Chermoula Grilled Chicken Thighs with Charred Lemon
Juicy chicken thighs marinated in chermoula and grilled until crisp and charred, served with warm new potatoes.
Made with Chermoula. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min + marinating
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.43 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the chicken thighs in a dish. Spoon about 60 g of your ready made chermoula (see the base recipe) over them and rub it in well. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, or up to 12 hours.
- 2
Spoon the remaining chermoula into a clean bowl and keep it in the fridge for serving. Never use the used marinade as a sauce.
- 3
Heat the grill to medium high, or light the barbecue and wait until the coals are white. Grill the chicken for 12 to 15 minutes on each side, turning once, until the skin is crisp and a thermometer in the thickest part reads at least 75C.
25 min - 4
Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes until tender, then drain and toss with the olive oil.
15 min - 5
Add the lemon halves cut side down to the grill for the last 3 to 4 minutes until charred.
- 6
Rest the chicken for 5 minutes. Serve with the potatoes, salad and the reserved chermoula, squeezing over the charred lemon.
Tips
- Keep the grill at medium. Too hot and the marinade burns before the chicken cooks through.
- Always set aside the serving portion of chermoula before it touches raw meat.
- Bone in thighs stay juicier. For boneless thighs, cook for 6 to 8 minutes per side.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 hour and keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through, or eat cold in salads.
Questions
Can I cook them in the oven?
Yes. Roast on a rack at 200C (180C fan) for 35 to 40 minutes, then finish under a hot grill for 3 to 4 minutes for crisp skin.
How long should I marinate?
At least 2 hours, and up to 12 hours in the fridge. The lemon juice can start to toughen the chicken if it sits for longer than that.
Can I use chicken breast?
Yes, but cut each breast in half horizontally and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Thighs are more forgiving on the grill.
More made with chermoula
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.