Yogurt marinade for grilled chicken is the best of all worlds: It makes for flavorful, moist meat and can be tossed together the night before without sacrificing quality.
Ingredients
- 1 cup full-fat plain greek yogurt
- 1 cup lightly packed cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to season
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to season
- 1 (3 1/2-pound) chicken, halved, breast and rib bones removed, leg bones left intact
- vegetable oil, for brushing grill
Instruction
- Gather the ingredients.
- In a large bowl, mix yogurt, cilantro, lemon juice, garlic, cayenne, cumin, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Transfer marinade to a large, resealable plastic bag. Add chicken halves and turn to coat. Seal bag and transfer to a baking dish. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. Bring chicken to room temperature before grilling.
- Set up a gas grill for indirect grilling, then oil grate and heat to medium-high (400°F).
- Remove chicken from marinade, scraping off any excess; discard marinade. Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Set chicken skin-side up on grate over indirect heat. Close grill and cook, turning once, until chicken is browned and nearly cooked through, about 25 minutes. Use a spray bottle filled with water to stop flare-ups.
- Reduce grill heat to moderately low. Flip chicken and grill over direct heat, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and an instant-read thermometer inserted in inner thighs registers 160°F, about 15 minutes more.
- Transfer chicken to a carving board and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
