Grilled Chicken Thighs
These tender, juicy Grilled Chicken Thighs are the perfect spring and summer dinner! They’re marinated in a fresh, flavorful chicken thigh marinade and grilled until golden brown and crispy. They’re easily customized with your favorite seasonings and they cook up in about 20 minutes!
It’s not summer without grilled chicken. Grilled BBQ chicken has been a summertime staple for me for years, and these smoked chicken legs are smoky, juicy and downright addictive.
These Grilled Chicken Thighs take things to a whole new level. They’re marinated in an easy chicken thigh marinade that’s bursting with fresh flavor, and they turn out perfectly golden brown and juicy every single time.
This recipe will be a wonderful addition to your summer cookouts, Fourth of July celebrations or even busy summer weeknights.
See all of my Grilling Recipes for more inspiration!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- These grilled bone in chicken thighs are tender and juicy with golden brown crispy skin, and they’re marinated in a fresh, flavorful chicken thigh marinade.
- They make an easy summer dinner that will be the hit of your next barbecue.
- There are just a few ingredients, and they can be customized based on what you have on hand.
- The prep may be done completely in advance, and they cook up in 20-30 minutes.
Recipe ingredients
There are just a few ingredients involved in this grilled chicken thigh recipe, and a few simple swaps can be made as outlined below.
Ingredient notes
- Chicken thighs. For best results, try to find chicken thighs that are similar in size so that the cooking time is the same. I prefer to use skin on bone in chicken thighs for maximum flavor. If you prefer grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs, they will work fine, but be sure to check for doneness after 15 minutes as they cook up much more quickly.
- Olive oil. I prefer olive oil for flavor, but you can substitute it with whatever you have on hand.
- Garlic cloves. A few smashed garlic cloves add great flavor to the marinade. You can add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder if you don’t have any on hand, or omit it if you are following a Low FODMAP diet.
- Lemon. Fresh lemon juice is the secret ingredient here as it adds bright, fresh flavor and also tenderizes the chicken.
- Za’atar seasoning. The savory, herby flavors in my Za’atar spice recipe work so well in this recipe, but it can be substituted with your favorite rub or seasoning.
How to grill chicken thighs
Grilling chicken thighs is incredibly easy following the instructions below. I prefer to grill mine over indirect heat on my gas grill to prevent flare ups and overly charred chicken.
Skin on bone in chicken thighs are my choice for juicier, flavorful chicken, but you can certainly use skinless boneless chicken thighs as well.
Pro tip: The longer you marinate the chicken thighs, the more flavorful they will be. For best results, marinate them for a minimum of 1 hour.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and trim off any excess skin with kitchen shears.
- Season both sides of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper to taste and place in a glass baking dish or zip top bag.
- Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic cloves and za’atar seasoning in a small bowl until combined.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken thighs and massage it into the chicken. Marinate for a minimum of 1 hour or overnight.
- Grill the chicken thighs over direct medium high heat, skin side down first, for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown and the chicken releases easily from the grates.
- Move to indirect heat and continue cooking, flipping every 5 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part without touching bone registers 170 degrees. This will take between 15-20 minutes longer depending on the size of your chicken.
FAQs
Chicken thighs take 20-30 minutes to cook on a gas grill over medium high heat (or 400 degrees). Cooking time will vary based on the size.
Grilled chicken thighs are done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part without touching bone registers 170 degrees.
Chicken thighs take a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 30 minutes to cook, so they should be cooked over indirect heat for the maximum amount of cooking time. This will prevent flare ups and overly charred chicken.
Preheat the gas grill to medium high heat (400 degrees). Cook the chicken thighs over direct heat for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and the chicken releases easily from the grates. From there, turn off one burner and move the chicken thighs to the unlit side. Continue cooking over indirect heat until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part without touching bone registers 170 degrees.
Serving suggestions
These juicy grilled chicken thighs are packed with flavor and they can be served so many delicious ways!
- They make a satisfying low carb dinner served with spring mix salad or air fryer broccoli.
- Serve at your next barbecue with broccoli slaw, coleslaw or grilled corn on the cob.
- They make a great weeknight dinner served with air fryer potatoes or almond rice pilaf.
- Serve with a creamy condiment such as Greek tzatziki or Greek yogurt ranch dressing.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: The longer you marinate the chicken thighs, the more flavorful they will be. For best results, marinate them for a minimum of 1 hour.
- Allow the chicken thighs to come to room temperature for 1 hour prior to grilling as they will cook more quickly and evenly.
- Cooking time will vary based on the size of your chicken thighs. For best results, purchase thighs that are similar in size.
- Skinless boneless chicken thighs may be used. Boneless chicken thighs will cook more quickly, so check for doneness after about 15 minutes.
- Store grilled chicken thighs in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More chicken recipes you’ll love:
- Air fryer chicken breast
- Air fryer chicken wings
- How to spatchcock a chicken
- Lemon garlic roasted chicken
- Sheet pan chicken thighs
- Slow cooker BBQ pulled chicken
- Spatchcock roast chicken
- Tequila lime chicken
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Grilled Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs 3-4 lbs. depending on size
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon juiced (about 2-3 tablespoons)
- 6 garlic cloves smashed and peeled
- 1 tablespoon za'atar seasoning sub with your favorite seasoning
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and trim off any excess skin with kitchen shears. Season both sides with salt and pepper to taste and place in a large glass baking dish.
- Place the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic cloves and seasoning in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the chicken thigh marinade over the chicken, toss until the chicken is well coated and massage it into the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for a minimum of 1 hour at room temperature or in the refrigerator up to 2 hours or overnight.
- If the chicken thighs were refrigerated, let stand at room temperature for 1 hour prior to grilling. Preheat the grill to medium high heat (400 degrees). Place the chicken thighs on the grill and cook 2-3 minutes per side, skin side down first, or until golden brown and the chicken releases easily. From there, turn off one burner and move the chicken thighs to the unlit side and continue cooking over indirect heat for 15-20 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 170 degrees. Remove from heat, cover loosely with foil, and allow to rest for about 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Pro tip: The longer you marinate the chicken thighs, the more flavorful they will be. For best results, marinate them for a minimum of 1 hour.
- Allow the chicken thighs to come to room temperature for 1 hour prior to grilling as they will cook more quickly and evenly.
- Cooking time will vary based on the size of your chicken thighs. For best results, purchase thighs that are similar in size.
- Skinless boneless chicken thighs may be used. Boneless chicken thighs will cook more quickly, so check for doneness after about 15 minutes.
- Store grilled chicken thighs in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
