Kenyan Kuku Choma, Grilled Chicken

📍 Where this dish comes from: Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania · Lake Victoria
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Kuku choma sits alongside nyama choma as one of Kenya’s defining grilled dishes, sold everywhere from roadside stands to proper nyama choma restaurants. The marinade is short and simple by design, meant to season rather than mask — the real flavor comes from time over real charcoal.

What You’ll Need

Kenyan Kuku Choma, Grilled Chicken

Kenya's beloved grilled chicken — simply marinated and cooked whole or in pieces over open charcoal, the poultry counterpart to nyama choma.

Print Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: East African

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 340kcal

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (about 4 lb) spatchcocked
• 3 tbsp oil
• 1 lemon juiced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
• 1 tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

• Whisk oil, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and paprika into a marinade.
• Rub the marinade generously over the spatchcocked chicken, including under the skin where possible.
• Cover and marinate at least 2 hours, or overnight for best flavor.
• Grill over medium indirect heat, turning occasionally, 25–30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the skin is well charred.
• Rest 5 minutes before carving.
• Season with salt and pepper, and serve hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 340kcal | Protein: 36g | Fat: 20g

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Health Benefits

• Chicken is a lean source of complete protein along with niacin and B6.
• Lemon juice adds vitamin C to help offset the reduced produce intake typical of a keto diet.
• Ginger has a long traditional history of use supporting digestion.

Pairs Well With

• Kenyan Kachumbari (Tomato & Onion Salad)
• Kenyan Roasted Root Vegetables, Rift Valley Style