Description
Smoky BBQ chicken thighs bring serious flavor to your dinner table without complicated prep work. Tender meat gets a perfect char and zesty sauce coating that makes weeknight meals feel like a backyard cookout.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 8 bone-in (skin-on) chicken thighs (about 2.5 lbs)
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Finishing & Preparation:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- Optional: fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Remove chicken thighs from packaging and thoroughly dry each piece with clean paper towels, ensuring no excess moisture remains.
- Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the 8 thighs, massaging the oil to coat each piece completely and evenly.
- Create a spice blend by mixing 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle the spice mixture generously over both sides of the chicken thighs, pressing the seasonings gently into the meat to help them adhere.
- Heat your outdoor grill to medium temperature, targeting 375-400°F for consistent cooking.
- Arrange chicken thighs skin-side down on the grill grates, ensuring they are not touching each other for even heat distribution.
- Grill the thighs for 6-7 minutes until the skin turns golden and crisp, developing beautiful grill marks.
- Carefully flip the thighs and continue grilling for another 6-7 minutes on the opposite side.
- Warm 1 cup of barbecue sauce and use a basting brush to coat the thighs generously, turning them to cover all surfaces.
- Continue grilling and flipping every few minutes, reapplying sauce, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 175°F (approximately 25-30 minutes total).
- Transfer the grilled thighs to a clean plate and let them rest for 5 minutes to redistribute internal juices.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Pat the chicken completely dry to help the skin get extra crispy and develop a beautiful golden-brown color.
- Choose bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for maximum flavor and juiciness during grilling or baking.
- I recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 175°F without overcooking.
- For a low-carb or keto version, select a sugar-free BBQ sauce or make your own with no added sugars.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg