Easy grilled chicken thighs

Juicy grilled chicken thighs marinated in lemon juice, garlic and herbs. A great, easy gluten free recipe that delivers succulent chicken every time.

Ingredients needed

• Chicken thighs. I prefer using bone-in chicken thighs but you can use boneless chicken thighs too.
• Olive oil. 
• Fresh lemon juice. 
• Garlic. I used fresh but you can use garlic powder too.
• Herbs. Dried herbs are just as good as fresh here. Rosemary, oregano, sage, parsley, thyme.
• Paprika. 
• Salt and pepper. 

How to grill chicken thighs

1. Make the marinade: Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, herbs of your choice, paprika, salt and pepper then pour over chicken thighs. Allow to marinade for at least 30 minutes but up to 24 hours covered in the fridge.
2. Grill the thighs: Preheat your grill for 15 minutes, medium to medium-low heat. It’s a good idea to have a cool spot on your grill where you can move the thighs if they brown too quickly. I would suggest starting cooler than you think because as the fat renders and drips onto the coals/burners, flare-ups can occur which will brown the thighs quicker than they can cook internally. Cook the thighs for 10-12 minutes per side. Boneless thighs will cook much quicker. Cooking chicken on a grill or braai with a lid is a great idea. I close mine during cooking, the temperature quickly shoots up to 200°C/390°F and this will aid in cooking the thighs all the way through, faster. I baste the thighs continuously with the remaining marinade but make sure to cook the marinade off before serving. For the last 5-10 minutes of cooking I turn the heat up and allow the thighs to char a little, making sure the skin is nice and crisp.
3. Allow to rest: Remove the thighs from the grill and allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute back into the meat and result in the juiciest most succulent chicken thighs.

How long to grill chicken thighs

Chicken is safe to consume when the internal temperature reaches 65°C/165°F on a meat thermometer. For bone-in thighs, this could mean cooking them for 10-15 minutes per side, depending on the heat of the grill. Boneless thighs will take 5-7 minutes per side.

What to serve with grilled chicken thighs

1. Easy tomato feta green bean salad
2. Corn and grilled zucchini salad
3. Easy marinated eggplant
4. Focaccia bread 
5. Cucumber tomato salad

Chicken thigh recipes

1. Chicken thighs in creamy garlic Parmesan sauce
2. Rosemary lemon chicken thighs
3. Easy honey garlic chicken thighs