Grilled Chicken Thighs
On November 08, 2022 (Updated September 27, 2024)
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These grilled chicken thighs are one of my favorite things to cook on the grill. They’re moist and tender with a fresh herb flavor. Chicken thighs grill up in less than 15 minutes, making them the perfect weeknight dinner for yourself and your loved ones.
Grilled Chicken Thighs
If you’re looking for an easy, flavorful way to cook up some chicken, then you can’t go wrong with grilled chicken thighs. Boneless chicken thighs are cheap, flavorful, and a breeze to cook. They also make a nice change from the same old chicken breasts that we tend to reach for so often.
Chicken thighs have more dark meat and a higher fat content than chicken breast, allowing them to stay moist and juicy when grilled. They also hold up well to high-temperature grilling, meaning you can grill them quickly and fast and get a gorgeous texture that simply melts in your mouth.
Another great bonus with choosing chicken thighs over chicken breast is that thighs taste incredible. More fat content means more flavor, making thighs a fantastic option when you want a flavorful cut of meat before adding any seasoning.
Grilling Chicken Thighs
When grilling chicken, I often recommend using two-zone grilling with one indirect heat side and one direct heat side to get your chicken just right. The marinade for these chicken thighs makes for the most amazing chicken ever. The chicken comes out crispy from the grill with a fresh herb flavor. The lemon and white wine add some brightness to the chicken and beautifully compliment the sharp garlic.
Grilling chicken thighs are a bit different. Chicken thighs are thinner, and you can grill them on direct heat the entire time. The thinner cut of the thigh cooks very quickly, and the direct heat creates good char on the outside while the interior is cooking through.
Garlic Chicken Marinade
I love marinades, and I believe they really help to add flavor to your meat. When you combine just the right ingredients in your marinade, they work together perfectly to create a balanced flavor profile and tenderize the meat before you get it on the grill.
All my marinades have the following 5 elements to create a perfectly balanced flavor: acid, fat, salt, sugar, and herbs and spices. Here’s what you’ll need to make this grilled chicken thigh marinade
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 5 cloves minced garlic
- 2 Tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 2 Tablespoons fresh minced rosemary
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley
- 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
How to Grill Chicken Thighs
Now that you have all your ingredients ready to make this chicken, let’s get to grilling them. Here’s how to grill chicken thighs:
- Marinate. Combineall ingredients for the marinade in a gallon-sized zip-top bag and add the chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator for 4-8 hours.
- Preheat your grill. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (between 400-450 degrees F).
- Grill hot and fast. Place chicken thighs on grill grates, and grill them for approximately 6-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F.
- Rest. Remove chicken thighs to a plate or serving tray, cover lightly with foil, and allow them to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy. This chicken will be delicious, juicy, and tender. They make for a meal the whole family will love.
How Long to Grill Chicken
Most boneless chicken thighs are going to take less than 15 minutes to finish cooking. Because chicken thighs can be cooked hot and fast on direct heat, they only require 6 to 7 minutes per side to get them to that perfect doneness.
It is extremely important to use a meat thermometer to keep track of your internal temperature when cooking chicken. The FDA recommends chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees F. I like using my ThermoWorks ThermoPop for quick and fast dinners to make sure my chicken thighs have reached 165 degrees F before removing them from the grill, but you can use any reliable food thermometer.
Once the chicken thighs have reached 165 degrees, I remove them from the grill and wrap them in foil to rest for 10 minutes. Chicken thighs contain connective tissue that starts to break apart at 170 degrees F. This resting period with the chicken wrapped in foil helps the meat get up to that higher temperature and also stay moist and juicy. The chicken basically steams itself in the foil, allowing that connective tissue to break down and the meat to become incredibly tender.
More Tasty Chicken Thigh Recipes
Chicken is my family’s go-to protein of choice for our busy weekday dinners. If you’re on the hunt for more creative ways to cook up chicken thighs, then check out some of our chicken recipes below:
Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe
Follow the recipe, and I’ll teach you the simple steps to making your own grilled chicken thighs at home. You can find more of my smoking and grilling recipes and videos on YouTube, Instagram, or our Facebook Page. Let’s make some good food together.
This post was originally published in May 2019, but recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. The recipe remains the same.
Grilled Chicken Thighs
Video
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Marinade
- 1 cup olive oil
- ½ cup white wine vinegar
- ½ cup white wine
- 5 cloves minced garlic
- 2 Tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 2 Tablespoons fresh minced rosemary
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley finely minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme chopped
- 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano minced
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- zest and juice of one lemon
Instructions
- Make the marinade. Combine all ingredients for the marinade in a gallon-sized zip-top bag or glass container.
- Marinate. Add whole chicken thighs to the bag. Remove excess air, and seal tightly. Massage the bag to evenly coat chicken thighs in the marinade, and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 -8 hours.
- Preheat. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (between 400-450 degrees F).
- Grill. Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade, and shake off any excess pieces of herbs or garlic. Place the chicken thighs directly on grill grates, close the lid, and grill for approximately 6-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F.
- Rest and serve. Remove the chicken thighs to a plate or serving tray, cover lightly with foil, and allow them to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Sensational recipe. Have made this several times as it is a winner in our household. You rock Susie!
Oh SOOOO GOOD!!
Thank you! Will try them this weekend.
Where is the recipe? It is not showing, even tried clicking “jump to recipe” and it is not clickable. 🙁
Working on fixing it. Thanks for letting me know!
By far the best grilled chicken recipe on the internet. I’ve tried several, enjoyed several, but nothing like this. I’ve never felt compelled enough to comment either.
Absolutely fantastic. We will make plenty extra for grilled chicken salad later in the week. If you’re seeing this recipe, please give it a try!!
Great recipe! I speed things up by making a double batch of the dried ingredients, chopped up in blender, to keep on hand. Ready for a fast marinade.
Quick, easy and tasty!
Love your recipe! Question is the white wine dry or sweet? Thanks!
I’ve done it with both, I like dry.
Best.Grilled.Chicken. recipe ever! No exaggeration here! This recipe has become my go-to for chicken thighs: 1-because it’s delicious, 2-because it’s adaptable. Don’t have fresh herbs, use dried or substitute any fresh herbs you may have. I’m on a fresh marjoram kick lately, so into the marinade it goes. Thanks!
Ooo yeah it’s good and I’m picky
Great recipe the the herbiness (wife’s description) was outstanding. Another great meal from HGH.
Thank You.