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Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs

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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

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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, corn on the cob, 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?

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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
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
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Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.86 from 54 votes (29 ratings without comment)

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  1. Kayla DiMaggio

    Loving these chicken thighs! The lemon herb seasoning was fantastic!

    Reply

  2. nancy

    SO juicy! I love how easy this was to make for a busy weeknight

    Reply

  3. Asha

    I was impressed by how tender and flavourful these chicken thighs turned out. I served them sliced on top of a salad. Will keep this recipe on hand.

    Reply

    • Colleen

      Hi Asha! I so glad the grilled chicken turned out tender and flavorful for you! Thanks for your feedback!

      Reply

  4. Devan

    I normally leave the skin on when I grill chicken thighs but fiancé, who cant doesn't like fat, loved these! We both really enjoyed the rub too. Thanks for sharing this and for the great inspiration.

    Reply

    • Colleen

      Hi Devan! I'm so happy that you and your fiancé loved this grilled chicken, Devan!

      Reply

  5. Amy Liu Dong

    Awesome grill recipe and it looks so delicious. The herb and spices are perfectly blended with the chicken making it so tasty. The texture looks so enticing!

    Reply

    • Colleen

      I hope you give this grilled chicken a try Amy!

      Reply

  6. nancy

    SO juicy and really easy to make

    Reply

    • Colleen

      Hi Nancy, I'm so happy that you loved the chicken thighs. They really are easy to do!

      Reply

  7. Elaine

    Grilled thighs are the best and this marinade has all those summertime grilling flavours we love!

    Reply

    • Colleen

      Hi Elaine, It's so simple but so tasty!

      Reply

  8. Bernice

    YUM! I love this recipe especially since it has a very short marinating time. The chicken still gets a good flavour injection and I don't have to start it the day before.

    Reply

    • Colleen

      Hi Bernice, the short marinating time is one of my favorite things about this chicken thigh recipe. I'm so happy that you love it!

      Reply

  9. Nancy

    I made the chicken thighs for my boyfriend but then used your spice mix to use on tofu for me and the results were delicious.

    Reply

    • Colleen

      Hi Nancy, grilled tofu would be amazing, too. I'm so happy to hear that it was delicious! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  10. Mariana

    Thank you for this easy recipe for those busy days and tired nights when I don't feel like cooking.

    Reply

    • Colleen

      You're very welcome, Mariana! We all have those days and nights!

      Reply

  11. Andrea

    Yum! I'm so glad it's grilling season. This looks delicious. We're making it tonight.

    Reply

    • Colleen

      Hi Andrea, I would love to hear back how the chicken turned out for you. Enjoy!

      Reply

  12. Mirlene

    The lemony herb on the chickens are so delicious. So moist and juicy and great over rice and a side of veggies for dinner! Its one of our favorites!

    Reply

    • Colleen

      I so happy these grilled chicken thighs are a favorite, Mirlene. Thanks for commenting!

      Reply

  13. Kris

    I made this for family and it couldn't have been easier or tastier! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Colleen

      It's wonderful to hear that you and your family found these grilled boneless thighs easy and tasty. Thanks for your feedback!

      Reply

  14. Dana

    Colleen! These are incredible and I love how simple they are. No fuss, yet so much flavor. And so brightly flavored! Gonna love making these this summer.

    Reply

    • Colleen

      Hi Dana! Summer should always be about less fuss, right? I know you'll love these grilled chicken thighs!

      Reply

  15. Susan

    I am going to try this with chicken breasts!

    Reply

    • Colleen

      Hi Susan, This recipe works for any cut of chicken. Enjoy!

      Reply
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