The Best Grilled Chicken Thighs

Name: The Best Grilled Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 - 12 boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1 12- ounce can beer; 3 tablespoons BBQ dry rub; 2 tablespoon soy sauce; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

grilled boneless chicken thighs on a baking sheet garnished with lemon

Why I love these grilled chicken thighs

We’ve been spending days at the pool lately, and there is nothing I like better than coming home to a dinner that’s already prepared.

These chicken thighs are perfect for that because I can throw them into a quick marinade before leaving and they’re ready for the grill when we get home.

The last time we made these, I served them with grilled asparagus and we even grilled some tater tots to go with them, but they would be great with some vegetable pasta salad or this hearty wheat berry salad.

Here’s what you’ll need to make them

Large mixing bowl
Measuring spoons
Kitchen tongs
Gas grill or grill pan

chicken thighs marinade in a bowl with boneless chicken

My favorite chicken thigh marinade

I absolutely love marinating and cooking with beer. I’ve made so many great recipes with it – braised beef, beer chili, beer brats, beer dip, slow cooker beef tacos. It’s such an easy way to add flavor to a recipe, and it’s naturally acidic so it’s perfect for tenderizing meat.

This marinade uses beer as it’s base, just like my grilled chicken drumsticks, I’ve instead of lemon and rosemary, I used balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ dry rub. The flavor is intense, and so so good. I know you’re going to love it.

If you don’t want to use beer in this recipe, you could substitute it with a soda. Root beer or Dr. Pepper would be great with the rest of these ingredients. I think ginger ale would work really well, too.

grilled chicken thighs on a baking sheet

How to grill chicken thighs

Grilling boneless, skinless chicken thighs couldn’t be easier. Since they’re dark meat, they don’t dry out as easily, making them almost impossible to mess up.

Marinate the chicken thighs. Combine the marinade ingredients is a large bowl and add the chicken. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until you’re ready to grill.

Grill the chicken. Preheat your grill to medium high heat. Remove the chicken from it marinade at pat dry. Grill your chicken thighs for 6 – 7 minutes per side, or until their internal temperature reaches 165˚F.

FAQs and tips for making the best grilled chicken thighs

How long can I marinate chicken?

The ideal time for marinating chicken is anywhere from 12 – 24 hours. The longer you marinate the more flavor you will add to your chicken, but even 1 hour of marinating will make a huge difference in the flavor of the chicken.

What happens if you marinate chicken too long?

If you marinate chicken for more than 24 hours, it will eventually become tough and rubbery. For optimal texture, you want to marinate your chicken between 12-24 hours.

Do you rinse marinade off chicken before cooking?

You should discard marinade before cooking chicken, but you don’t need to rinse it. Simply remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with a paper towel before cooking.

How long should I grill boneless chicken thighs?

Boneless skinless chicken thighs generally take about 12 – 15 minutes to grill over medium-high heat, but that time can vary depending on the size of the chicken pieces.

What temperature should my grill be to cook chicken?

To prevent food borne illness always cook your chicken to an internal temperature of 165˚F.

How can you tell if chicken thighs are cooked?

I always recommend using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of chicken thighs, but the chicken will no longer be pink in the center and juices should run clear.

sliced, grilled chicken thigh on a plate with asparagus and two lemon slices

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