Grilled Chicken Quarters with Ras el Hanout

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 45 min (includes marinating time)
  • Active: 15 min
Ras el hanout is a blend made of several spices so it’s worth keeping in your pantry as a powerhouse ingredient. Here, it adds tremendous depth and complexity to an easy yogurt marinade, which doesn’t need much more than lemon juice and a few cloves of garlic to brighten the flavor of grilled chicken legs. Scoring the chicken a few times helps it better absorb the marinade and the yogurt makes it extremely juicy. Complete this flavor-packed dish with a side of potatoes, rice or salad.
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Ingredients

4 skinless whole chicken legs, each with the thigh and drumstick attached

1 1/2 cups plain yogurt

2 1/2 tablespoons ras el hanout

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

Juice of 1 lemon, plus lemon slices for serving (optional)

Kosher salt

Nonstick cooking spray, if using a grill pan

Neutral oil, such as canola or avocado oil, for greasing

Chopped parsley leaves, for serving (optional)

Directions

  1. Pat the chicken dry and make a few shallow cuts in each leg with a sharp knife. Stir the yogurt with the ras el hanout, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and 2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl. Add the chicken and turn until well coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to 8 hours.
  2. Grill pan instructions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and coat a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat and grease with oil. Once the pan is hot, remove the chicken from the marinade with tongs, shaking off the excess, and grill for 5 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken registers 165 degrees F, 20 to 30 minutes.
  3. Grill instructions: Heat the grill to medium high and set up two-zone grilling (keep one side of the grill cooler than the other). Brush the grates generously with oil to prevent sticking. Remove the chicken from the marinade with tongs, shaking off the excess, and grill on the hotter zone until nice grill marks form, about 5 minutes per side. Move the chicken, flat-side down, to the cooler zone. Cover the grill and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken registers 165 degrees F, 20 to 30 minutes.
  4. Top the grilled chicken with lemon slices and chopped parsley leaves, if desired.

Let's Get Cooking!

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Anonymous

This recipe finally got me to our local Mediterranean market for rascal hanout, harissa, halloumi cheese, & sumac (already hav za’atar)! Grilling right this minute - smells divine. Done! Got to temp more quickly than recipe, so watch timing. Used boneless thighs - maybe that’s why. Juicy, full of flavor, will definitely be a repeat - especially for entertaining!

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