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+ servings
easy grilled dinner

Grilled Chicken and Pasta Dinner

How to make the perfect balanced grilled dinner at home, with crispy chicken, smokey vegetables and delectable gnocchi.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Grill
  • Grill pan
  • Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 4-6 bone in skin on chicken thighs (I would opt for 2 thighs for your big eaters)
  • A variety of chopped vegetables: Here I use a small butternut squash, 1 summer squash, 1 large onion, 6 garlic cloves chopped in half, 1 head of broccoli
  • 24 oz's skillet ready gnocchi: I used 'Rana'
  • 6-8 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • Seasoning for chicken (whatever you like, I used pre-mixed Cajun seasoning. Garlic powder and paprika work great too)
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Start the grill and bring to 400 degrees F.
  • While the grill is heating up, peel (if needed) and chop your vegetables. Place them in a large bowl and toss with 4 tbsp olive oil and salt/pepper to taste.
  • If choosing to sear the chicken skin prior to grilling: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat on stove top. Once hot, add 2 tbsp olive oil. Place chicken in skillet, skin side down. Cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until skin is crispy and brown. Transfer to a plate to bring to the grill.
  • Pour vegetable mixture onto grill pan, and place over the grill. Arrange chicken thighs on grill, skin side up. Close the grill and cook undisturbed for about 5 minutes, lowering the level of the burners to medium, to prevent burning.
  • Open the grill and toss/flip the vegetables to prevent burning. Close grill and cook another 5 minutes. Continue this for about 20-25 minutes until the vegetables are soft and slightly charred, and the chicken has reached 165 degrees F and is no longer pink inside.
  • Now place a cast iron skillet on the grill with about 2 tbsp olive oil in it. Add the skillet ready gnocchi to the skillet and cook with the grill closed for about 5 minutes. Stir and cook another 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove all items from the grill, plate and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

Tips: 
  • Adjusting the temperature while cooking is very important.  You want the grill hot enough to cook the food, however, you do not want the burners too strong.  Burnt food that is not cooked in the middle is no good! Start with the burners on high when pre-heating the grill.  Once the food is on the grill, turn the heat down to medium, and try not to keep the grill open for long, or all of that heat will escape, and it will take you longer to cook. 
Keyword Chicken, chicken thighs, gnocchi, grilled, pasta, vegetables
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