• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Food Blog
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Me
  • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Join
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Hello and Welcome!
  • Work With Me
  • Contact Me
×

Home » Recipes » Barbecue

Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs

Published: May 21, 2022 · Modified: Sep 5, 2022 by Colleen 46 Comments

Sharing is caring!

674 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Jump to Recipe
Grilled chicken pieces on a white plate.
Grilled chicken pieces on a white plate.

These Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs are tender, juicy and delicious. They're equally perfect for entertaining or busy weeknights!

Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs on a white plate.
Perfectly grilled chicken
Jump to:
  • What's Great About This Recipe
  • Here's What You Need
  • How To Make It
  • Top Tips
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Common Questions
  • Want to Keep Grilling?
  • Recipe
  • Comments

We like to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for grilling rather than boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Chicken thighs are fattier so they don't tend to dry out. They are also so versatile. Try these boneless chicken thigh recipes too. Buffalo Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken, or Air Fryer Orange Chicken.

What's Great About This Recipe

  • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are lean, but the dark meat is still tender and juicy.
  • Boneless skinless thighs cook up quickly on the grill, just 10 minutes.
  • The simple lemon herb marinade is easy to make but imparts a ton of flavor.
  • Grilling the chicken thighs gives them a delicious smoky flavor and beautifully browned exterior.
  • These are so versatile! You can serve them as appetizers for your summer barbecues, or grill some veggies alongside the chicken for a delicious family dinner.
  • Chicken thighs are an economical cut of chicken, making this recipe a budget friendly choice.
The grilled chicken on a plate ready for serving.
Delicious juicy chicken thighs ready to serve.

Here's What You Need

Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Thighs Two pounds is around 8 pieces. (Looks like we got a bonus one!)

Raw chicken pieces in their package.
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs

This simple marinade has just a few ingredients but packs a flavor punch!

  • Rosemary & Thyme
  • Onion and Garlic Powders.
  • Lemon: You want the juice and zest
  • Olive Oil
The ingredients for the marinade on a wooden board.
The Marinade Ingredients

How To Make It

  1. Whisk all the marinade ingredients together in a small bowl.
The marinade ingredients in a glass bowl being whisked together.
Whisking the marinade together
  1. Put the chicken thighs in a resealable freezer bag or non reactive bowl and pour the marinade over, coating all the chicken pieces. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
The raw chicken and marinade in a sealed freezer bag.
A resealable freezer bag works great for marinating.
  1. Grill chicken thighs for 10 minutes, turning once, or until the internal temperature reads 165° when taken with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh.
Chicken thighs on the grill.
Almost ready!

Top Tips

  • Trim any excess fat from the boneless thighs before marinating. You can use a sharp knife, but an easy way to do it is with kitchen scissors.
  • Don't marinate overnight, or any longer than 2 hours. If they marinate too long, the acid in the lemon juice will turn the meat mushy. I only marinate this recipe for ½ hour, and the chicken is super flavorful.
  • Use a barbecue brush to clean the grill grates and spray them lightly with cooking spray.
  • While the grill is heating, bring the chicken out of the fridge and using tongs, transfer them to a plate, allowing any excess marinade to drip off.
  • After removing the chicken, discard the chicken thigh marinade. It is not safe to use.
  • Place the boneless thighs on the hot grill, leaving space between them. Close the lid on the grill to maintain the heat.
  • Don't flip until half the cooking time is finished. (Flip only once to avoid sticking).
  • Let the chicken rest for a couple of minutes after removing from the grill. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, so you'll have tender, juicy chicken thighs.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Serving Suggestions

Boneless skinless thighs can be treaded onto skewers and served as an appetizer for your next summer bbq. Try them with a dipping sauce like Honey Teriyaki Sauce.

Or make this boneless chicken thighs recipe into a quick weeknight dinner alongside some of your favorite side dishes. Some great options are potato salad, Caesar salad, or Greek Salad.

Risotto is a delicious side for grilled chicken. As are veggies such as green beans, or carrots.

These easy grilled chicken thighs are also perfect for salads, (like this Spring Chicken Salad), on tacos, or lettuce wraps.

Common Questions

What if I don't have a gas grill?

If you don't have a gas grill (or can't grill because of weather) you can use a grill pan to cook the chicken thighs. You can also cook them in the oven or air fryer. (20 minutes in the oven at 400°, or 10 minutes in the air fryer at 400°)

How do I keep chicken thighs from drying out on the grill?

When grilling chicken thighs, especially skinless chicken thighs, It's important not to overcook them. They won't dry out if they are grilled quickly on high heat.

What temperature should my gas grill be for cooking chicken?

For this recipe, the grill should be 400°.

Want to Keep Grilling?

Try these recipes:

  • Grilled Shrimp Salad
  • Watermelon & Grilled Halloumi Salad
  • Grilled Harissa Chicken Drumsticks
  • Pork Tenderloin on the Grill
  • BBQ Salmon Kebabs

Recipe

Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs piled on a white plate garnished with thyme.

Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are juicy and packed with flavor from the simple marinade.
4.86 from 54 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Recipe Saved!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Barbecue
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 283kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs boneless, skinless (2 pounds)
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon juice and zest
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and onion powders, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  • Put the chicken thighs in a ziplock bag or a non reactive bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken, coating each piece. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Lightly oil the grill grates. Pre heat the gas grill to medium high, or 400°
  • Place the chicken pieces on the grill, leaving space between them.
  • Grill over direct heat, 5 minutes each side, (flipping only once), or until a meat thermometer reads 165° when inserted in the thickest part.
  • Serve hot

Notes

Prep time indicated doesn't include marinating time.
Trim any excess fat from the boneless thighs before marinating. You can use a sharp knife, but an easy way to do it is with kitchen scissors.
Don't marinate overnight, or any longer than 2 hours. If they marinate too long, the acid in the lemon juice will turn the meat mushy. I only marinate this recipe for ½ hour, and the chicken is super flavorful.
Use a barbecue brush to clean the grill grates and spray them lightly with cooking spray.
While the grill is heating, bring the chicken out of the fridge and using tongs, transfer them to a plate, allowing any excess marinade to drip off.
After removing the chicken, discard the chicken thigh marinade. It is not safe to use.
Place the boneless thighs on the hot grill, leaving space between them. Close the lid on the grill to maintain the heat.
Don't flip until half the cooking time is finished. (Flip only once to avoid sticking).
Let the chicken rest for a couple of minutes after removing from the grill. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, so you'll have tender, juicy chicken thighs.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 495mg | Potassium: 613mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 109IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheFoodBlog or tag #thefoodblog!

More Barbecue

  • Grilled Harissa Chicken Drumsticks
  • Grilled Asian Salmon Kebabs
  • Grilled Jerk Chicken Drumsticks
  • Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Terri

    May 30, 2022 at 9:00 pm

    Perfect! I have a bag of chicken thighs in my freezer and I'm always looking for new ways to use them. Pinned!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 31, 2022 at 8:30 am

      Enjoy, Terri!

      Reply
  2. Amanda mason

    May 30, 2022 at 2:57 am

    These were delicious! Made them over the holiday weekend and everyone loved them!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 30, 2022 at 11:04 am

      Hi Amanda, I'm glad these boneless chicken thighs were a hit! Thank you for commenting!

      Reply
  3. Moop Brown

    May 30, 2022 at 2:25 am

    These chicken thighs look super tender, flavorful, and juicy. Looking forward to trying these, thanks

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 30, 2022 at 11:03 am

      Hi Moop! I would love to hear back how they turn out for you. Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Deborah

    May 29, 2022 at 8:29 am

    The marinade for these chicken thighs is amazing ! So flavorful and juicy , my whole family loved them. This is a recipe I will be repeating over and over this summer . Thanks for a great recipe !

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 29, 2022 at 8:36 am

      Hi Deborah, You're very welcome! I'm so happy that your family loved this grilled chicken recipe, and I really appreciate your feedback. Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Sean

    May 28, 2022 at 1:00 pm

    Great recipe - love that you go all in on the herbs and spices, and the lemon really pulls everything together. Wonderful go-to kind of meal that works so nicely with lots of sides.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 28, 2022 at 2:16 pm

      Thanks Sean! Sometimes simple is best and these chicken thighs are one of those times!

      Reply
  6. Ann

    May 28, 2022 at 10:41 am

    What a great combination of seasonings! Perfect for a quick summer meal! Excited to try these out on our traeger!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 28, 2022 at 11:52 am

      I would love to hear how these boneless thighs work out on your traeger, Ann. Enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Andrea Pannell

    May 27, 2022 at 5:27 pm

    Love the recipe, my daughter LOVES grilled chicken.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 27, 2022 at 5:37 pm

      Glad to hear that you and your daughter love the grilled chicken thighs, Andrea. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  8. Emily

    May 27, 2022 at 3:26 pm

    I loved the seasoning combination on these grill chicken thighs. I'll be making them all summer long for BBQs. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 27, 2022 at 5:32 pm

      Hi Emily, I'm happy to hear that you love the simple seasoning for these chicken thighs. Thanks for commenting!

      Reply
  9. Sharon

    May 27, 2022 at 3:04 pm

    This grilled chicken thighs recipe is so easy to make and the perfect addition to any summer party/

    Reply
  10. Amanda

    May 26, 2022 at 4:57 pm

    We loved these chicken thighs! They came out with the perfect grill char, and the seasoning was so good and flavorful.

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Colleen, the creator of The Food Blog.

Hi, I'm Colleen!  I’m glad you stopped by. I hope that you’re here because you love delicious, simple, mostly healthy recipes . Because that’s what I do and I want to share it with you.

More about me →

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Trending Now

  • Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables
  • Vegan Pho – Quick & Easy Pho Recipe
  • Blackened Cod
  • Salmon Spinach Pasta

In Season Now

  • Air Fryer Beets
  • Air Fryer Acorn Squash (Stuffed)
  • Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
  • Sautéed Green Beans With Garlic & Lemon
  • Buffalo Chicken Thighs
  • Butternut Buckwheat Salad (Gluten Free)

Never Miss a Recipe!

Join to be notified of new recipes, and get cooking tips and kitchen tricks delivered straight to your inbox.

FEATURED IN

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work with me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 The Food Blog

674 shares