Succulent BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs Recipe

Juicy BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs Recipe: Grill Master’s Dream

Tender and juicy BBQ boneless chicken thighs spark excitement at every backyard gathering.

Marinades packed with zesty flavors infuse these succulent boneless chicken thighs with irresistible taste.

Summer cooking reaches new heights when these perfectly seasoned cuts hit the grill.

Charred edges and a glossy barbecue glaze promise mouthwatering results that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of smoky and sweet notes that dance across your palate.

Simple ingredients transform ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal everyone will devour.

Prepare to savor a dish that turns an everyday dinner into a delectable celebration.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Calories: 290 kcal

Servings: 5

What You’ll Need for Grilled BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs

For Marinade and Seasoning:
  • Olive Oil: Helps distribute flavors and prevents sticking while creating a beautiful golden exterior.
  • Garlic Powder: Adds deep, aromatic flavor that complements the chicken's natural taste.
  • Smoked Paprika: Brings a smoky, slightly sweet dimension that enhances the grilled profile.
  • Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that amplify the chicken's natural flavor and create a perfect flavor base.
For Protein:
  • Boneless Chicken Thighs: Rich, tender meat that stays juicy and absorbs marinades wonderfully, ideal for grilling.
For Finishing Glaze:
  • BBQ Sauce: Provides a sweet, tangy caramelized coating that creates irresistible sticky-crispy exterior and adds complex flavor layers.

Tools to Make BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs on Point

  • Grill: Essential for creating those perfect, smoky char marks and cooking chicken evenly.
  • Tongs: Crucial for safely flipping and handling chicken on the hot grill.
  • Basting brush: Helps coat chicken with BBQ sauce for a delicious, caramelized glaze.
  • Meat thermometer: Ensures chicken reaches safe internal temperature of 165F.
  • Mixing bowl: Used for tossing chicken with seasonings and oil.
  • Cutting board: Provides a clean surface for preparing chicken.
  • Sharp knife: Helpful for trimming any excess fat from chicken thighs.

Grill These BBQ Chicken Thighs Without Overdoing It

  • Prep Chicken for Flavor Explosion

Rub chicken thighs with a zesty blend of spices and olive oil. Let the meat soak up those killer flavors for 15-30 minutes at room temperature.

  • Fire Up the Grill

Crank your grill to a sizzling medium-high heat. Quickly brush the grates with oil to prevent sticking.

  • Grill to Perfection

Lay chicken thighs on the hot grates. Cook each side for 5-6 minutes until they’re golden brown and cooked through.

  • Glaze with Sweet and Tangy Sauce

Slather BBQ sauce generously over the chicken. Let it caramelize for 1-2 minutes on each side, creating a mouthwatering sticky coating.

  • Rest and Devour

Take the chicken off the grill and let it rest for a few minutes. This helps lock in those juicy flavors. Serve with extra sauce for dipping and watch everyone dig in.

BBQ Chicken Thigh Tricks You’ll Want to Try

  • Pat chicken thighs completely dry before seasoning to ensure crispy exterior and better caramelization of BBQ sauce.
  • Extend flavor depth by refrigerating chicken overnight in a sealed bag with additional herbs like rosemary or thyme for more intense taste profile.
  • Replace traditional BBQ sauce with sugar-free or low-sugar alternatives for diabetic-friendly version. Use gluten-free BBQ sauce for celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals.
  • Use meat thermometer to guarantee chicken reaches exact 165°F internal temperature, preventing overcooking while ensuring food safety.
  • Substitute chicken thighs with firm tofu or portobello mushrooms, adjusting grilling time and marinade to match plant-based protein's texture and absorption qualities.

Serve Boneless Chicken Thighs with Coleslaw or Fries

  • Family Picnic Plate: Pair these juicy chicken thighs with classic summer sides like creamy coleslaw, grilled corn on the cob, and crispy potato salad for a crowd-pleasing outdoor meal.
  • Weeknight Dinner Upgrade: Slice the grilled chicken and serve over a fresh mixed green salad, drizzling extra BBQ sauce as a zesty dressing for a quick and satisfying dinner.
  • Sandwich Transformation: Shred the cooled chicken and pile onto soft brioche buns with a tangy slaw and extra BBQ sauce for mouthwatering sandwiches that everyone will love.
  • Meal Prep Champion: Chop the chicken and store in airtight containers with rice or quinoa for easy, protein-packed lunches throughout the week that stay deliciously moist and flavorful.

Store BBQ Chicken Thighs and Keep ‘Em Tender

  • Store marinated chicken in an airtight container for up to 24 hours, allowing seasonings to deeply penetrate the meat for maximum taste intensity.
  • Reheat grilled chicken thighs in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, covering with foil to maintain moisture and prevent drying out.
  • Slice cold grilled chicken and add to salads, sandwiches, or grain bowls for instant protein-packed lunches throughout the week.
  • Wrap cooled chicken tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then store in freezer bags for up to 3 months, ensuring a quick protein option for future meals.
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Succulent BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs Recipe

Succulent BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs Recipe


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4.7 from 29 reviews

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 5 1x

Description

Sizzling BBQ boneless chicken thighs promise a flavor explosion that dances between smoky and sweet. Juicy meat caramelized with tangy sauce delivers a mouthwatering experience you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite brand or homemade)
  • 2 pounds (907 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: 1 pinch cayenne or chili flakes for heat

Instructions

  1. Flavor Infusion: Thoroughly dry chicken thighs and massage with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Allow seasoning to penetrate for 15-30 minutes at ambient temperature.
  2. Grill Preparation: Ignite grill to medium-high heat and delicately coat cooking grates with a thin layer of oil to prevent sticking.
  3. Cooking Process: Position seasoned thighs onto heated grill, cooking approximately 5-6 minutes per side until internal temperature achieves 165°F, ensuring thorough and even cooking.
  4. Glazing Technique: Liberally brush both surfaces with tangy BBQ sauce, returning chicken to grill for an additional 1-2 minutes per side to create a caramelized, glossy exterior.
  5. Serving Presentation: Allow grilled chicken to rest momentarily, permitting juices to redistribute, then plate and accompany with additional BBQ sauce for enhanced flavor experience.

Notes

  • Pat chicken thighs completely dry before seasoning to ensure maximum flavor absorption and prevent steaming instead of grilling, creating a perfect crispy exterior.
  • Allow chicken to sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes or refrigerate up to 8 hours to enhance tenderness and develop deeper flavor profiles without compromising food safety.
  • Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches exactly 165°F, preventing overcooking while ensuring chicken remains juicy and safely cooked through.
  • Apply BBQ sauce during the final 2-3 minutes of grilling to prevent burning and achieve a beautifully caramelized glaze without charring the meat’s surface.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
  • Method: Grilling
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 5
  • Calories: 290
  • Sugar: 8 g
  • Sodium: 650 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 120 mg
Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Founder & Culinary Director

Expertise

Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine

Education

Southwestern Oregon Community College

  • Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
  • Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.

Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care. 

After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.

Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.

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