How To Know When Grilled Chicken Thighs Are Done
Be careful here the color of your chicken things doesnt indicate if they are done or not.
According to the USDA, even fully cooked chicken can have a pinkish tinge in meat and juices .
Dont forget to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat. This goes for both bone-in and boneless thighs.
If the temperature reaches 165 degrees, the meat is cooked.
If the temperature is higher than this, you may end up with overcooked, tough chicken pieces.
However, if you dont own a meat thermometer, youll know your meat is done when the juices run clear once you move the chicken out of the grill grate and let it rest for one minute.
In case your chicken thighs arent done yet, you can return them and grill thighs some more.
Pro tip: If you dont have it, my advice is to get a meat thermometer. Itll be useful not only for chicken thighs but breasts as well, as they are difficult to cook evenly.
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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.
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Tips For Grilling Chicken Thighs
Knowing how to grill chicken thighs to perfection will leave you with mouth-watering juicy chicken and a nice char for flavor and texture.
The length of time that it takes to cook chicken thighs is going to vary depending on a few factors.
For starters, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are going to cook a little longer than boneless. Regardless, it is important to keep a close eye on your chicken thighs when you are grilling.
What type of grill you are cooking on and what temperature will also be important when determining how long it will take to grill chicken thighs.
Smokers will take hours whereas a charcoal grill or gas grill will take about 10-15 minutes.
Take Grilled Chicken Thighs To Another Level With A Hybrid Grill
If you love the flavor of grilled chicken but want to take it to another level, try using a hybrid grill. A hybrid grill combines charcoal and gas, which gives you the best of both worlds. The charcoal gives the chicken that fantastic smoky flavor, while the gas helps to keep the temperature consistent.
If youre looking for the best way to grill chicken thighs, try using a hybrid grill from American Made Grills. You can get that perfect grilled chicken every time with a hybrid grill from American Made Grills. Each hybrid grill is made with 100% American-made materials and a lifetime warranty, so you know its built to last.
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How To Grill Chicken Thighs
Once youve seasoned the chicken , youre ready to prepare the grill! You can grill the chicken on a gas grill or charcoal grill. Its best to start with clean, oiled grill grates.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Once you add the chicken to the grill, youll reduce the heat to medium. Using moderate heat ensures that your chicken wont burn on the outside before the inside is cooked through. Cover the grill while cooking to keep the heat even around your meat.
How To Make Boneless Grill Chicken Thighs
Grilled chicken is juicy, flavorful, and delicious. Learning how to grill boneless chicken thighs is simple with these tips. When it comes to grilling chicken, there are two main types you can use: bone-in or boneless. While both are excellent choices for the grill, boneless chicken thighs are among the most versatile meats available for cooking on an outdoor grill. Here are the steps to follow while grilling chicken thighs.
- The first step of grilling boneless chicken thighs is to make sure your grill grates are cleanedseason boneless chicken thighs liberally with genuine salt and newly ground dark pepper.
- Next, you want to preheat your grill to 350 degrees. This temperature is low enough, so you do not burn your food but are still hot enough, so the chicken cooks quickly.
- While the grill is heating up, you are going to cut slits in the skinless chicken thighs. You are cutting slits in the chicken to help keep them from curling while cooking.
- Your chicken is done when you see juices running clear from underneath the skinless chicken thigh. Let sit for a few minutes before serving to allow the liquid to absorb into the meat as it rests on a cutting board.
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What’s Great About This Recipe
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are lean, but the dark meat is still tender and juicy.
- Boneless skinless thighs cook up quickly on the grill, just 10 minutes.
- The simple lemon herb marinade is easy to make but imparts a ton of flavor.
- Grilling the chicken thighs gives them a delicious smoky flavor and beautifully browned exterior.
- These are so versatile! You can serve them as appetizers for your summer barbecues, or grill some veggies alongside the chicken for a delicious family dinner.
- Chicken thighs are an economical cut of chicken, making this recipe a budget friendly choice.
Grilled Chicken Thigh Cooking Time
A good estimate for bone-in chicken thigh cooking time is 25 minutes, but the exact grill temperature, the thickness of the thighs, and their temperature at the start of grilling will make the exact time variable.
Boneless thighs will be about 5 minutes less and tend to be thinner, so watch your internal temperature starting at 15 minutes.
Always cook to a final internal temperature. Please, never by time alone.
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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.
Setting Up The Gas Grill
If you are going to use the gas grill this summer and have stored the appliance somewhere far, it is imperative to clean it before use. Ensure that the cooking grates are clean because rust in the grates and residue of previous grilling adventures can affect the food you are about to cook.
An essential aspect of grilling all foods is the temperature you grill the food at. The time the meal takes to grill invariably depends on the temperature you have set for heating it.
Like all other barbecue items, it is crucial to adjust the temperatures according to the needs of the chicken thighs. To make the perfect grilled chicken thighs, make sure that you have set the gas grill at medium-high flame this will give you a temperature within the 350 to 400 °F range.
Some grills are more comfortable to control than others, with outdoor temperatures playing a role as well. However, keep in mind that the average temperature required for pre-heating the gas grill is 350-400 °F this is regardless of grill type and the ease of use.
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Tips For Perfect Baked Chicken Thighs
Before we get started, I thought I would go over the secrets to getting your chicken thighs just right! These tips apply to both boneless, skinless and bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Keep reading to see more specific instructions on the differences between the two, or to get cooking!
- Whether you use boneless or bone-in thighs depends on your preference. For juicier meat, opt for bone-in. For a leaner dinner, go for the boneless. Personally I prefer boneless as they are less messy to eat and still end up being very tender
- Use a parchment-lined baking sheet as the chicken will produce some juices you can lay the chicken flat on the sheet or use a wire rack to drain some of the fat
- Don’t add extra oil! It’s not needed with chicken thighs as they contain enough fat on their own. Parchment paper will prevent them from sticking to the baking sheet
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reads 165°F
- You can use the broiler setting on your oven once the chicken are done cooking to get a crispy outside
- Let your chicken thighs rest for 5 to 10 minutes after they are baked to ensure they hold their juices
Juicy Barbecued Chicken Thighs Recipe
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My mom made these BBQ chicken thighs for Easter dinner and they were so tender and flavorful. Everyone was raving about the chicken. I literally overheard my mom get props for the chicken at least 5 times.
I jotted down the recipe before heading home and was craving this grilled chicken for the next few days. I re-created it just as soon as I could. I was really craving that chicken! I love that you can prep them ahead of time and just toss em on the grill when youre ready making them perfect for parties.
Youll want to marinate the chicken at least 6 hours and its best to let them marinate overnight. Im sharing the detailed grilling and baking methods for this chicken so read on. This is an easy, excellent recipe!
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My Favorite Ways To Season Chicken Thighs
When it comes to dark meat, you dont really need to add much to make it shine. There are days where I just season with salt and pepper and call it a day, and honestly its perfect. But if you want to really make your meal pop heres what Id recommend
Chicken Dry Rubs Every dry rub you can think of is right here in this post. Ive got a rub for every mood Lemon Pepper, Smoky Chipotle, Buffalo, Mediterranean and my basic dry rub. One of my favorite things to do with a dry rub is to add olive oil to it, mix it around to form a kind of paste and then rub it onto my protein. It creates this crust that is mouthwatering!
Best Chicken Marinades Another great way to infuse flavor into your chicken thighs is to marinate them for at least 30 minutes or overnight if you have the time. Here are my top 5 favorite honey sriracha, teriyaki, zesty greek, sweet balsamic and cilantro lime. You cant go wrong with any of these!
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How Long Should You Grill Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
When the boneless chicken thighs have no skin, the above-mentioned higher temperature is more likely to cause a burn. As a rule of thumb, whether you cook them at 400 degrees by setting an indirect heat zone on your charcoal or gas grill or directly at 325-350 degrees F, aim at taking your meats internal temperature to 160 degrees.
You can check the chicken thighs internal temperature through an instant probe thermometer. Itll take 10 minutes which will include flipping after every 2-3 minutes. This way, your chicken will also not lose moisture.
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How Long To Grill Boneless Chicken Thighs Recipe And Tips
Summer barbecues are incomplete without grilling chicken thighs. Besides, owing to the simplicity of this dish theres no reason why you should skip it. It can be cooked on any type of grill, flavored with just salt and pepper. The only thing you need to be cautious about is how long to grill boneless chicken thighs. It only takes a span of minutes to overcook tender and juicy meat.
Lets discuss how long to grill the meat, but also what different marinades you can try to give it an extra shot of flavor. Scroll down to know everything about it.
How Do You Grill Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs To Perfection
As I mentioned in the section above, these grilling guidelines are specifically for propane grills, which put out a consistent heat with fewer temperature fluctuations than charcoal grills.
Here’s how to get juicy, smoky chicken thighs on that propane grill of yours. Remember, these are guidelines to perfectly grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs. Part of the success equation depends upon intuition on your part – things like knowing the hot spots on your grill, removing smaller, faster-cooking chicken thighs sooner than larger thighs, etc. But you totally got this!
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Uneven Grillingthe Secret To Grilled Thighs
Uneven grilling is my method to avoid both flare-ups from draining fat and burnt skin.
There are two parts to this method:1) The skin side of the thighs can burn easily so should have less time facing the flames. So with skin-on thighs, start with skin up for the first period and grill for about 5-6 minutes. Flip to skin side down for 4 minutes. Continue to go back and forth using the same timing.2) Alternate sides of the grill surface with each flip. You will get fat drainage flare-ups. Moving the chicken to the other side of the grill at the flips will allow hot spots from fat drainage to burn out.
For skinless thighs, you can skip the uneven grilling timesyou have no chicken skin you are trying to protect. But you will still need a large surface area to move around and avoid flare-ups from the fat drainage.
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How To Cook Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs In The Oven
I am a huge, huge fan of boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They are inexpensive, tasty, and easy to cook. In fact, I find it difficult to mess up chicken thighs. They are just dark enough to stay tender, but not so dark as to put off people who prefer white meat. Everyone who eats regularly at my house has eaten chicken thighs!
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How To Grill Chicken Thighs On A Gas Grill
Spice Rub For Chicken Thighs
While the barbecue is getting ready, it is time to season the chicken thighs. You can do this up to an hour before you put them on the grill. First, mix the brown sugar and the spices in a small bowl. Once combined, sprinkle it on both sides of the chicken. Using your hands, pat the seasoning blend so it sticks to the chicken.
Add brown sugar to the 4 spices. Stir to combine into a sweet & spicy dry rub.
Press the sprinkled-on seasoning blend so it coats and sticks to both sides of the chicken thighs.
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What You Will Need
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this grilled chicken thighs recipe:
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Parsley– fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried
Basil– fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried
Rosemary – fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried crushed
Water
Lemon Juice – fresh squeezed lemon juice is best
Brown Gugar– or sugar-free brown sugar substitute
Minced Garlic
Ground Black Pepper
Dried Red Pepper Flakes– these can be options, but they add a really nice zest and a hint of spice.
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
Grilled Chicken Thigh Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs: either boneless skinless chicken thighs or bone-in chicken thighs will work and we have included instructions for both!
- Olive oil: we rub a bit of this on before seasoning.
- Seasoning: you can either use a classic salt and pepper seasoning OR you can use a fun chicken seasoning .
- : this Easy Chicken Marinade is a combination of soy sauce, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil and worcestershire sauce.
- Dipping Sauce : you definitely dont need a dipping sauce, but sometimes we like to use a little simple mustard mayo sauce to dip our grilled chicken thighs in!
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