Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

These delicious grilled BBQ chicken thighs are the best recipe! They're absolutely bursting with flavor and you'll get the juiciest thighs.

This step-by-step guide will show you the best way to grill chicken thighs. It's important to follow the steps on moving the thighs between the high heat and medium heat locations on your grill.

You can make these thighs on a gas grill or charcoal grill - but you need a grill large enough that you can have a higher heat side and a lower heat side.

Basically, you'll need one side with indirect heat. It's both important for the tenderness of the chicken, but you'll brush the barbecue sauce on while the thighs are on the less-hot side. This protects your hands from the heat of the flames!

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• More Great Grilling Recipes
• What to Serve with Chicken
• Storage
• Tips for Making this Recipe
• Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make juicy grilled chicken thighs. You'll make a dry rub with several spices and use a barbecue sauce to add lots of flavor.

• Bone-In Chicken Thighs
• Lemon Juice
• Olive Oil
• Kosher Salt
• Ground Mustard
• Garlic Powder
• Paprika
• Chili Powder
• Onion Powder
• Dried Thyme
• Dried Oregano
• Ground Black Pepper
• Barbecue Sauce

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Place it in a large baking dish (aluminum or ceramic).

Squeeze the lemon juice over the chicken thighs, front and back. Rub in the juice and let the chicken sit for 5 minutes.

Pour the olive oil over the chicken thighs and rub it in, coating both sides of the thighs.

Combine the salt, ground mustard, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir till blended.

Pour the spice blend over the thighs, and rub it into the chicken coating on both sides. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap. Place the dish of chicken in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and heat one side of your grill to high heat (400 to 600 degrees F). Leave the heat off the other side of your grill.

Place the chicken skin side up (bone side down) on the hot side of the grill. Cook for 4 minutes with the lid down, then flip and cook for another 4 minutes with the lid down.

Move the chicken to the cool side of the grill, bone side down. Cook with the lid closed for another 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F on an instant read thermometer. 

Brush the thighs with the barbecue sauce. Flip the thighs and brush the other side with barbecue sauce. Continue to flip and coat the thighs till all the sauce is used. 

Move the thighs back to the hot side of the grill and allow the thighs to continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. 

More Great Grilling Recipes

Love grilling? Try some of these other fantastic main course recipes, perfect for grilling season.

• Grilled Cod in Foil - an easy way to grill fish in a foil packet.
• Grilled Shrimp and Endives Recipe - pesto shrimp with grilled endives.
• How to Grill Juicy Pork Chops - fantastic, flavorful pork chops with a great marinade.

What to Serve with Chicken

Chicken pairs well with so many sides - here's what you can serve with this grilled chicken recipe.

• Grilled Corn in the Husk - the easiest and best way to cook corn!
• Oven Roasted Okra - the best okra recipe with loads of flavor.
• Roasted Patty Pan Squash with Parmesan - tasty summer squash roasted to crispy perfection with parmesan cheese.
• Sautéed Yellow Squash - a fantastic, easy summer squash side dish.
• Mediterranean Grilled Vegetables - these easy veggie skewers are a great BBQ side dish.
• Turkish Potato Salad - this fantastic, tangy potato salad is perfect for summer.

Storage

You can save the grilled chicken thighs for up to 4 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Links on some posts are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cooking Tips - after you add the barbecue sauce to the chicken and move it back to the high heat section of the grill, your grill may smoke and spit a bit as the sauce hits the heat. If it's smoking too much, reduce your grill to medium-high heat or medium heat.

Make sure to clean your grill grates thoroughly before placing the thighs on your grill.

Specialty Ingredients - You can make your own homemade BBQ sauce if you'd like, but I typically use Stubb's Original BBQ Sauce (it's on the sweeter side).

Recommended Tools - I highly recommend using a pair of long tongs - these will keep your hands from getting burned. I also highly recommend using a meat thermometer - I like an instant-read thermometer.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos or leave us a rating.