Chicken thighs are a classic choice for making delicious BBQ chicken. Juicy and flavorful, chicken thighs hold up well on the grill or smoker, making them an ideal cut of meat for BBQ. Learning how to properly prepare and cook BBQ chicken thighs can help you make moist, tender chicken with wonderful smoky BBQ flavor.
Ingredients Needed for BBQ Chicken Thighs
Making great tasting BBQ chicken thighs starts with getting the right ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Chicken thighs – Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs work best. Choose fresh, high-quality chicken thighs without any blemishes or tears in the skin. Allow roughly 4-6 thighs per person.
- BBQ rub – A flavorful BBQ rub adds lots of taste to the chicken. You can buy pre-made rubs or make your own using spices like brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- BBQ sauce – Choose your favorite BBQ sauce, whether a tangy, sweet, or spicy variety. Apply the sauce during the last 5-10 minutes of grilling.
- Cooking oil – Lightly coat the chicken in vegetable, canola, or olive oil before applying the rub. This helps the rub stick and promotes browning.
- Smoking wood chips – For extra smoky flavor, soak wood chips like hickory, mesquite, applewood, or cherry in water before adding to your grill or smoker.
- Grill or smoker – You can make BBQ chicken thighs on a charcoal or gas grill, or a smoker if you want maximum smoke flavor.
How to Prepare BBQ Chicken Thighs
Proper preparation is key to making juicy, flavorful BBQ chicken thighs. Here are the easy steps:
Trim and Clean the Chicken Thighs
- Remove thighs from packaging and trim off any excess fat or skin. Rinse under cold water and pat dry completely with paper towels.
Apply Cooking Oil
- Lightly brush both sides of the thighs with cooking oil. This helps the rub adhere and promotes browning.
Apply Dry Rub
- Generously season both sides of the chicken thighs with your favorite BBQ rub or spice mix. Rub the seasoning into the meat.
Allow Chicken to Rest
- Place thighs in a baking dish or plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight. This allows the rub to really penetrate the meat for fullest flavor.
Bring Chicken to Room Temperature
- Take thighs out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before grilling to take off the chill. BBQ chicken tastes best when grilled at room temp.
Your chicken is now fully prepped and ready for the grill!
How to Grill BBQ Chicken Thighs to Perfection
Grilling is a classic way to make finger-lickin’ good BBQ chicken thighs. Follow these expert tips:
Prepare the Grill
- For charcoal: Fill a chimney starter with briquettes and light. When coals are ready, distribute evenly along one side of grill, leaving the other side free of coals for indirect cooking.
- For gas: Pre-heat grill on high for 10-15 minutes, then adjust burners to create both direct and indirect heat zones.
- If using a smoker, heat to 225-250°F and add soaked wood chips to smoker box.
Sear the Chicken
- Clean grill grates and lightly oil. Place chicken thighs skin-side down over direct heat. Cover grill.
- Sear thighs for 5-6 minutes until nicely browned. Searing gives great flavor.
Move to Indirect Heat
- Move thighs to indirect heat zone, keeping skin-side up. This allows chicken to cook through gently without burning.
- If using a smoker, place chicken directly on cooking grates.
Cook Until Done
- Cook for 15-25 minutes more, with grill cover closed, until thighs reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Brush with BBQ sauce during last 10 minutes if desired.
Allow Thighs to Rest
- Transfer thighs to a platter and tent loosely with foil. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Serve and Enjoy!
- Serve BBQ chicken thighs hot, warm, or at room temperature. Enjoy on their own, in sandwiches, salads, or with your favorite sides!
Pro Tip: For added moisture and flavor, try inserting fresh herb sprigs or citrus slices under the chicken skin before adding the rub.
How to Make Smoked BBQ Chicken Thighs
For the ultimate smoky flavor, try cooking your BBQ chicken thighs in a smoker. Here’s how:
Prepare the Smoker
- Set up your smoker with soaked wood chips – try hickory, apple, mesquite or cherry.
- Heat smoker to 225-250°F. Maintain this temp throughout cooking.
Apply Rub
- Season chicken thighs generously with dry rub as done when grilling.
Smoke the Chicken
- Place thighs directly on smoker grates, skin-side up. Cook for 1 1/2 – 2 hours until done (165°F).
Finish with Sauce
- During the last 10-15 minutes, brush thighs with your favorite BBQ sauce. This allows sauce to caramelize nicely.
Rest and Serve
- Take chicken off smoker and let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Smoking low and slow infuses the chicken with incredible smoky flavor. Be sure to monitor your smoker temp and replenish wood chips as needed during cooking.
Tips for Juicy, Flavorful BBQ Chicken Thighs
Follow these handy tips for getting perfect results every time with your BBQ chicken thighs:
- Trim excess fat/skin – This prevents flare-ups and saves calories. Leave just enough skin for flavor and moisture.
- Pat chicken dry – Drying the skin thoroughly before adding rub helps it get deliciously crispy on the grill.
- Use indirect heat – After searing, move thighs to indirect heat on grill or smoker. This allows for gentle, even cooking.
- Aim for 165°F – Chicken thighs are safest to eat when cooked to an internal temp of 165°F. Use an instant read thermometer.
- Allow thighs to rest – Letting them rest after grilling helps lock in juices for succulent chicken.
- Choose bone-in, skin-on thighs – The bones and skin keep chicken super moist and flavorful from the inside out.
- Apply rub generously – For best flavor coverage, coat thighs in a hearty layer of flavorful dry rub before grilling.
- Brush on sauce at the end – Saucing too early can lead to burning. Wait until the last 5-10 minutes to glaze chicken.
Pro Tip: For even more moisture, try injecting or marinating the chicken thighs before applying rub and grilling.
Common BBQ Chicken Thighs FAQs
Still have some questions about making perfect BBQ chicken thighs? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
How long does it take to grill BBQ chicken thighs?
It takes approximately 30-45 minutes to grill bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs over indirect heat, depending on thickness. Allow 5-6 minutes per side over direct heat to sear, then finish cooking over indirect heat until 165°F.
What’s the best wood for smoking chicken thighs?
Hickory, apple, cherry, pecan, and mesquite are all excellent wood chips for smoking chicken. Hickory provides the strongest, bacon-like flavor. Milder fruit woods like apple and cherry also pair deliciously.
Should you brine chicken thighs before grilling?
Brining helps seasoned salt penetrate deep into the meat for extra moisture and flavor. Dissolve 1/2 cup salt in 4 cups water, submerge thighs, and brine 30 minutes to 2 hours. Rinse and pat dry before seasoning.
How do you keep BBQ chicken thighs from drying out?
- Brine or inject thighs before cooking
- Apply rub right before grilling instead of in advance
- Grill over indirect heat rather than direct
- Spritz with apple juice or broth while grilling
- Don’t overcook – remove from heat at 165°F
- Let thighs rest after grilling before cutting
Can you grill chicken thighs from frozen?
It’s best not to grill frozen chicken thighs. They will dry out on the outside before the inside thaws. Defrost thighs one day ahead in the fridge before marinating and grilling for ideal texture.
What sides go well with BBQ chicken thighs?
Sweet and tangy BBQ chicken thighs pair deliciously with simple sides like baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, mac and cheese, pasta salad, or potato salad. Seasonal sides like corn on the cob and watermelon also complement them perfectly.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Chicken Thighs
While grilling and smoking are ideal for getting that quintessential BBQ flavor, you can also cook delicious chicken thighs using these alternate methods:
Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
- Season thighs with dry rub and place skin-side up on a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 30-40 minutes until cooked through.
Air Fried Chicken Thighs
- Rub seasoned chicken thighs with oil and air fry at 380°F for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy outside and 165°F inside.
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
- Place seasoned thighs in pot with 1 cup broth. Pressure cook on high for 20 minutes. Use natural release method before opening lid.
Crock Pot Chicken Thighs
- Place thighs in crock pot and cover with BBQ sauce. Cook on low heat for 4-6 hours until tender and sauce is thickened.
Baked Chicken Thighs
- Bake seasoned thighs in a 375°F oven for 30-40 minutes until fully cooked. Baking gives delicious golden crispy skin.
Final Takeaways on Making Perfect BBQ Chicken Thighs
BBQ chicken thighs make for a quick, budget-friendly summer cookout meal. Follow the tips above for tender, juicy chicken with an irresistible smoky flavor. The key is using indirect heat on the grill along with a flavorful dry rub. Choose bone-in, skin-on thighs and cook to 165°F for ideal texture and moisture. Resting before serving also locks in more juices. Pair your BBQ thighs with classic summer sides and dig in!