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe oranges, juiced
• 1 ripe lemon, juiced
• 3 ripe limes, 2 juiced and 1 cut into wedges for serving
• 1/4 cup of avocado oil or neutral oil
• 1 teaspoon of honey or agave syrup
• 1 teaspoon of paprika, ground
• 1 teaspoon of Mexican or Latin Adobo seasoning
• 2 teaspoons of Kosher salt (Morton)
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle powder, ground
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1/2 roughly chopped cilantro + more for garnish
• 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs*

*NOTE: Skin on chicken legs, drumsticks and wings work great with this recipe. I like to pierce the chicken pieces so the marinade has a chance to get through the skin and impart the delicious flavor of the marinade. Again, I highly recommend grilling this recipe.

Preparation

Serving suggestions

I love to serve this recipe with a fresh salad like my Winter Citrus Salad with Orange Honey Dressing, some fluffy white rice, and warm black beans or some Mexican rice with pinto beans (try our friend Ericka’s recipe that is delish!) I add a delicious Easy Tangerine Margarita and let the evening begin!

This chicken thigh recipe is perfect for meal planning. It’s so flavorful and is perfect in nourish bowls, salads, burritos, quesadillas and tacos.

Enjoy!

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