Barbeque Chicken Thighs On The Grill

Patting The Chicken Dry

The first step is to wash the chicken. Place the thigh pieces under running water until you are sure that the chicken is clean and fit for consumption. Once you are done with cleaning, pat the thighs dry using paper towels. Keep the skin side up when placing the thighs on a baking sheet.

Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper and let it sit until the skin completely dries out. This may take longer than usual 8 to 12 hours on average.

How To Make Grilled Bbq Chicken Thighs:

Place the chicken thighs into a large bowl. Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper over the thighs. Toss to coat the chicken in the spices. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours or use immediately.

Preheat the grill to medium heat and oil the grates. Once the grill is hot, place the chicken thighs, skin side down. Do not touch it for 7 minutes, or you can move them at a 45-degree angle to form diamond grill marks halfway through.

Flip the thighs over and let cook for 3 minutes. Brush the chicken on the side facing up lightly with bbq sauce, cook for an additional 3 minutes.

Flip the chicken again, and brush lightly with more bbq sauce on this side. Cook for 2 minutes. Flip one last time, and brush again with bbq sauce, the skin side should be up at this point. Continue to cook until an internal temperature reaches 165°F. About 20 total minutes on the grill.

Serve immediately.

How To Grill Chicken Thighs: Time

With the grill hot and ready and the chicken seasoned and prepped, grill the thighs over direct medium heat. Boneless chicken thighs take about 8 minutes, while the cooking time for bone-in thighs is 10-14 minutes. Use a meat thermometer by placing it in the thickest part of your thigh to test doneness. Once the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, remove the chicken from the grill and allow it to rest for five minutes before serving.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Pit Boss Pellet Grill

Do You Need A Meat Thermometer

If you are grilling chicken thighs or breasts, we highly recommend having a meat thermometer on hand. You will know that the chicken is cooked all the way through if its juices run clear once you remove it from the grill and let it rest for a minute. If you find that your chicken isn’t entirely done, simply return it to the grill for 3-4 minutes more.

If you don’t have one, you should get one. It is the best way to ensure the chicken is cooked through without overcooking, so you provide the best grilling experience to your family and friends.

What Marinade Should I Use For Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

The marinade ingredients are super versatile and can be used to pair with tons of flavors. Its made up of olive oil, lemon juice, honey, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

To make the marinade, youll want to add everything to a sealable gallon bag or marinade Tupperware that has a lid, then mix together until its combined.

Once thats combined, add in the chicken thighs and seal then put in your refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 12 hours. Leaving it overnight can work as well, but the lemon juice may start to break down the chicken.

Be sure to flip the bag or Tupperware at least once to make sure both sides get a chance to be covered in the marinade.

Don’t Miss: How Do You Clean Barbecue Grill Grates

How Long To Grill Bone

If youre planning to use a gas grill and want to prepare perfect grilled chicken thighs, the temperature on the grill should be about 450 degrees. You should use a gas grill with multiple zones for indirect grilling .

To achieve this, turn off one set of burners once the grill reaches the desired temperature and place the meat on the grill.

Gas grills are easy to use because you can manage the fire with a turn of a button. Set up for indirect heat. If you have a three burner, put all the meat in the middle, higher heart on the outside, with lower heat in the middle to avoid flare-ups. Grill Top Experience YouTube Channel

You should start by having the chicken thighs grilled skin-side down to get perfectly crispy skin.

Grill for about 3 to 5 minutes. Don’t grill for longer than this because itll be overcooked.

The next step is to flip them over and keep the chicken thighs skin-side up. Grill the thighs for about 7 more minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Check the temperature with a meat thermometer.

To sum up, the approximate grilling time for bone-in skin-on chicken thighs is 10 to 13 minutes.

On Marinades And Dry Rubs

For boneless thighs, Perry and Bonom prefer using marinades or pastes, and they advise that if there is an acid in your marinade , marinate your chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to four hours. “After four hours the acid starts to break down the muscle and give the cooked chicken an unpleasant mealy texture,” they say. “But two to four hours will give you great flavor.”

For an all-purpose marinade for boneless thighs, try this versatile recipe for Grilled Marinated Chicken Thighs that uses a punchy herb sauce to flavor the chicken inside and out.

For bone-in chicken legs, Perry and Bonom like using dry rubs to add flavor. “The gentler cook over indirect heat helps to keep the spices from burning,” Bonom says.

Read Also: How To Register Weber Grill

How To Make Bbq Chicken Rub

When we grill chicken, we like to experiment with seasoning to make a good chicken rub. There are lots of different chicken dry rub that are pre-mixed at the store. But I like making my own. They taste better and I know exactly what I am adding to the mix.

This chicken rub combines some of my favorite seasoning. The garlic powder combined with the smoked paprika makes a simple but tasty chicken rub. Sprinkle the chicken rub about 20 minutes prior to putting on the grill.

Adding the BBQ sauce at the end of the grilling process really helps brings all the flavor together.

Are Chicken Thighs Healthy

The short answer is yes! Chicken thighs are just as healthy as the breasts and other cuts of meat. They are dark meat and dark meat contains healthy monounsaturated fats which are good for your heart.

The skin is unhealthy though on any cut of chicken so if youre worried about eating the healthiest cuts of chicken, skip the skin and you should be good no matter what you choose.

Don’t Miss: What Can You Use To Clean Grill Grates

Boneless Or Skinless Thighs

While this recipe is for bone-in skin-on thighs, the meat is all the same and will cook with a few minor adjustments.

The bone will absorb some of the heat, so boneless thighs will cook a few minutes faster, and they always seem thinner to me. Thickness is a significant variable in cooking time, so pay attention to the internal temperature.

Skinless thighs should have a brush of oil before seasoning and do not need the uneven part of the grilling methodno skin to protect. But still alternate sides of the grill due to fat drainage and flair-ups.

How Can I Debone Chicken Thighs

If you cant find boneless skinless chicken thighs at the grocery store, you can always remove the bone yourself!

Heres a great guide on how to debone chicken thighs if those are all you can find in the store.

Grilling them with the bone in is also another option, but since the bone will absorb some of the heat, youll want to grill them a bit longer. Aim to cook your chicken about 10 minutes per side, but the total cooking time will depend on how thick your chicken thighs are.

Use a digital meat thermometer in the same way to make sure that its reached 165°F at the thickest part avoiding the bone.

Also Check: How To Make Grilled Cheese Easy

How Long To Grill Bbq Chicken Thighs

The cook times will vary based on the size of the chicken. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken is cooked to the correct temperature.

Using a meat thermometer will make sure you do not overcook your chicken. We recommend staying close to the grill to ensure your chicken doesnt burn.

We grilled each side about 5-7 minutes. They were cooked all the way through and did not burn or dry out. We love to have the chicken thighs to have a crispy skin.

How To Grill Chicken Thighs

Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Combo Grill

Can I Make Barbecue Chicken In The Oven

Yes! If you don’t have an outdoor grill or maybe it’s raining when you want to prepare this recipe, don’t worry! You can still enjoy the taste of grilled barbecue chicken by cooking it in the oven.

Simply place the chicken on a large baking sheet that’s been lined with aluminum foil. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven and bake for at least 30 to 40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Then brush the chicken with a little of the homemade barbecue sauce and turn the oven up to broil. Cook for an additional five minutes or until the skin is crispy and the sauce is bubbling.

Are You A Foodie Too

Hey home chefs, hope that answers all your questions about making chicken thighs on grills. Also try my baked chicken breast thats seared with a ton of flavor.

If you dont follow me on instagram you totally should . And for more deliciousness, subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel and see the Sip Bite Go recipe collection.

You May Like: Where Is Weber Grill Headquarters

How To Grill Chicken Thighs: Style And Seasoning

Part of what makes chicken such a popular grilling choice is its versatility. Used in almost every nation, chicken can be marinated, rubbed, basted, brined, or lightly seasoned in various combinations and traditions. A comparatively lean protein to beef and pork, chicken thighs have the perfect fat content for a moist texture that takes on all the seasonings’ characteristics.

One tip is to pat the chicken with paper towels once removed from the marinade. Marinades often have a lot of sugar content like brown sugar that can easily char and burn too quickly. A favorite option is to use a rub of spices before grilling, and then add your favorite barbecue sauce at the end for a little gorgeous color and caramelization.

How To Grill Chicken Thighs: Temperature

When the chicken is ready to cook, preheat the grill for medium heat. If you’re using boneless skinless chicken thighs, your target temperature is 400 degrees. Add a little more boost of heat to 450 degrees for bone-in thighs. Ensure the grill grates are clean to keep the chicken from being contaminated with old, charred food debris.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Grill Chicken

How To Make Grilled Chicken Thighs

Grilled chicken thighs are easy, versatile, nutritious, and delicious.

We eat them at least once a week!

• Grilled chicken thighs are scrumptious on their own, and you can also use the leftovers in a variety of new ways, from salads, to wraps, to quesadillas and more.
• Feel free to scale this recipe for a crowd or make extra for meal prep.

An Affordable Grilled Chicken Recipe

I absolutely love grilling season! These Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs are one of my family’s favorite recipes. I like them because chicken thighs are extremely flavorful but also very affordable so it’s a great option when you need to feed a lot of people. This recipe is super simple and with just a few spices and a couple grilling techniques, you will be a BBQ Chicken Thigh grilling master!

You May Like: How Does An Electric Grill Work

More Easy Grilled Chicken Recipes

Here are a few more easy chicken recipes we love!

• Pulled Chicken Sandwiches are made with grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs and a root beer BBQ sauce!
• Teriyaki Chicken is so easy to make with my quick teriyaki marinade made with soy sauce, spices, and brown sugar for a sweet, tangy, savory flavor.
• Bruschetta Chicken is a wuick and healthy grilled chicken breast recipe topped with bruschetta!
• BBQ Chicken is slow cooked on your grill and covered in BBQ Sauce!

How Long Should You Grill Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs On A Gas Grill

This depends on the temperature of the grill and the thickness of your chicken thighs! If youre cooking it between 325°F and 350°F, youll want to cook them for about 5-6 minutes on both sides.

Youll want to be sure to use a digital thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of your chicken thighs has reached 165°F at the thickest part.

Be sure to account for some time to let your grilled boneless chicken thighs rest after cooking and before cutting, too! It helps redistribute the juices in the chicken so that its nice and moist. Around 3-4 minutes is all youll need here!

You May Like: How To Grill Burgers On Gas Grill

Barbecued Chicken On The Grill

Theres a reason chicken with barbecue sauce is so popular: its delicious. This recipe calls for whatever store-bought barbecue sauce you like but you can also make homemade barbecue sauce if you’re feeling up to it. The recipe includes step-by-step instructions for nailing a perfectly tender bird every time. Serve this with classic summer sides, such as this Potato Salad with Dill and a plate of beautiful tomatoes seasoned with salt, fresh cracked pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Grilling Bbq Chicken Thighs

Using a paper towel, dab the chicken thighs dry then place them in a large bowl. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Kosher salt, and pepper. Toss to coat, making sure that all the thighs are coated with the dry rub of spices.

You can cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to marinate for up to two hours. If you are in a rush, you can get them on the grill right away.

I like to oil the grill grates before I preheat my grill to avoid the meat sticking to the grill. Heat the grill to medium-hot. When the grill is ready, place the chicken thighs on the grill, skin side down. Leave them on the grill for 6-7 minutes. You are looking for nice grill marks but you have to watch them. The skin will cause flare-ups. You can move the chicken thighs around the grill to keep them from burning.

Flip the thighs over and continue to cook them for about 3 minutes. Brush the side facing up with BBQ sauce.

Flip the Chicken thighs again and brush the top with more BBQ sauce. Continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes. Flip the thighs one last time, brush with BBQ sauce. The skin side should be up at this point.

Continue to cook until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches a minimum of 165 degrees F using a meat thermometer. I use the Thermoworks Thermapen instant-read thermometer it works great every time!!

Also Check: Is Wood Pellet Grilling Healthy

How To Grill Chicken Thighs On A Gas Grill

How To Make Perfectly Grilled Chicken Thighs

Boneless chicken thighs go through a quick marinade and then get placed on the grill over low heat. It might be low in effort, but we can attest its high in flavor!

Here’s how to make our Grilled Chicken Thighs:

Don’t Miss: What Temp To Cook Steak On Pellet Grill