Juicy, spicy and beautifully charred, this smoky chilli garlic grilled chicken marinated in a base of Greek yogurt is an incredibly easy way to make restaurant-style grilled chicken at home!
If you love chicken with a little heat and lots of flavor, this chilli garlic grilled chicken is for you! The smokiness of these grilled chicken is on another level thanks to the cast iron skillet used for grilling!
It’s an incredibly simple chicken recipe, but the flavor is anything but ordinary.
Chicken thighs and drumsticks are coated in a creamy Greek yogurt marinade spiked with crispy chilli garlic oil and paprika, then grilled on a cast-iron skillet until juicy on the inside and beautifully charred around the edges.
The Story Behind This Chilli Garlic Grilled Chicken Recipe
I absolutely love recipes that come together from a few simple ingredients but somehow taste like you put in much more effort than you actually did.
This chilli garlic grilled chicken is one of those recipes.
I wanted to make grilled chicken with a really bold chilli-garlic flavor, but without putting together a long list of spices or making a complicated marinade.
So I reached for two ingredients that work beautifully with chicken—Greek yogurt and crispy chilli garlic oil.
The Greek yogurt gives the chicken a lovely tangy coating and helps keep the meat juicy, while the crispy chilli garlic oil brings in the heat, garlic and all those delicious little crispy chilli bits.
A touch of paprika adds warmth and color, and that’s pretty much all this chicken needs.
The chicken is then arranged directly on a cast-iron skillet and cooked in a hot oven until completely cooked through and charred around the edges.
And those charred edges? That’s where the magic happens!
The result is juicy, tender chicken with a fiery chilli-garlic flavor and beautifully caramelized edges. It’s the kind of chicken that works equally well for a weeknight dinner, a weekend barbecue-style meal or even meal prep.
Ingredients for Chilli Garlic Grilled Chicken
Chicken: I used 2 chicken drumsticks and 3 chicken thighs, all skinless to cut down the extra fat. You may use skin-on chicken pieces if you love the crispy grilled skin.
I particularly like using bone-in chicken for this recipe because it stays juicy during cooking and develops plenty of flavor.
Skinless chicken also allows the marinade to sit directly against the meat, while the high heat helps the exterior develop a lovely char.
Greek yogurt: This creamy yogurt forms the creamy base of the marinade. Its natural tanginess works beautifully with the spicy chilli garlic oil, while its thick consistency allows it to cling nicely to the chicken.
Crispy chilli garlic oil: This is the star ingredient of this recipe! Crispy chilli garlic oil brings heat, garlicky flavor and texture all at once.
It gives the chicken its signature chilli-garlic flavor without needing several separate ingredients. I use 3 to 4 tablespoons for that killer kick, but you can adjust this depending on how spicy you like your chicken.
Olive oil: A tablespoon of olive oil adds richness to the marinade and helps create a beautifully roasted exterior. Don’t go overboard with oil though as chilli garlic crisps also come with oil.
Paprika: For us spice-lovers, paprika adds a gentle warmth and a gorgeous reddish color to the chicken. It complements the chilli garlic oil without overpowering it.
Seasoning: Add salt according to taste. Since crispy chilli garlic oil can already contain some salt, taste and adjust accordingly.
How to make Chilli Garlic Grilled Chicken?
Step 1: To make the marinade, add Greek yogurt, crispy chilli garlic oil, olive oil, paprika and salt to a large mixing bowl. Mix everything well until you have a smooth, evenly combined marinade.
Step 2: Add the chicken thighs and drumsticks to the marinade. Coat every piece thoroughly, making sure the marinade covers the chicken from all sides.
Pro tip: For even better flavor, you can cover the bowl and refrigerate the chicken for a few hours or overnight. However, if you’re short on time, you can also proceed directly to cooking after marinating.
Step 3: Preheat your oven to 190 C / 375 F. Arrange the marinated chicken pieces on a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet in a single layer.
Pro tip: Try to leave a little space between the pieces rather than overcrowding the skillet.
Step 4: Place the cast-iron skillet on the top rack of the preheated oven and set the oven mode to broil.
Step 5: Broil/grill the chicken for approximately 40–45 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked through and the edges are beautifully charred.
The exact cooking time can vary depending on the size of the chicken pieces and your oven.
Step 6: Once the chicken is cooked through and has developed those gorgeous charred edges, remove the skillet from the oven. Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving.
Step 7: Your chilli garlic grilled chicken is ready! Serve it with fresh green salad and enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Chilli Garlic Grilled Chicken?
It needs very few ingredients.
There is no elaborate spice blend here. Just a handful of ingredients that each bring something important to the dish.
The flavor is BIG.
Crispy chilli garlic oil gives the chicken an instant flavor boost with heat, garlic and crunchy chilli.
The chicken stays juicy.
Greek yogurt makes a wonderful marinade for chicken, especially when using bone-in thighs and drumsticks.
You get gorgeous charred edges and sizzling smokiness.
Cooking the chicken on a cast-iron skillet in a hot oven helps create those irresistible browned and charred bits.
It is incredibly versatile.
Serve it as a main course, add it to a salad, stuff it into wraps or use it to make a delicious grain bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use boneless chicken to make this chilli garlic grilled chicken?
Absolutely. Boneless chicken thighs would work particularly well. However, boneless pieces will cook faster than bone-in chicken, so reduce the cooking time accordingly.
Can I use regular yogurt instead of Greek yogurt?
Yes. You can substitute regular thick yogurt for Greek yogurt. If your yogurt is particularly watery, strain it first to remove some of the excess liquid.
Can I make this chicken less spicy?
Yes. Simply reduce the amount of crispy chilli garlic oil. Start with 2 tablespoons and adjust according to your heat preference.
Can I marinate the chicken overnight?
Yes. Overnight marination is a great option if you want to prepare the chicken ahead of time. Keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to cook.
Can I make this without a cast-iron skillet?
Yes. You can use another oven-safe skillet or baking tray. However, cast iron is particularly good at retaining heat and helping the chicken develop those delicious smoky flavors.
How do I know when the chicken is cooked?
The safest way is to check the thickest part of the chicken with an instant-read thermometer. It should reach 74°C / 165°F.
More delicious grilled chicken recipe from Flavor Quotient
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- Chicken - 2 drumsticks, 3 thighs, bone-in & skinless
- Greek yogurt - ⅓ cup
- Crispy chilli garlic oil - 3-4 tbsp, adjust based on your heat tolerance
- Olive oil - 1 tbsp
- Paprika - 1 tsp
- Salt to taste
- Add Greek yogurt, crispy chilli garlic oil, olive oil, paprika and salt to a large bowl. Mix well.
- Add the chicken pieces and coat thoroughly with the marinade.
- Cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight for deeper flavor, if desired.
- Preheat the oven to 190C/375F.
- Arrange the marinated chicken pieces on a cast-iron skillet in a single layer.
- Place the skillet on the top rack of the preheated oven.
- Grill for 40–45 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked through and beautifully charred around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes.
- Serve hot with your favorite sides. Enjoy!
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