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4.80 from 5 votes

Grilled Moroccan Chicken Thighs with Pecan Couscous

These bold and delicious grilled chicken thighs are marinated and grilled with big flavors like garlic, lemon, green olives, prunes, olive oil, and a rich spice blend of paprika, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric. Serve them with a side dish of couscous studded with chopped pecans, olives, prunes, and sunny lemon.
Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Chicken, Main Course
Cuisine: Moroccan
Keyword: grilled chicken recipe, marinade recipe
Servings: 6
Calories: 620kcal

Ingredients

Moroccan Marinade

  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¾ tsp ground black pepper
  • ¾ tsp ground turmeric
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 tbsp lemon juice (juice of 2 lemons)
  • ¼ cup pitted prunes, coarsely chopped
  • ¼ cup pitted green olives
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed

Pecan Couscous

  • ¾ cup fresh pecans, chopped
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ cups dry couscous
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (juice of about 1 lemon)
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • cup pitted prunes, finely chopped
  • cup pitted green olives, sliced

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the paprika, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, ¾ teaspoon pepper, turmeric, cayenne, cinnamon, and ginger.
  • In a food processor, pulse the olive oil, prunes, olives, garlic, and spice mixture until smooth paste forms, about 1 minute, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Transfer the paste to a large bowl with the chicken thighs and toss to coat them well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.
  • On a gas grill, turn all burners to medium-high, cover, and heat until hot, about 15 minutes. Once hot, oil your cooking grates. Arrange chicken on the grill. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, flip over, and cook for an additional 6 to 8 minutes, until the chicken registers 185 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Transfer the chicken thighs to a platter, tent with aluminum foil, and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • While the chicken is grilling, make the couscous: In a medium saucepan, bring the broth, salt, and oil to a boil. Stir in the couscous, cover tightly with a lid, and remove from heat. Let the couscous stand for 5 minutes. Use a fork to fluff the couscous and stir in the lemon juice, parsley, prunes, olives, and pecans. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
  • Arrange the couscous on a large platter, top with the cooked chicken thighs, and serve with lemon wedges, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 620kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 953mg | Potassium: 767mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1053IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 4mg