Mouthwatering BBQ Chicken Thighs (Printable)
Tender chicken thighs with smoky tangy BBQ glaze perfect for grilling or baking.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
→ Marinade & Sauce
02 - 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
05 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
06 - 2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1 tsp garlic powder
08 - 1 tsp onion powder
09 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
# Directions:
01 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure proper seasoning adhesion and crispy skin.
02 - Combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken and toss thoroughly to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 4 hours for deeper flavor penetration.
03 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat or preheat oven to 400°F.
04 - Place chicken skin-side down on grill. Cook for 6-7 minutes until skin begins to crisp. Flip and brush generously with BBQ sauce. Continue grilling for 25-30 minutes, turning and basting with additional sauce every few minutes, until internal temperature reaches 175°F and chicken is cooked through with slight char.
05 - For oven preparation, arrange chicken on foil-lined baking sheet skin-side up. Roast for 30-35 minutes, brushing with BBQ sauce every 10 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 175°F.
06 - Remove from heat and let chicken rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Serve with additional BBQ sauce on the side if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The skin gets perfectly crispy while the meat stays impossibly juicy
- The homemade spice blend tastes infinitely better than bottled marinade
02 -
- Sauce burns fast so save most of it for the final 10 minutes of cooking
- Use a meat thermometer since chicken thighs vary in size and appearance can be misleading
03 -
- Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly and prevents the outside from drying out before the inside is done
- Line your baking sheet with foil if cooking inside to save yourself from scrubbing bakedon sauce