Chimichurri Chicken Recipe

Chimichurri Chicken is chicken that is marinated in homemade Chimichurri Sauce then grilled (or sauteed) and topped with more of that vibrant fresh Argentinian Chimichurri.

Chimichurri sauce is not only an amazing topping for Steak, Grilled Pork, and protein, but it’s an incredible marinade. It is vibrant, healthy, packed with flavor, and doesn’t require lengthy marinating for tender, tasty chicken.

Chimichurri Chicken served on a skillet topped with Argentinian Chimichurri sauce

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Chimichurri Chicken Recipe

Chimichurri sauce is a simple way to upgrade your chicken and make dinner exciting. You can sautee this on a skillet or put it on the grill – both methods work great, so you can enjoy Chicken with Chimichurri all year long. We love using staple sauces to elevate meats as we did with Bruschetta Chicken and Pesto Chicken. Once you have the Chimichurri sauce down (and it’s literally a 5-minute recipe), you’ll want this in your recipe repertoire. It adds so much fresh flavor. Here’s why we love this recipe:

Easy – the sauce is quick to make, keeps well, and serves as the marinade and topping in one.
Quick – The red wine vinegar in the sauce is a great tenderizer and you only need to marinate it for 15 minutes, although you can also marinate it overnight for a make-ahead option.
So Tasty – chimichurri is mouthwatering with all the fresh parsley and garlic. It’s one of the most exciting chicken recipes you’ll try.
Versatile – you can grill or sautee this chicken on the stovetop.

Piece of grilled chicken with Chimichurri sauce

Ingredients for Chicken with Chimichurri

This is one of the easiest chicken recipes and there are 3 simple parts to it:

Chicken thighs – we use boneless, skinless thigh meat because it is juicier, more forgiving and naturally has more flavor.
Chimichurri sauce – homemade chimichurri sauce is best because it’s loaded with fresh parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, and olive oil and seasoned with oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. We use half of it for the marinade and half of it for the topping.
Salt – we use 1/2 tsp of fine sea salt for perfectly seasoned chicken.

Pro Tip: You can substitute the chicken thighs with chicken breast, but cut larger chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make thinner cutlets. You can also use chicken tenders, but keep in mind that light meat chicken will cook faster than dark meat chicken.

How to Make Chimichurri Chicken

Since the sauce doubles as the marinade and topping, this recipe is truly easy to make.

Make Chimichurri – you’ll want to let it meld in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Marinate chicken – put the chicken into a bowl, add half of the chimichurri sauce and salt and stir to combine. Cover and marinate for 15 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
Cook – You can grill the chicken at 425˚F or over medium/high heat for about 5 minutes per side or sautee it over medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side. For the stovetop, heat a skillet over medium heat with olive oil and sautee for 5-7 minutes per side until cooked through.
Add more sauce – transfer the chicken to a serving platter and spoon the remaining Chimichurri sauce over the chicken pieces.

Step by step how to make Chimichurri Chicken on the grill

Pro Tip: Our best tip for the juiciest chicken is not to over-cook it. Chicken thighs when the internal temperature at the thickest point reaches 165˚F on an instant-read thermometer.

Skillet with thicken thighs topped with Chimichurri sauce

Serve With

Chimichurri chicken is definitely the star of the show as the main course which you will love. This means you can keep the side dishes simple and fuss-free. Serve this chicken with:

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.