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Spicy Mediterranean Chicken with Creamy Cucumber Salad

Spicy Mediterranean Chicken with Creamy Cucumber Salad

An easy flavor-packed meal featuring juicy chicken thighs marinated in Mediterranean spices, grilled to perfection, and topped with a creamy cucumber salad.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4 servings
Calories 380 kcal

Equipment

  • grill
  • baking dish
  • Mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

For the chicken

  • 1.5 lbs chicken thighs, boneless & skinless
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon cayenne
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper *
  • crumbled feta cheese, for garnish optional

For the creamy cucumber topping

  • 2 Persian cucumbers diced
  • 0.33 cup red onion, diced
  • 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

Marinate the chicken

  • Whisk the olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, dried oregano, cumin, salt, cayenne, black pepper, lemon juice and lemon zest together in a large mixing bowl. Add the chicken thighs and toss until they’re fully coated. Cover and marinate for 2 hours – overnight.

Cook the chicken

  • Grilling Method: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and brush the grates with olive oil. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
  • Baking method: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Place the chicken thighs in the dish and bake for 20-22 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Make the cucumber salad

  • Add the diced cucumbers and onion to a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt and black pepper together. Pour it over the cucumbers and onion and toss until the salad is just coated.

Garnish and serve

  • Transfer the chicken to a plate and top each thigh with the cucumber salad right before serving. (Optional: serve with crumbled feta.)

Notes

For spicier chicken: Add an extra ¼ teaspoon black pepper to the marinade (for a ½ teaspoon total).

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 380kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 28gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 650mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 300IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 2mg
Keyword baked chicken, Chicken Recipes, cucumber salad, grilled chicken, mediterranean chicken, Spicy Chicken
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