Chicken thighs, full of rich flavor, make the perfect choice when you want a juicy, dark-meat cut that’s quick and easy to cook. Whether you want chicken thigh recipes for the smoker, grill, or even your oven, I’ve got the perfect recipe for you. You can find all my chicken thigh recipes at the bottom of this page, but let this Hey Grill Hey guide help you make some delicious chicken thighs.

Tips for the Best Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are super simple to prepare and cook, but there are a couple key things to keep in mind:

  • Flavor over fitness. Because chicken thighs have a higher fat content than their white-meat counterparts, they have a higher calorie count. They’re all full of tender, juicy meat bursting with rich chicken flavor.
  • Low and slow(er). Being a dark meat, chicken thighs need a little longer to render down that sweet and savory chicken fat. You want to smoke dark-meat poultry, like chicken thighs, to an internal temperature of 175 degrees F in the thickest part of the meat.
  • Don’t guess on temperature. Seriously, I can’t stress enough how important it is to cook chicken thighs to 175 degrees F. Not only does this ensure food safety, it’s the only way to get the most flavor out of your chicken. Invest in a food thermometer. I love the Thermapen ONE from Thermoworks, but any reliable, instant-read thermometer will work.

For even more tips on all things chicken thighs, from buying with confidence, to the best woods for smoking, check out this informative posts:

Recipes Using Chicken Thighs

Once you master the art of perfectly smoked or grilled chicken thighs, you’ll be adding it to everything. Trust me, we put it on nachos and pizzas, we put it in our pastas, and don’t get me started on the soups you can make. Here are some of my favorite recipes that use chicken thighs. And remember, you can find all my chicken thigh recipes at the bottom of this page.

More Recipes Using Chicken Thighs

Chicken Thighs Vs Chicken Breasts

You can use chicken thighs in most recipes that call for chicken breasts. Just remember, they have to cook a little longer. They’ll also be way more flavorful. (And a little less healthy, but hey, BBQ is about flavor, not calories.)

SEE ALL CHICKEN BREAST RECIPES
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All Chicken Thighs