How to Grill Chicken Thighs

Co-authored by JoAnna Minneci and Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: August 28, 2022 References

Grilling chicken thighs is an easy way to make a delicious meal. Season the chicken however you like it, then place the thighs on the grill, paying careful attention to the temperature and time so the chicken doesn't get dry. Once the chicken thighs are cooked, you can add your favorite sauce and some garnishes to make this tasty dish even better.

Ingredients

4 chicken thighs
1/2 tsp (3 g) salt
1/2 tsp (1 g) black pepper
1 tbsp (14 g) butter
Additional herbs and spices to taste (optional)

Makes 4 servings

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing to Cook

1
Season 4 chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and butter. Use about 1/2 tsp (3 g) of salt and 1/2 tsp (1 g) of ground black pepper to season your chicken thighs. If you'd like to add any other seasonings, like your favorite herbs or spices, add them at this time as well. #*If you're leaving the skin on the chicken, place a small pat of butter between the skin and the meat. You'll need about 1 tbsp (14 g) of butter for all 4 thighs.^{[1]
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- For example, you might season the chicken thighs with 1/8 tsp (0.2 g) of paprika and 1/8 tsp (.8 g) of garlic powder in addition to the salt and pepper.
- If you're using an ingredient that contains salt, like Cajun seasoning or garlic salt, adjust the amount of table salt you use in the recipe.
- You should not wash a chicken because it spreads bacteria around the kitchen sink.^{[2]
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2
Place the chicken in the fridge for about an hour to add more flavor. While you can cook your chicken right away, if you let the spices sit on the chicken for about an hour they will soak in the flavors more. Make sure you refrigerate the thighs while they sit.^{[3]
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- Never let raw chicken sit out at room temperature, as this can lead to the growth of dangerous bacteria.
- Take it out of the fridge and let it rest for about 20 minutes on the counter so it can come to room temperature. The slower the thermal shock, the less likely the chickens will dry out as you cook it.^{[4]
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3
Heat up the grill. Preheat the grill to a medium or high heat. A good temperature would be 400 °F (204 °C) degrees. Keep the grill covered while it is heating up.^{[5]
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- Use a grill brush to clean off the grill grates before cooking chicken. This will help prevent the chicken from sticking.
Tip: If you're using a charcoal grill, light the charcoal, then close the grill and let it heat up for 10-15 minutes. If you're using a gas grill, light the grill with the push-button ignition or with a long match, then let the grill heat up for about 5 minutes.
4
Apply a thin coat of canola oil to the grill grates. Pour oil onto a paper towel, then use tongs to wipe a light coat of oil across the grill grates. This will help keep the chicken from sticking to the grill while it's cooking.
- Don't apply so much oil that the grates are dripping. This could be a fire hazard.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Grilling the Chicken Thighs

1
Set the chicken on the grill with the skin side facing down. Even if you removed the skin, that should still be the side touching the grill grates. Make sure there is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) between each piece of chicken.^{[6]
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- If you know that your grill has spots that are hotter than others or you notice flare-ups, try to keep the chicken thighs away from these areas.
2
Flip the chicken every 1-2 minutes. The more often you turn over the chicken, the less likely it will get burned or dry out. Regularly flipping the chicken will also create a more even cook.^{[7]
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- You could even turn the chicken thighs over every minute that they cook. You should set a timer for between 1 and 2 minutes that will tell you when to turn over the chicken thighs
3
Grill the chicken for 20 minutes or until it reaches 185 °F (85 °C) degrees. This is the safe temperature for eating the chicken. Stick a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh to check the temperature. ^{[8]
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- Every grill is different and many can range in temperatures and cook times. In general, each side of the chicken thigh should cook for about 10 minutes, for a total cooking time of 20 minutes. This time can change depending on how hot the grill is.
- Always use a thermometer when you cook, so you have less chance to overcook it and make it reach the right temperature.^{[9]
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4
Coat the chicken with a sauce to add more flavor after it has cooked. You should add your sauce of choice to your grilled chicken thighs after they have finished cooking to prevent the sauce from burning. This will make much less of a mess as well. Use a sauce brush to coat the entire chicken thigh with sauce.^{[10]
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- You can add sauce to the chicken while it is still grilling if you brush it on about 10 minutes before you are going to take it off of the grill. Be careful if you are using a gas grill because dripping sauce might cause damage to the heat source.
- Barbecue and teriyaki are the most popular sauces for grilled chicken thighs, but there are several other great choices. Honey mustard, buffalo, and lemon-herb are some other sauces that are popular with grilled chicken.^{[11]
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Tip: You can buy a pre-made sauce at the store or you can try making your own teriyaki or barbecue sauces!
5
Add some garnishes. Adding a little something extra can really bring the flavors out in your grilled chicken. You have a lot of options depending on the flavors you enjoy.
- If you made some barbecue grilled thighs, add a zest of lemon or serve with a pickle on the side.
- Grilled teriyaki chicken goes great with some fresh basil and green onion. If you want your teriyaki more Hawaiian themed, serve it with some pineapple rings.^{[12]
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- Serve up your spicy buffalo chicken with some raw celery and carrots. Ranch dressing and blue cheese is also a popular side for buffalo chicken.
- Lemon-herb grilled chicken tastes great with arugula and some fresh rosemary.^{[13]
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