Debbie & Andy's BBQ Yogurt Marinated Chicken Thighs

Bank Holiday Monday. Late August. The kind of day that could go either way — and in Rochdale, it went the way it usually does. Light rain, grey sky, the kind of afternoon that would have most people putting the cover back on the BBQ and reaching for the oven gloves. Not Andy.

His yogurt marinated chicken thighs had been in the fridge since the night before. Indian spiced, deeply orange, smelling exactly like they should. That was that. He cooked outside. They ate inside. Perfectly Northern.

Yogurt marinated chicken thighs are the right call for the BBQ — the yogurt tenderises the meat overnight, the spices colour it deep orange-red on the grill, and the natural sugars caramelise against the heat in a way that nothing else quite replicates. Boneless skinless thighs are more forgiving than breast, more flavourful than you'd expect, and they char beautifully without drying out.

Debbie made the salad. A chopped salad — the kind that comes together quickly from whatever's in the fridge. No fuss, no dressing beyond a little olive oil and seasoning. Exactly right alongside.

Serves 2

Yogurt Marinated Chicken Thighs — The Marinade

• 150g full-fat yogurt
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• ½ tsp chilli powder
• ½ tsp garam masala
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 thumb fresh ginger, grated (or 1 tsp ground ginger)
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and black pepper

Combine everything in a bowl, add 6-8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, turn to coat thoroughly, cover and refrigerate overnight — or for a minimum of two hours if time is short.

Debbie's Chopped Salad

• ¼ Chinese or iceberg lettuce, roughly torn
• ½ cucumber, sliced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1 orange pepper, diced
• 4-5 radishes, sliced
• ½ red onion, finely sliced
• Handful of sweetcorn, tinned and drained
• Drizzle of olive oil
• Salt and black pepper

Combine everything in a wide bowl, dress lightly with olive oil, season and serve.

How to BBQ Yogurt Marinated Chicken Thighs

Bring the chicken to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. BBQ on medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until deeply charred in places and cooked through — around 20-25 minutes depending on your grill. Don't rush it.

This yogurt marinated chicken thighs recipe is featured in my From the Family Kitchen, a collection of recipes from family cooks across the UK and Spain.

This BBQ chicken thighs recipe is also part of the Chicken Recipes collection.

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Wonky photos, proper food, genuine adventures — The Flexible Chef