These grilled BBQ boneless chicken thighs are juicy, sticky, full of sweet smoky and flavor, and on the table in under one hour (including marination)! A simple BBQ marinade doubles as the glaze, so every bite is packed with the best flavor. {Dairy-free & gluten-free-friendly}
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Quick & Easy BBQ Chicken!
There’s nothing better than grilling and eating outdoors, and this grilled bbq boneless skinless chicken thigh recipe is a go-to for easy dinners to make on repeat throughout the summer. Then, of course, we move it to the oven once the weather cools down!
The perfectly caramelized, sticky finish is all thanks to the reserved marinade that becomes the finishing glaze, which makes a huge difference in flavor. It also helps that the chicken pairs well with almost any side, and if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, there are so many ways to use them up!
For more delicious ways to flavor up grilled chicken, be sure to check out these Healthy Chicken Marinades and this Yogurt Curry Chicken Marinade!
Elysia’s Recipe Recap
Quick & easy: The BBQ chicken marinade can be prepped in 5 minutes and grilling takes less than 15.
Family-friendly: My husband and kids devour this sticky BBQ chicken. Always a win in my books!
Juicy every time: Boneless skinless thighs are forgiving on the grill, staying tender and moist even if cooked a little too long.
Minimal cleanup: One bag (or dish) needed to marinate, one grill to clean. That’s it.
Before You Get Started:
A few things worth knowing before you fire up the grill:
- Marinate for at least 2 hours if you can. Thirty minutes works if you’re short on time, but 2 hours (or even overnight) makes it even better. Mix the marinade in the morning and refrigerate until dinner time.
- Set aside some marinade. Before adding the chicken, reserve some marinade for glazing. Never reuse marinade that’s touched raw chicken!
- Use medium heat (around 350–375°F). BBQ sauce contains sugar, which can burn. You want the chicken cooked through without burning the outside.
- Oil your grill grates before preheating. This prevents the chicken from sticking and makes for better grill marks.
- Don’t skip the basting step. Brushing with the reserved glaze partway through cooking adds another layer of flavor and gives the chicken that gorgeous sticky finish.
- Let the chicken rest. Tent with foil for 3–5 minutes after grilling so the juices settle and redistribute.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken thighs: I like to use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe since they take the least amount of time to cook and result in the best caramelization.
- Garlic: Use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor. You can sub in garlic powder in a pinch.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil or light olive oil to keep the chicken extra juicy! Canola oil can also be used.
- BBQ sauce: I always keep a jar of my healthy homemade BBQ sauce on hand for this exact reason. You can also use store-bought, but I recommend looking for a low-sugar option.
- Spices: Chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stick with my measurements or season to your liking.
Required Equipment
Here’s what you’ll need to make BBQ boneless chicken thighs on grill:
- Medium-sized bowl or jar
- Large resealable bag (or a large bowl or container)
- Gas or charcoal grill
- Long BBQ tongs
- Meat thermometer
- Kitchen brush
- Large plate
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the BBQ Marinade
Combine the BBQ sauce, olive oil, minced garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl or jar. Stir well. Set aside ¼ cup of the marinade for your glaze.
Marinate the Chicken
Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable bag or container. Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, ideally 2 hours or up to overnight.
BBQ Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Oil the grill grates, then preheat to medium heat (350–375°F).
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting any excess drip off, and discard any used marinade.
- Place chicken on the hot grill and cook for 4 minutes, until nicely caramelized on the bottom. Flip and brush generously with the reserved glaze, and cook for 4 more minutes.
- Flip and brush again, and cook for 1–2 minutes until the glaze is sticky and set. The chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer reads 170–175°F at the thickest part.
- Transfer to a plate, tent loosely with foil, and rest for 3–5 minutes before serving.
Prefer To Bake Them?
Place marinated thighs on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for about 20 minutes or until they reach 170–175°F internally, then broil for 5 minutes to get a nice caramelized finish.
Scroll to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe FAQs
Boneless skinless chicken thighs typically take about 10–14 minutes over medium heat (350–375°F), depending on their size. Always go by internal temperature rather than time. 165°F is considered safe to eat, but we’re looking for tender and juicy meat at 170–175°F.
Around 350–375°F is the sweet spot. Any higher and you risk burning the BBQ sauce before the chicken is cooked through.
Yes! For bone-in thighs, increase the cooking time to 15–20 minutes over medium-high heat (375–400°F) and check for the same internal temperature. For chicken breasts, you’ll also need more time, but pull them off when they reach 165°F.
Absolutely. Freeze the raw chicken thighs in the marinade and store the reserved glaze separately in a small freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to grill, thaw both in the fridge the night before.
Serving Suggestions
These BBQ chicken thighs are incredibly versatile and pair well with almost anything!
They are especially delicious with classics like rice, roasted or Greek yogurt mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob, or lighten things up with this broccoli salad without bacon, grilled corn salad with feta, or a healthy dill potato salad.
For something a little different, try them with a nectarine salad or coleslaw with cranberries and walnuts. You’ll love the bright, tangy flavors with the contrasting smoky glaze!
What to Do with Leftover Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs
Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven at 300°F until warmed through, or briefly in the microwave. I also can’t help eating it straight from the fridge!
You can slice them over a salad (try a blueberry walnut salad or Greek quinoa salad), add them to a wrap or sandwich, chop them into a cranberry walnut chicken salad, or add them to a rice bowl or pasta salad.
Meal prepping with your leftovers means healthier grab-and-go meals, less waste, and a budget-friendly option for feeding your family. Enjoy!
More Easy BBQ Recipes
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
- Shredded Chicken Sandwiches Crockpot
- Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp
- Healthy BBQ Pulled Pork
- BBQ Chicken Tostadas
Grilled BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs (about 8 larger thighs or 12 smaller ones)
For the marinade:
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, store-bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable bag, bowl or container.
- In a medium-sized bowl or jar, mix together the marinade ingredients. Set aside a quarter cup of the marinade.
- Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken and toss to coat. Allow it to sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- When you're ready to grill the chicken, brush the BBQ with oil, and then preheat grill to medium (about 350-400 degrees F). Pick up chicken thighs, allowing excess marinade to drip off. Place on BBQ and cook for 4 minutes until nicely caramelized.
- Flip chicken, and then brush generously with reserved glaze. Cook for 4 additional minutes. Flip, brush with more glaze, flip again and brush with remaining glaze. Chicken is cooked when it registers 170-175° F at the thickest part when tested with an instant read thermometer.
- Place cooked chicken thighs on a plate and tent with foil. Allow to rest for for 3-5 minutes. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- For the best flavor, I prefer marinating the chicken thighs for at least 2 hours in the sauce, but 30 minutes will work if you’re short on time.
- Oil the grill: I like to oil the grill grates before I preheat my grill to prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill.
- Adjust cooking time depending on size of thighs: If you’re using smaller chicken thighs, they tend to cook up a lot faster, so start with a shorter cooking time and keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn.
- Use medium heat: Sweeter marinades like BBQ sauce have a tendency to burn quite easily on the grill due to their sugar content. The trick is grilling chicken thighs with BBQ sauce slightly longer over medium heat to prevent them from getting overly charred.
- Don’t skip the basting step: This helps add additional flavor since some of the marinade is left behind when the chicken is transferred to the grill. This helps to lock in some extra flavor and juiciness right before serving and also provides that nice sticky glaze.
- Nutritional info: The nutritional information is calculated based on using all of the marinade. Keep in mind that much of the marinade will be discarded when the chicken is transferred to the grill, so the nutritional values listed above will be lower than stated.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in July 2022 and the text, formatting and some photos were updated in June 2026.
It was a huge hit
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the 5-star rating and review!
Definitely way 2 much olive oil… also a little heavy on the smoked paprika… the marinade as instructed made the chicken flare up way 2 fast… tried again with some changes and worked better on the grill. Use half as much oil & paprika … add lemon juice (1 squeezed) & a tablespoon of honey & a tablespoon of light brown sugar… heat the marinade a little in the microwave to let you mix it… the chicken caramelized faster & doesn’t cause a fire
Sorry the recipe didn’t work out for you, but I’m glad you were able to modify it to suit your preferences. Thanks for sharing those tips!
My grandchildren, 1 and 2 years old, loved it. Super moist and tender. I will be making this again.
Yay! Glad it was a winner with the little ones! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review :)
This recipe is perfect as published. Except I did double the marinade and kept extra in a jar in the fridge. I marinaded a big pack of smallish thighs in two quart bags and froze one. I marinaded the first one about 6 hours and it turned out delicious. Grilled at about 425-450 pretty fast. The sear came out beautiful and kept them covered with foil in a warm oven till ready to eat. Don’t forget to brush extra marinade right before they’re done on the grill. Warmed up the next day and just as good. I love this recipe. So easy.
That’s amazing!! Love how you planned ahead and made a double batch of the marinade to freeze for a later meal. Thanks so much for the helpful tips and kind feedback!
Made this recipe for a small BBQ party (Doggy-DNA Reveal party). It was fabulous. Juciey, nice-BBQ flavoring. Everyone raved about how good the thighs tasted. And, oops wanting to sit down with my guests, I forgot to brush additional sauce on the thighs while they were grilling, and they still were delicious. This one is a keeper.
First of all, I love how you had a Doggy-DNA reveal party…how fun is that?! Second, I love that everyone enjoyed the BBQ chicken thighs (even without the extra glaze)! I’m so happy that they worked out well for your party! Thanks so much for returning to share this feedback :)
Turned out great. Very easy, tasty and tender. Followed recipe exactly except doubled the marinade in case I wanted extra for the remaining thighs. I only used 1.25 lbs. Used low sugar bbq sc because I don’t like “too sweet”. I did add a tsp of honey because of that.
It’s never a bad idea doubling the marinade! You can always set the extras aside and use it for later :) So happy you enjoyed the recipe with low sugar BBQ sauce!
Great easy meal!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Just made this as instructed and turned out great! The caramelized bits of marinade and chicken were awesome
That’s amazing! So happy you enjoyed it. Love those caramelized bits too :) Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a rating and review!