Chimichurri chicken is a flavorful, vibrant dish that brings bold Argentinian flair to your grill. Infused with a zesty, herb-packed chimichurri sauce, this grilled chicken is juicy, aromatic, and full of punchy flavor. It’s a standout choice for backyard barbecues, meal prep, or any time you want to add a fresh, herby twist to grilled poultry.
At the heart of this dish is chimichurri—a traditional South American condiment made with fresh parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, and a touch of chili. This green sauce is bright, tangy, and slightly spicy, the perfect complement to the smoky richness of grilled chicken. It doubles as both a marinade and a finishing sauce, adding layers of flavor with minimal effort.
To prepare, marinate boneless chicken thighs or breasts in half of the chimichurri sauce for at least an hour (or overnight for deeper flavor). The acidity from the vinegar helps tenderize the meat, while the garlic and herbs seep in to give it an aromatic boost. Grill the chicken over medium-high heat until golden and slightly charred, locking in all that herbaceous goodness.
Once off the grill, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing. Spoon the reserved chimichurri over the top just before serving—it’s this final drizzle that elevates the dish and ties it all together.
Chimichurri chicken pairs beautifully with grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, or a light quinoa salad. It also works great in wraps, sandwiches, or atop leafy greens for a fresh, protein-packed salad. The versatility of this dish makes it perfect for everything from summer cookouts to quick weeknight dinners.
Simple, bold, and bursting with flavor, chimichurri chicken is a must-try recipe that turns basic grilled chicken into something extraordinary.
Chimichurri is a traditional Argentinian and Uruguayan sauce made from fresh herbs, garlic, vinegar, oil, and spices. It’s typically used as a condiment for grilled meats.
Classic Chimichurri includes parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and salt. Some variations add cilantro, onion, or lemon juice.
Chimichurri has a mild heat from red pepper flakes, but it’s not overly spicy. The spice level can be adjusted to taste.
It’s commonly served with grilled steak, chicken, or seafood. It can also be used as a marinade, dipping sauce, or salad dressing.
Yes, chimichurri can be frozen in ice cube trays for easy portioning and stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, Chimichurri can last up to one week. The flavor often improves after a day or two.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil for chimichurri sauce
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar for chimichurri sauce
- 1 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon oregano dried
- 0.5 teaspoon salt to taste
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper to taste
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for heat
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, parsley, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper to make the chimichurri sauce.
- Reserve half of the chimichurri sauce for serving and use the remaining half to marinate the chicken.
- Marinate the chicken breasts in the chimichurri sauce for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
- Heat a grill to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken for about 4-6 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is cooked through and has grill marks.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve the grilled chicken with the reserved chimichurri sauce.
Nutrition
Chicken comes from birds right? Idk, just thought it was good. But how do you even grill chicken?
Yes, chicken is from birds! To grill it, you just need to marinate it first and then cook it on medium-high heat for a few minutes on each side. You got this!
I thought chimichurri was just for steak! This chicken turned out great, guess I learned something new!
This recipe is 🔥! The chimichurri sauce was sooo flavorful. My fam loved it!
Delicious twist! I added a little more garlic because I love it. Will make again!
I don’t know about that. I tried it and it came out super dry. Maybe I cooked it too long?
I tried making this but ended up burning the chicken. Maybe my grill is just too hot? Not sure about the sauce either, it tasted… different.
Burnt chicken?? You shoulda watched it closer! And what’s up with the sauce? It shouldn’t taste ‘different’ if you followed the recipe. Maybe you missed an ingredient?
I think your grill might be too hot! It’s all about that medium-high heat to get it just right. Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us!
Eh, I ain’t a fan of all the parsley. Could be better without it. 3 stars.
The instructions were confusing, and my chicken came out kinda dry. Need to practice grilling.
Chimichurri is the best! I have made it with steak too, and it’s delish.
This chimichurri chicken is amazing! The flavors are so fresh and vibrant. I will definitely make this again!
I was skeptical about the vinegar in the chimichurri but it actually works. Surprised me!!
Too much prep work for my liking. I just tossed plain chicken on the grill.
I added lemon juice and some cilantro coz I had it. It was pretty good! Just a tip – don’t skip resting the chicken!
Why do you need to rest the chicken? Doesn’t it just cool down? I never heard of that.
Sounds delish! I love cilantro and lemon! I’ll try that next time.
This was AMAZING! The chimichurri sauce is a game changer. We loved it!
Yum!!! This is a hit at my BBQs! Everyone loves it and I get asked for the recipe all the time! Thanks!
Will this work with boneless thighs? I don’t have breasts… just wondering.
Best chicken recipe I’ve tried in a while! My family loved it. Thanks for sharing!
Simple, quick, and tastes great! Also the sauce is sooo good!
I dunno, chimichurri sounds fancy but it ain’t really that easy, is it? What if I mess it up?
This really is the best sauce! I make it all the time now. You’re right about it being quick too!
Tried this recipe and it turned out okay, but it didn’t blow me away. Maybe more garlic?
I found the recipe a bit bland. Maybe more garlic or something spicy would help?
This recipe looks kinda complex for just chicken. Could be more easier.
Yum! Used cilantro instead of parsley because I like it better. Still turned out good.
This recipe was so easy to follow! The chicken was juicy and full of flavor. Definitely making it again!
Chimichurri is too much work for chicken! Just season with salt and pepper and grill it! But I guess if you like fancy stuff, go for it.
I can’t find oregano anywhere. 😩 Any substitutes??
I don’t know about that, I would just skip it. Oregano is kinda important for flavor, right?
You can use basil or thyme instead! They work pretty well as a substitute. 😊
Quick and simple! Grill marks looked awesome. Will definitely make again!
My boyfriend didn’t like it because he thinks chicken is boring. 😒
Yummy! I made it for my friends, and they couldn’t stop raving about it. Thanks!