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The BEST Grilled Chicken Thighs
4.4 from 114 votes

The BEST Grilled Chicken Thighs

The BEST Grilled Chicken Thighs offers a balance of juicy, flavorful meat with a slightly crispy outside achieved through direct grilling. A marinade combining avocado oil, lemon juice, and spices including garlic and paprika enhances the natural richness of the chicken thighs. The grilling process involves an initial sear over direct heat and finishing on indirect heat for thorough cooking without burning.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 206 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ to 4 lbs chicken thighs or 1.5 to 2 lbs boneless thighs, bone in, skin on
  • 3 Tbsp avocado oil
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice or rice vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup or brown sugar, optional
  • 1 Tbsp liquid aminos or soy sauce, optional
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard optional
  • 2 cloves garlic minced, or 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add all of the ingredients to a large zip lock bag. Seal the bag and shake it around until the chicken thighs are well-coated in oil and seasoning. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, ideally 8.
  2. If you use a gas grill: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 450 degrees F).
  3. If you use a charcoal grill: Prepare your coals in a charcoal chimney to heat the coals quickly. Once the coals are hot, arrange them either in the very center of the grill or off to one side (below the grill grate of course), so that there is a “cool” part of the grill where you can cook on indirect heat. If you don’t have a charcoal chimney, arrange the coals in a pile on one side of the grill.
  4. Place the chicken thighs on the grill grate skin-side down over direct heat (the hottest part of the grill) and grill for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the skin turns golden brown. Flip and sear on the other side for 3 to 5 minutes, until golden-brown as well.
  5. Move chicken pieces to unlit side of grill (indirect heat) and cover the grill. Cook, flipping occasionally, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  6. Use tongs to transfer the chicken to a cookie sheet or plate. Let chicken rest 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices in the chicken to distribute throughout the meat, producing an even more tender result.
  7. Serve with your choice of side dishes and enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Serving 1of 8 Calories 206kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 2g (1%) Protein 39g (78%) Fat 7g (11%) Fiber 2g (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 206

% Daily Value*

Serving 1of 8
Calories 206kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 39g 78%
Fat 7g 11%
Fiber 2g 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.