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    Grilled Chicken with Blistered Green Bean Salad

    July 30, 2025 / By Natalie Mortimer

    An easy, vibrant Asian-inspired marinade makes grilled chicken thighs taste divine, and it does double duty as a dressing for a green bean side salad, too.

    asian inspired grilled chicken with blistered green bean salad - perfect for a light, healthy dinner with bold umami flavor.
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    Grilled chicken thighs are hard to mess up, and especially when you let them marinate in this delicious, Asian-inspired marinade! With fresh lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and chili sauce, this marinade is loaded with flavor. Best of all, the marinade doubles as a dressing for a colorful, herby blistered green bean salad you can serve on the side. 

    marinated grilled chicken thighs topped with a blistered green bean salad tossed with an asian inspired dressing.

    Last summer I shared two recipes using this same two-for-one method where you make one batch of dressing and use it to marinate the chicken and dress a salad to serve on the side. Both grilled chicken recipes went viral on IG and TikTok, so I guess that means you guys are into this trick, too! In light of that, here’s a third to add to your favorites list.  

    Flat lay of ingredients for Asian-inspired grilled chicken thighs with blistered green salad
    marinade for chicken in a bowl made with sugar water, fish sauce, olive oil, lime juice, grated garlic, chili sauce and salt.

    Grilled Chicken Marinade Ingredients

    • Sugar: The base of this marinade is a sugar-water solution, which makes for an incredibly delicious sweet-savory flavor works so well on grilled chicken. 
    • Fish sauce: Southeast Asian fish sauce is a must-have pantry ingredient for me (I love it in larb and even on brussels sprouts). It’s savory and just a little funky. 
    • Olive oil: Extra virgin is my preference here, because the marinade is also used as a dressing for the green beans! 
    • Fresh lime juice: Two limes should give you enough lime juice for this recipe. 
    • Garlic: Did we mention this marinade is powerfully savory?
    • Chili sauce: Chili-garlic sauce, sambal oelek, or sriracha all work. And if you don’t like chili heat at all, it’s fine to leave out the chili sauce entirely. 
    marinade for chicken in a bowl made with sugar water, fish sauce, olive oil, lime juice, grated garlic, chili sauce and salt.
    marinade for chicken in a bowl made with sugar water, fish sauce, olive oil, lime juice, grated garlic, chili sauce and salt.

    How To Make Grilled Chicken with Green Beans

    1. Make the marinade, which is also the dressing for the green beans! You can do this up to two days ahead of time. 
    2. Marinate the chicken thighs for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. 
    3. While the chicken marinates, sauté the green beans. 
    4. Grill the chicken thighs, 4 - 5 minutes per side. When you see 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, that chicken is done! 
    5. Dress the green bean salad. Tip: If you hate cilantro, try using basil instead. 
    6. Serve! 
    marinated chicken thighs being cooked on a grill and brushed with reserved marinade
    juicy gilled chicken thighs with bold umami flavor resting on a baking sheet

    Marinated Grilled Chicken FAQs + Variations 

    • Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs? Yes! They tend to be a bit thicker than thighs, so I usually slice them lengthwise so that they marinate faster and grill quickly.
    • How long to marinate chicken before grilling: At least 30 minutes, but ideally longer. Chicken can technically marinate at room temperature for up to two hours, but if you’re going to leave it more than about an hour, I’d move it to the fridge to be super safe. 
    • Prep it ahead of time: You can make the marinade a day ahead of time, and let the chicken marinate in a zip-top bag in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
    fresh green beans being cooked in olive oil in a skillet until blistered
    Bowl filled with ingredients for blistered green bean salad featuring Asian flavors— tomatoes, peanuts, cilantro and mint

    How To Store Leftovers

    This dish doesn’t freeze well, but leftovers will be delicious for at least a few days! I love to eat them cold from the fridge for lunch the next day, and the grilled chicken thighs especially taste wonderful leftover. Try it sliced up in a salad, or with gently warmed rice. 

    blistered green bean salad with tomatoes, peanuts, mint and cilantro tossed in an asian dressing with fish sauce & lime

    How To Serve

    With the succulent grilled chicken and the blistered green beans, this dish is pretty complete all on its own. However, if you want to make it even more filling, try serving it with: 

    asian inspired grilled chicken with blistered green bean salad - perfect for a light, healthy dinner with bold umami flavor.

    More Asian-Inspired Meals For Summer

    • Cold Pork Noodle Salad 
    • Miso Chicken Slaw 
    • Green Curry Buddha Bowl 
    • Coconut Rice Salmon Bowl 

    More Dinner Inspiration Ahead!

    For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper, and we’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!

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    Grilled Chicken with Blistered Green Bean Salad Recipe

    Published July 30, 2025

    By Natalie Mortimer

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  30 min
    • Cook Time:  25 min
    • Calories:  521
    Print Recipe
    Related Recipes

    Description

    An easy, vibrant Asian-inspired marinade makes grilled chicken thighs taste divine, and it does double duty as a dressing for a green bean side salad, too.

    Ingredients

    Grilled Chicken

    • ¼ cup white sugar
    • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
    • 1 garlic clove, grated
    • 1 tablespoon garlic chili sauce, sambal oelek, or sriracha
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

    Green Bean Salad

    • ½ pound green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
    • ¼ cup crushed peanuts, toasted
    • ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
    • ¼ cup fresh mint leaves

    Method

    1. Make the chicken. In a small bowl, combine the sugar with ¼ cup water until the sugar has fully dissolved. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar water, fish sauce, olive oil, lime juice, grated garlic, chili sauce, and salt. Reserve ¼ cup in a medium bowl.

      Flat lay of ingredients for Asian-inspired grilled chicken thighs with blistered green salad

    2. Add the chicken thighs to the bowl with the remaining marinade and toss to coat. Cover and marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature.

      marinade for chicken in a bowl made with sugar water, fish sauce, olive oil, lime juice, grated garlic, chili sauce and salt.

    3. Preheat the grill on medium. Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Place the chicken on the grill and cook, undisturbed, for about 4 minutes per side, or until lightly charred. Brush with the remaining marinade and continue cooking, turning occasionally, until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 10 minutes total. Transfer to a serving platter.

      marinated chicken thighs being cooked on a grill and brushed with reserved marinade

    4. Meanwhile, make the green bean salad. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Once the oil is glistening, add the green beans and cook undisturbed until beginning to blister, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir and cook until charred and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the reserved marinade. Add the tomatoes, peanuts, cilantro, and mint and toss to combine.

      blistered green bean salad with tomatoes, peanuts, mint and cilantro tossed in an asian dressing with fish sauce & lime

    5. Top the chicken with the green bean salad and serve.

      marinated grilled chicken thighs topped with a blistered green bean salad tossed with an asian inspired dressing.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 521
    • Protein 59 g
    • Carbohydrates 22 g
    • Total Fat 23 g
    • Dietary Fiber 3 g
    • Cholesterol 263 mg
    • Sodium 1272 mg
    • Total Sugars 16 g

    Grilled Chicken with Blistered Green Bean Salad

    Questions & Reviews

    Rated 5 stars by 3 readers

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      Any questions?

      Need to change up some ingredients? Unsure about a step in the method? Click the Ask a Question button above. We’re here for you.

    • Grace

      5-star rating

      This was outstanding. The absolutely best way to eat green beans!

      Thanks Grace! So happy to hear you enjoyed it!

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