The Juiciest Grilled Chicken with Zesty Green Sauce Recipe

Weeknight dinners demand something special, and this grilled chicken with zesty green sauce delivers bold flavors that dance across your plate.

The vibrant green sauce brings an explosion of fresh herbs and tangy notes to perfectly charred chicken.

Simple ingredients combine to create a meal that feels both rustic and elegant.

Packed with brightness from herbs like cilantro and parsley, the sauce cuts through the rich grilled meat with remarkable balance.

Each bite promises a burst of summer-fresh flavors that transform an ordinary chicken into a restaurant-worthy dish.

This recipe proves that incredible meals can emerge from just a few carefully selected ingredients.

Grilled Chicken Zesty Green Sauce Top Reasons

• Burst with Flavor: Zesty green sauce and vibrant marinade combine to create an explosion of taste that transforms ordinary chicken into a gourmet experience.
• Master Flexible Cooking: Versatile recipe offers two cooking methods – grilling or baking – giving you the freedom to choose based on your kitchen setup or preference.
• Quick Meal Prep: Simple blending technique for marinade and sauce means minimal effort with maximum deliciousness, perfect for busy home cooks seeking restaurant-quality results.
• Crowd-Pleasing Potential: Packed with bold ingredients like jalapeños, cilantro, and lime, this chicken dish appeals to various palates and works wonderfully for family dinners or casual gatherings.

Grilled Chicken Zesty Green Sauce Ingredients

• Chicken Thighs: A flavorful and tender cut of meat that absorbs the marinade beautifully.

• Garlic: Adds robust and aromatic flavor to the chicken.
• Soy Sauce, Lime Juice, Olive Oil: Create a balanced and tangy liquid base for marinating.
• Cumin, Paprika, Oregano: Provide warm and complex spice notes to the chicken.
• Black Pepper: Contributes a subtle heat and depth to the marinade.

• Jalapeños: Bring a spicy kick to the zesty sauce.
• Cilantro, Green Onions: Offer fresh and bright herbal notes.
• Garlic: Enhances the sauce's overall flavor profile.
• Mayonnaise, Greek Yogurt: Create a creamy and smooth sauce texture.
• Lime Juice: Adds a tangy and bright element to the green sauce.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Balance and enhance the sauce's flavors.
• Olive Oil: Helps to blend and incorporate the sauce ingredients smoothly.

Steps For Grilled Chicken With Zesty Sauce

Step 1: Create Flavorful Chicken Marinade

Grab your blender and toss in garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, olive oil, cumin, paprika, oregano, and a sprinkle of black pepper.

Blend everything until smooth and well combined, creating a tantalizing marinade that will infuse incredible flavor into the chicken.

Step 2: Marinate Chicken Thoroughly

Place chicken thighs into a large Ziploc bag, pour the marinade over them, seal tightly, and let them rest in the refrigerator.

Allow the chicken to soak up all those delicious flavors for 8 to 24 hours, ensuring maximum taste and tenderness.

Step 3: Whip Up Zesty Green Sauce

• Jalapeños
• Cilantro
• Green onions
• Garlic
• Mayonnaise
• Greek yogurt
• Lime juice
• Salt
• Black pepper

Blend until silky smooth.

While blending, slowly drizzle olive oil to create a creamy, vibrant sauce.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Step 4: Grill Chicken To Perfection

Preheat grill to medium-high heat around 350°F.

Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off.

Grill for 5-6 minutes on each side until the internal temperature hits 165°F, creating a beautifully charred exterior.

Step 5: Alternative Baking Method

If grilling isn’t an option, preheat oven to 500°F.

Place chicken in a 13×9 inch pan with 1 cup water.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, then cover with foil and continue baking for 15 more minutes until fully cooked.

Step 6: Serve And Enjoy

Pull the chicken off the grill or out of the oven, let it rest for a few minutes, then generously drizzle with the zesty green sauce.

Pair with your favorite sides and enjoy a mouthwatering meal bursting with flavor.

Tips For Grilled Chicken Zesty Sauce Success

• Marinate chicken for the full 24 hours to ensure maximum flavor penetration and tender meat.
• Adjust jalapeño quantity in green sauce to customize heat intensity according to personal preference.
• Use meat thermometer to precisely check chicken's internal temperature, avoiding overcooking or undercooking.
• Oven-baking works great for those without grill access, maintaining moisture by adding water to pan.
• Green sauce can be prepared a day ahead and stored in refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.

Zesty Green Sauce Chicken Variations Guide

• Vegetarian Chickpea Swap: Replace chicken thighs with firm tofu or grilled chickpeas, marinating with the same zesty sauce for a plant-based protein alternative.
• Spicy Mexican Version: Add diced chipotle peppers to the green sauce for extra heat and smoky flavor, creating a more intense southwestern-style marinade.
• Low-Carb Lettuce Wrap Edition: Serve grilled protein over crisp lettuce leaves instead of traditional plates, reducing carbohydrate intake while maintaining bold flavor profiles.
• Mediterranean-Inspired Adaptation: Substitute soy sauce with za'atar seasoning, replace cumin with sumac, and add Greek yogurt directly into the marinade for a Middle Eastern culinary approach.

Serving Grilled Chicken Zesty Green Sauce

• Flavor Explosion Plate: Serve the grilled chicken over a bed of cilantro-lime rice, drizzling the zesty green sauce generously on top for maximum taste impact.
• Taco Night Transformation: Slice the chicken, warm soft tortillas, and create mouthwatering tacos with green sauce as the star condiment, adding fresh chopped onions and extra cilantro.
• Mediterranean Mezze Spread: Arrange chicken pieces on a large platter surrounded by hummus, olives, cucumber salad, and warm pita bread, using green sauce as a dipping companion.
• Salad Power Bowl: Chop the grilled chicken, toss over mixed greens, add roasted corn, black beans, and drizzle the green sauce as a vibrant, creamy dressing for a protein-packed meal.

Storing Grilled Chicken Zesty Sauce Properly

• Store leftover grilled chicken in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Place green sauce in a separate sealed container to maintain freshness.
• Wrap chicken tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Store in freezer-safe bag for up to 2-3 months. Separate green sauce into freezer-safe container.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken in baking dish, add splash of water to prevent drying. Cover with foil and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
• Place chicken on microwave-safe plate, cover with damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, checking temperature to avoid overcooking. Serve with fresh green sauce on side.

FAQs

• Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, you can substitute chicken breasts. Just ensure they are similar in thickness for even cooking and adjust grilling time slightly since breasts are leaner.

• Is the green sauce spicy?

The heat depends on the jalapeños. For less spice, remove the seeds and membranes. For more heat, keep the seeds or add an extra jalapeño.

• Do I need a grill to make this recipe?

No, you can use the alternative oven method provided in the recipe. The oven instructions work perfectly and will still deliver delicious, tender chicken.

• How long should I marinate the chicken?

The recipe recommends marinating between 8 to 24 hours. Longer marination helps the chicken absorb more flavor, but avoid marinating beyond 24 hours to prevent the meat from becoming mushy.

Grilled Chicken with Zesty Green Sauce Recipe

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4.7 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Succulent grilled chicken with zesty green sauce elevates weeknight dinners from ordinary to extraordinary. Bold Peruvian-inspired flavors dance across tender chicken, delivering a bright, herbaceous experience you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) chicken thighs

Marinade and Spices:

• 1/3 cup (79 milliliters) soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) lime juice
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons (10 grams) cumin
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) dried oregano
• Black pepper (to taste)
• 5 cloves garlic (peeled)

Zesty Green Sauce Ingredients:

• 3 jalapeños (seeded, ribs removed and roughly chopped)
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) fresh cilantro leaves
• 2 green onions (chopped, green parts only)
• 2 cloves garlic (peeled)
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) salt
• 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 grams) black pepper
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil

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Instructions

1. Craft a vibrant marinade by combining aromatic garlic, tangy soy sauce, zesty lime juice, rich olive oil, earthy cumin, smoky paprika, fragrant oregano, and a whisper of black pepper in a blender until thoroughly integrated.
2. Transfer the marinade into a large Ziploc bag, submerge chicken thighs completely, seal tightly, and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for a minimum of 8 hours or up to 24 hours for maximum flavor infusion.
3. Prepare the verdant green sauce by blending fiery jalapeños, fresh cilantro, sharp green onions, pungent garlic, creamy mayonnaise, tangy Greek yogurt, bright lime juice, salt, and black pepper until silky smooth.
4. While blending the green sauce, gradually stream olive oil to create a harmonious emulsion, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. Heat the grill to medium-high, approximately 350°F, ensuring even temperature distribution across the cooking surface.
6. Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off, then place on the preheated grill grates.
7. Grill chicken thighs for 5-6 minutes per side, rotating once to achieve beautiful crosshatch grill marks and ensure an internal temperature of 165°F.
8. For an alternative cooking method, preheat oven to 500°F, place chicken in a 13×9 inch pan with 1 cup water, roast uncovered for 30 minutes, then cover with foil and continue cooking for an additional 15 minutes.
9. Once cooked, let chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving, allowing juices to redistribute and ensuring maximum tenderness.
10. Drizzle the chilled green sauce over the grilled chicken and serve immediately.

Notes

• Marinate chicken overnight for maximum flavor infusion and tenderness, allowing spices to deeply penetrate the meat.
• Adjust jalapeño quantity in green sauce to control heat level, removing seeds for milder version or adding extra for spice lovers.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches safe 165°F internal temperature, preventing overcooking while guaranteeing juicy results.
• Transform dish into gluten-free option by substituting soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos, maintaining similar umami profile.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 357 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 707 mg
• Fat: 26 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 4 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 29 g
• Cholesterol: 108 mg