Grilled Spicy Coconut Chicken Thighs with a Marinade That Doubles as Sauce

These grilled chicken thighs get their flavor from a coconut milk-based marinade that does double duty as a dipping sauce. The coconut milk keeps the meat juicy on the grill, and the spice blend gives them enough kick to be interesting without making them off-limits for kids.

The Marinade

The base is coconut milk, which tenderizes the chicken and prevents it from drying out during grilling. Blend the coconut milk with your seasonings to create the marinade. Reserve some of the marinade before it touches raw chicken, because it becomes the dipping sauce at the table.

Grilling

Marinate the chicken thighs, then grill them until they get good color and char. The coconut milk sugars caramelize on the grill, giving the thighs a smoky, slightly sweet crust.

Serving

Plate the grilled thighs with lime wedges and serve the reserved marinade as a dipping sauce alongside. The chicken pulls apart easily and stays moist throughout.

Key Takeaways

• Coconut milk is the marinade base and keeps the chicken juicy on the grill
• Reserve some marinade before adding raw chicken to use as a dipping sauce
• The spice level works for adults and kids
• Coconut milk sugars caramelize on the grill for a smoky, slightly sweet crust