Za'atar Grilled Chicken Thighs

Let this be your new favorite go to meal! With just a few ingredients and a quick cooking time this is something you can whip up with little notice.

The yogurt based marinade makes this za'atar grilled chicken thighs incredibly tender while the lemon and spices bring a warming mediterranean flavor

Chicken thighs - you can use thighs with or without the bone and skin. Keep in mind that the boneless may be easier to thread through the skewer if grilling. In my opinion, however, the thighs with the bone and skin offers a better flavor

Plain greek yogurt - This is the base of the marinade which makes the chicken incredibly moist. Be sure to use plain greek yogurt to avoid any unwanted flavors. Feel free to use any fat free or full fat varieties. Whatever you have on hand will work.

Lemon juice - This cuts down some of the creaminess of the yogurt marinade and makes the flavor more balanced

Spices - A blend of za'atar, sumac, cinnamon, garlic powder, salt, and pepper are the real stars of this dish. The za'atar and sumac bring the mediterranean flavors, and the cinnamon offers a warming kick which makes your kitchen smell amazing. The garlic powder, salt, and pepper are there because this is a chicken dish after all, and that holy trinity should always be included

Red onion - this gets chopped and threaded onto the skewers along with the chicken. grilling the onions take them from bitter to sweet and taste delicious with this chicken.

1. the first step is to pat the chicken dry and season with salt. It is important to season even though you will be marinating the chicken for maximum flavor
2. combine the yogurt, lemon juice, and spices to a bowl that is big enough to hold the chicken. Stir to combine then add the chicken in. Mix until the chicken is completely covered in the marinade. Cover the bowl and store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
3. Preheat the grill to high, roughly 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Chop the red onion and set aside. Remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off any extra marinade to avoid an unnecessary mess. Then thread the chicken onto the skewer, alternated between chicken and red onion. Sprinkle any leftover za'atar on the chicken. If using wooden skewers instead of metal, soak them in water for 1 hour before so they do not burn on the grill.
5. Grill the chicken for 8-10 minutes per side.
6. Remove from heat and let rest for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh mint and serve with your favorite mediterranean side like pita bread or couscous.

No grill? no problem! Read below for instructions on how to make these za'atar chicken thighs in an air fryer.

1. Follow the same instructions as above stopping when you preheat the grill
2. Set your air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Add chicken thighs to the bowl of the air fryer. Depending on how large your bowl is, you may need to cook this is shifts as you do not want to crowd the bowl and have the chicken overlap.
3. Air fry the chicken thighs skin side down for 12 minutes. Then flip so that the chicken is skin side up. Sprinkle any remaining za'atar on. Cook for another 10 minutes or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. I like to add tinfoil on top of the chicken half way through when it is cooking skin side up to prevent any burning.
4. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let rest for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh mint and serve with your favorite sides.

Grilled Carrots

Roasted Cauliflower