Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs

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. They take just 10 minutes vs 20 minutes for bone-in chicken thighs.
• 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 these BBQ chicken thighs as appetizers for your summer barbecues, or grill some veggies alongside the chicken for a delicious family dinner. (Try this Cajun corn on the cob).
• This chicken thigh recipe is also perfect for meal prep. Cook extra chicken thighs for tacos, sandwiches and salads.
• Chicken thighs are an economical cut of chicken, making this BBQ chicken recipe a budget friendly choice.

Here's What You Need

Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Thighs Two pounds is around 8 pieces. (Looks like we got a bonus one!) You can use bone-in thighs with this recipe but it will increase the cook time.

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

• Rosemary & Thyme
• Onion and Garlic Powders: You can use fresh garlic. Mince it very finely or use a garlic press. Use 2-3 garlic cloves in place of the garlic powder.
• Lemon: Use both the juice and zest for this simple marinade.
• Olive Oil: I like extra virgin olive oil for this marinade.

How To Make It

Full instructions and ingredient quantities are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Whisk all the marinade ingredients together in a small bowl.

2. Put the chicken thighs in a ziplock bag or non reactive bowl and pour the marinade over, coating all the chicken pieces. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3. 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.

Top Tips

• Trim any excess fat from the boneless thighs before marinating. You can use a sharp knife, but an easier 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, and to achieve those lovely grill marks).
• The best way to tell if the chicken is done is to use an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. The internal temperature of the chicken should be be 165 degrees f.
• 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 3-4 days.
• Freeze cooked and cooled chicken in a ziplock freezer bag for 3-4 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

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 tzatziki or honey teriyaki sauce. Or brush them with store-bought or homemade barbecue sauce a few minutes before the end of the cooking time.

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, fiesta salad, or Greek Salad.

I love mushroom risotto as a delicious side for grilled chicken. Vegetable side dishes like tahini roasted cauliflower, green beans, corn on the cob, or roasted carrots are also perfect.

These easy grilled chicken thighs are also delicious as a salad ingredient, (like this spring chicken salad), or on tacos, or lettuce wraps.

Common Questions

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