Grilled Moroccan Chicken
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This Moroccan chicken gets its bold flavor from a quick North African–style marinade—and it’s as easy as it is family-friendly.
Photo by Johnny Miller (Clarkson Potter, 2021)
First posted on this site in 2012, this grilled Moroccan chicken is one of my longtime favorites. The marinade is inspired by ras el hanout, a North African spice blend with more than a dozen spices—think cumin, coriander, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne, cardamom, allspice, fenugreek, and more. It’s a family favorite (even the kids love it), and it couldn’t be easier to make. Best of all, there’s hardly any clean-up. I like to serve it with couscous, especially my warm couscous salad with apricot vinaigrette.
“I’m back to make this recipe for a 3rd time because it is so easy and delicious!”
What You’ll Need To Make Grilled Moroccan Chicken
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or tenderloins): Lean, quick-cooking, and the perfect blank canvas for soaking up the marinade’s flavor.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Helps carry the flavors of the spices, keeps the chicken moist, and encourages a nice char on the grill.
- Salt and sugar: Salt seasons the chicken all the way through; sugar adds balance and helps the exterior caramelize just a bit.
- Garlic: Adds a punch of savory, aromatic flavor that complements the warm spices.
- Paprika, cumin, coriander, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon & cayenne pepper: A mix inspired by ras el hanout—a North African spice blend—bringing warmth, depth, and a little kick.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Pound the chicken. Pound the chicken breasts to an even 1/2-inch thickness. This tenderizes the meat and helps it cook evenly—otherwise the thin end can dry out while you wait for the thicker end to finish.
Step 2: Make the marinade. In a bowl or a large zip-top bag, combine the olive oil, spices, salt, garlic, and sugar. If using a bag, seal it and gently smoosh it around until everything’s evenly mixed.
Step 3: Marinate. Add the chicken to the bag with the marinade, press out the air, and seal. Massage the marinade into the chicken until it’s evenly coated. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours, or overnight for the best flavor.
Step 4: Grill. When you’re ready to cook, preheat the grill to high—you want it very hot to get those beautiful grill marks and a bit of char in the short cooking time. Grill the chicken for just a few minutes per side, until perfectly tender and cooked through (the internal temperature should reach 165°F).
More Easy Chicken Recipes with Big Flavor
Grilled Moroccan Chicken
Ingredients
- 1½ to 1¾ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (or chicken tenderloins)
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts between 2 pieces of wax or parchment paper and, using a meat mallet, pound to an even ½-in (13-mm) thickness. (Skip this step if substituting chicken tenderloins.)
- Mix all ingredients except chicken together in a small bowl or measuring cup. Place pounded chicken breasts inside a 1 gallon zip-lock bag. Add marinade to the bag, press air out and seal shut. Massage marinade into the breasts until evenly coated. Place the bag in a bowl in the refrigerator (to protect against leakage), and let the chicken marinate in the fridge for at least 5 hours or overnight.
- Clean grill and preheat to high. Place chicken breasts on grill, spooning marinade over top. Grill, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Do not overcook.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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This is a family favorite! We have added so many new spices to our pantry thanks to your recipes. Thank you!!!!
I cannot say enough good things about every recipe I try here! My biggest hurdle in the past year has been finding foods that my two-year-old toddler will happily eat and everything we’ve made of Jenn’s has been a slam dunk, but I’m especially over the moon about this one. This has to be my first grilled chicken recipe I’ve ever found that pleases the whole family! Flavor is absolutely delicious, combination of spices is magnificent and it’s not so hot that it’s turned anyone off. My daughter absolutely gobbles it up, and she has refused to eat any kind of grilled chicken until this point (and I’ve tried them all!). This is a MAJOR victory for this mom and I hope it helps to encourage other parents whose little ones haven’t quite yet developed their refined palettes!
I just wanted to thank you. First, this recipe is amazing. Second, I never flattened my chicken but since reading a number of your recipes I have started. My chicken cooks so much nicer now.
Thanks Jenn. I am uncertain of the arrival time of my guests, can the chicken marinate longer without producing an over powered flavor?
Hi Janey, Yes, it’s fine.
Hi Jenn. If I purchased store bought chicken cutlets and prepare per the recipe, will they be as tender as pounding the breasts myself? I really don’t like pounding meat.
Hi Janey, I believe those cutlets are usually thinly sliced chicken breasts, so it’s not quite the same as pounding, which tenderizes the meat. That said, I think they will still be fine.
love this delicious recipe !I made it last night and my boy loved it!! Thank you
My family loved the the combination of spices! I don’t have a meat mallet but I used my rolling pin to hammer the chicken which worked just fine. It grills so nicely and is so flavorable. It makes great left overs too!
Hi Jenn,
This is a delicious recipe. I added some fresh cilantro and thinly sliced red onions to the marinade. My question is, can I use this same recipe on Skirt steak or Flank steak?
Thank you!!
Hi Ronak, Glad you enjoyed the chicken. The marinade would be delicious on steak.
I made this tonight for the first time. Had to make it in a grill pan because it was snowing outside and I couldn’t use my outdoor grill. The chicken was so delicious!! I might reduce the salt a little next time I make it but otherwise I loved the flavor. Can’t wait to make this again but next time on the grill.
Absolutely fantastic! Family loved it! This is going into rotation. Thanks for the recipe!