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Juicy Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe Made Easy

Juicy Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe Made Easy

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are marinated in a savory garlic-soy mixture with lemon and brown sugar, then grilled until caramelized, juicy, and tender. This easy grill recipe serves 4–6 people.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 pounds Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Marinade
  • 1/4 cup Olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons Packed brown sugar
  • 3-4 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Smoked or sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dried oregano, optional

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Whisk the olive oil, low-sodium soy sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, minced garlic, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and optional oregano in a bowl or resealable bag.
  2. Add the chicken thighs and coat thoroughly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably 2–8 hours, then discard the raw marinade.
  3. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat, approximately 400–450°F. Clean the grates and lightly oil them.
  4. Remove the chicken from the marinade and let excess drip off. Grill for approximately 5–7 minutes per side, turning once or twice as needed to prevent excessive browning.
  5. Check the thickest part of each thigh with an instant-read thermometer. Remove the chicken when it reaches at least 165°F; thighs are often more tender around 175–185°F.
  6. Transfer the grilled chicken to a plate, loosely cover, and rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not reuse raw marinade unless it is boiled first. If the brown sugar causes flare-ups or the chicken darkens too quickly, move the thighs to a cooler section of a two-zone grill. For bone-in, skin-on thighs, grill approximately 8–10 minutes per side over direct heat, then move to indirect heat if needed; total cooking time is usually 30–40 minutes.