Total Time
1 hour
Does this look like summer on a platter or what? Everyone needs a back-pocket chicken recipe, and this pantry-friendly version lives up to its name. The vinegary marinade leans on spice-cabinet stalwarts to make a quick brine that delivers juicy meat with a sweet-and-tangy finish in just 15 minutes (even better if you have time for an overnight soak). You can get started on a simple seasonal Israeli couscous salad while the marinade does its thing. The grill takes care of both the corn and chicken here, but if you don't have access to a grill (or would like to enjoy this year-round), your trusty broiler can achieve the same char for both ingredients. However you cook the chicken, be sure to give the thighs some time to rest before slicing.
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What you’ll need
Medium Saucepan with Lid
$36.99 At Amazon
Microplane
$18 At Amazon
16" Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Utility Tongs
$11 At Amazon
Chef’s Knife
$115 At Hedley and Bennett
Measuring Spoons
$10 At Bon Appétit Market
Ingredients
4–6 servings
3
¼
1
1
2
2
3
1½
1
2
12
1
Preparation
Step 1
Whisk 3 Tbsp. sugar, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar, and 1 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a small bowl until sugar and salt are mostly dissolved. Whisk in 1 Tbsp. onion powder, 2 tsp. garlic powder, 2 tsp. paprika, and 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil.
Step 2
Pour marinade into a large resealable plastic bag. Add 1½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 6), close bag, and turn to coat. Let sit at room temperature 15 minutes, or chill, turning occasionally, up to 12 hours.
Step 3
Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Add 1 cup Israeli couscous and cook, stirring to coat, until golden brown, 1–2 minutes. Carefully pour in 1¼ cups water and add ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt; stir well. Bring to a boil; immediately reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer until tender, 8–10 minutes. Remove lid, gently fluff, and let sit to allow excess moisture to evaporate.
Step 4
Meanwhile, prepare grill for medium-high heat; oil grate with vegetable oil. Brush 2 medium ears of corn, shucked, with olive oil; grill, turning often, until tender and charred in spots, 7–9 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool. Cut kernels from corn cobs and place in a medium bowl.
Step 5
Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip back into bag. Grill, reducing heat or moving to a cooler spot if charring too quickly, until cooked through and well browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to cutting board and let rest 10 minutes.
Step 6
Add 12 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved, and Israeli couscous to corn and toss to combine. Drizzle in remaining 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar and 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, season with salt and freshly ground pepper, and toss again. Transfer couscous salad to a platter. Finely grate zest from 1 lemon over, then cut lemon into wedges. Season salad with more pepper.
Step 7
Slice chicken and arrange over salad. Top with basil leaves and serve with lemon wedges.
To make without a grill: Heat broiler. Place a wire rack inside a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Brush rack with vegetable oil. Place corn on rack; broil until tender and charred in spots, 8–10 minutes. Transfer to cutting board; let rest. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip back into bag, and arrange, smoother side up, on same rack. Broil, turning once, until golden brown, 12–14 minutes.
How would you rate Easy-to-Love Chicken Thighs and Couscous?
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Reviews (9)
Back to TopI agree with the other reviewers that the chicken marinade is amazing! I will continue to use that recipe to make chicken thighs because it was stupid easy and also my five year old gave it a thumbs up. I marinated the chicken starting in the morning and then grilled it that evening. I did make a few modifications: I used frozen corn that I defrosted and then toasted in a pan with olive oil instead of corn on the cob. I also cooked the couscous in some chicken stock based on the reviews that the couscous salad was lacking something. Besides that, everything else was the same. I'll certainly come back to this recipe again!
Jessica
Denver, CO
4/24/2024
10/10. I have added this to my rotation of meals
Zach M
Dallas TX
12/30/2023
I have made this twice and it was easy and delicious.. Marinated the chicken 15 minutes the first time, and 5 hours the second. Didn't notice a big difference in the flavor., so if you don't have a lot of time, no worries. Followed the recipe for the salad, but added one extra ear of corn and used red wine vinegar instead of apple cider. And for lemon zest, my husband grated the entire zest of the lemon, so it was about 1/2 cup or more of lemon zest. Mixed that into the salad, not just zest over the top like recipe says. It was fabulous!
Michele
Pittsburgh, PA
8/21/2023
The chicken marinade is just awesome and I'll be making it a bunch, but agree with others that the salad portion 1) needs a bit of doctoring (more acid, more herbs, maybe tangy cheese like feta) and 2) does get better after sitting for a while.
Anonymous
Manhattan Beach, CA
8/7/2023
Everyone (39 yo, 38, yo, and 7 yo) loved this dish! The chicken marinade was easy and flavorful, even when marinated for only about 15 minutes. The salad was good, not great - except when I went to take a bite after dinner was over and I was cleaning up it had somehow gotten SO much better? I don't know what it was but after sitting in a bowl, tossed together for a while the flavors had really expanded. I'll be putting this on the list to make over and over again. Thanks BA!
Stickyheels
Durham, NC
7/31/2023
Ok, so the marinade and the chicken was incredible - but I agree with below, something is missing from the couscous salad. I added feta, extra basil + olive oil, but that wasn't it either....
leila
Chicago
7/24/2023
Really taken aback by how tender and flavorful the chicken turned out - delicious!
Booradley
San Francisco, CA
7/21/2023
Easy and really flavorful. Made it twice this week. With corn in season and tomatoes just starting it’s perfect.
Rachel C
Brooklyn NY
7/21/2023
Loved loved loved this chicken! Prepped it in the am before work and let it marinate in the fridge all day. The salad was yummy but definitely needed something (hence the four stars vs five)… added basil and feta which were yummy additions. Will definitely make it again!
Caleigh
Toronto, ON
7/19/2023
So easy and so delicious!
Tammy Stanley
Salem, OR
7/18/2023
Made this with the broiler and added avocado to the salad. Absolutely delicious! It was an easy yet quite tasty recipe. I will absolutely make it again!
Joannitte
Bergen County, NJ
7/16/2023
This chicken 100% tastes like BBQ potato chips in a very good way. I marinated for 2 hours and it was delicious.
Kaybee
7/14/2023