This grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs recipe is the best way to make juicy chicken thighs every single time! Marinated in a flavorful blend of garlic expressions (my family's secret ingredient), herbs and spices, these easy grilled chicken thighs come out perfectly tender and moist with that ideal balance of char and grill marks.
Why You'll Love These Grilled Chicken Thighs
This grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs recipe is about to be your new go-to for every grilling season.
Whether you’re firing up a gas grill, a charcoal grill, or using an indoor grill pan, this foolproof method will leave you with juicy chicken thighs every single time.
The chicken thigh marinade does all the heavy lifting here. A blend of garlic expressions (or your favorite chicken marinade like Italian dressing), kosher salt, and a mix of garlic powder, black pepper, and Italian seasoning infuses the meat with layers of bold flavor.
And if you don't have garlic expressions or haven't seen it at your local grocery store, let's change that!!! I've influenced thousands of people to become obsessed with this garlicky vinaigrette. So trust me, there's a reason why it's always sold out on amazon!
And best of all, this recipe is adaptable and works as the perfect base. If you want to tweak the flavor, you totally can! Free free to add in soy sauce, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, fresh garlic, or lemon juice for an extra punch. (Amounts of additional ingredients are listed in the notes section of the recipe card.)
And if you're looking the the perfect sweet and smoky version of this recipe, I got you! Be sure to check out my BBQ Chicken Thigh recipe with Southern Homemade BBQ Sauce.
Cooking these thighs over medium-high heat creates that signature grill char. And finishing them over indirect heat ensures that the thickest part of the meat cooks through without drying out.
I promise ya'll, once you try my easy chicken thigh recipe, you won't make them any other way!
Ingredients & Substitutions
What I love most about this method for grilling chicken thighs is that it only requires a handful of simple ingredients. You can also switch up the flavor by mixing in some of the optional additions listed below for the marinade.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: You can also use bone-in chicken thighs or chicken breasts, but adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Garlic expressions: If you don't have garlic expressions, GET SOME! I kid, I kid but seriously, you can swap it for any italian dressing of choice but it truly makes the best grilled chicken. If you don’t have this, try a mix of olive oil or avocado oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, fresh garlic, and soy sauce.
- Kosher salt: Essential for enhancing the flavor and drawing moisture into the chicken. Sea salt also works but tastes saltier so adjust accordingly.
- Garlic powder: Gives depth of flavor without needing fresh garlic. You could swap it for onion powder if you prefer.
- Italian seasoning: A blend of dried herbs and spices for that cover all the bases.
- Black pepper: Fresh cracked is best if you've got it! Leave it off if you hate it.
- Flaky salt: For finishing and adding an extra pop of flavor and texture. This is one of my staple ingredients when making anything on the grill.
- Optional Additions: Feel free to adjust your marinade ingredients by adding some of the following: soy sauce, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, fresh garlic, orange juice or lemon juice for an extra punch. Amounts for most of the ingredients can be found below in the recipe card.
How to Make it
Here are the detailed instructions on how to make this skinless boneless chicken thighs recipe. If you have any questions, be sure to comment below or hit me up on instagram and send me a DM!
MARINATE THE CHICKEN: Add the boneless skinless chicken thighs to a large bowl (or ziploc bag if you're not making it right away or are low on fridge space). Pour in garlic expressions (or Italian dressing of choice), then season with kosher salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and a few cranks of fresh cracked pepper. Toss to coat, cover with plastic wrap (or seal the ziplock bag removing any excess air), and let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. Based on my experience, for the best results, I recommend marinating the boneless thighs about an hour and a half.
PREP FOR GRILLING: Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes before grilling so it can come to room temperature. While it’s warming up, preheat your gas grill or charcoal grill over medium-high heat. If necessary, clean and carefully oil your grill grates to prevent sticking.
GRILL THE CHICKEN: Place chicken thighs in a single layer on the hot grill to sear then reduce the heat to medium heat. Close the lid and let the bbq chicken thighs cook for a few minutes per side until they develop grill marks. Flip as necessary.
FINISH OVER INDIRECT HEAT: Once the thighs are mostly cooked, move them to indirect heat and allow them to finish cooking through. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature—aim for 175-190°F for dark meat (or 165°F for white meat like chicken breasts).
REST AND SERVE: Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with flaky salt and an extra hit of fresh cracked black pepper for the perfect finish!
SAVE: If you have any leftover grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs place them in an airtight container. They keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. I also like to chop up any leftovers and use them for meal prep or a next-day delicious meal like these grilled chicken burritos!
What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Thighs
Here are some of my favorite easy recipes to serve with these grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Any of these Perfect Pasta Salad Recipes
- Deviled Eggs with Relish
- Classic White Cheddar Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Original Baked Feta Pasta Recipe (Viral Tiktok Pasta)
Or try a rice bowl with Black Beans and Rice, Fajita Veggies, Sweet Plantains, and my Garlic Cilantro Sauce.
Recipe
The Best Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- ½ cup Garlic Expressions or Italian dressing of choice
- 2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Fresh Cracked Black Pepper plus more for finishing
- ¼ teaspoon Flaky Salt for finishing
- See Notes Below for Ingredient Amounts for Optional Add-ins
Instructions
- Add boneless skinless chicken thighs to a large bowl. Pour in garlic expressions (or Italian dressing of choice), then season with kosher salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Toss to coat and marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes to 4 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes before grilling. Meanwhile, preheat a gas grill or charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Clean and oil the grill grates if necessary.
- Place the chicken thighs in a single layer on the hot grill. Reduce to medium heat and cook a few minutes per side until grill marks appear. Flipping as needed once chicken easily pulls away from the grill grates.
- Move the chicken to indirect heat and cook until the internal temperature reaches 175-190 degrees F for dark meat or 165°F for white meat.
- Remove from heat, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with flaky salt and fresh cracked black pepper before serving.
Notes
- Dijon Mustard (2 tbsp)
- Balsamic Vinegar (2 tbsp)
- Soy Sauce (1 tbsp)
- Brown Sugar (2 tbsp)
- Fresh Garlic (3 grated cloves)
- The juice from one lemon
MacKenzie Smith says
We've made these 100s of times - hope you love them as much as we do!