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These Grilled Chicken Thighs are juicy, flavorful, and so simple to prepare. Marinated in a blend of pantry staples, they cook up tender and delicious, making them perfect for weeknight dinners or backyard BBQs!
Try my BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs or Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken Thighs next for more delicious chicken recipes.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Versatile – This chicken marinade works well for grilling, baking, or broiling.
- Quick to Prepare – The marinade comes together in just 5 minutes.
- Juicy and Tender – Marinating the chicken ensures moist, flavorful grilled chicken thighs.
- Budget-Friendly – Chicken thighs are an affordable protein option.
RECIPE WALK-THROUGH
Before You Begin
Make sure to get all of your ingredients together, along with any measuring cups or spoons you might need. This will help the whole process go much easier!
Helpful Tools to Grab Before You Start
- Mixing Bowl: For whisking together your chicken marinade.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: To measure out your marinade ingredients accurately.
- Resealable Plastic Bag or Shallow Dish: For marinating the chicken evenly.
- Tongs: Handy for turning the chicken on the grill.
- Meat Thermometer: Ensures the chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F.
How To Make a Grilled Chicken Marinade
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
Place the chicken thighs into a resealable plastic bag.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Pour the marinade over the chicken in the bag, seal, and gently massage to coat all pieces.
Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, up to 24 hours.
Preheat the grill to medium heat (350-400°F).
Remove chicken from the marinade and grill for 4-6 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use bone-in chicken thighs?
Yes, just increase the grill time and monitor the internal temperature to ensure they reach 165°F.
How long should I marinate the chicken?
For best flavor, marinate at least 2 hours, though even 30 minutes can give good results.
Can I cook these on a grill pan or in the oven?
Absolutely. Use a grill pan on the stove or bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these grilled chicken thighs with sides like macaroni salad, grilled zucchini, or sweet potato wedges.
For a citrusy twist, add lemon zest to the marinade. If you prefer a spicier kick, include a pinch or two of red pepper flakes.
Storage Tips
How To Store Leftovers
Let chicken cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Add chilled to salads and sandwiches or reheat in the microwave.
To freeze fully cooked chicken, cool and store in a resealable plastic freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as desired.
Recipe Tips
- For the best flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours.
- If using bone-in thighs, adjust the grilling time to ensure they cook through.
- Always let the chicken rest after grilling to retain its juices.
More Chicken Thigh Recipes
- Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs
- Fried Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
- 19 Recipes for Boneless Chicken Thighs
Grilled Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1/4 cup Brown sugar
- 1/4 cup Soy sauce
- 1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Marinade
- Prepare the chicken: Place chicken thighs in a resealable plastic bag.
- Prepare the Marinade: Whisk together the marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
- Cover/Seal: Pour the marinade over the chicken in the plastic bag. Seal, pressing out as much air as possible to ensure that all the surface area of the chicken is covered. Gently massage to coat. If cooking right away, set the chicken aside for 20-30 minutes then cook as desired.
- Refrigerate: Refrigerate for 12-24 hours. Any longer and the texture of the meat may change.
- Freeze: Place chicken and marinade in a resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and cook as desired.
Cooking
- Grill: Heat an outdoor grill to medium heat (about 350-400℉). Grill chicken for 4-6 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate, tent with foil and rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes at 425℉. If desired, broil for a few minutes at the end for deeper color. Tent with foil and rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Broil: Preheat the broiler and adjust the oven rack to the middle of the oven. Line a broiling pan with foil or use a cast iron skillet. Broil chicken for about 20 minutes, basting with any reserved and unused marinade or juices from the pan. Tent with foil and rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- If desired, garnish with fresh chopped parsley or other fresh herbs just before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
Tonight I made this for my mother. She loved it. I’m not a very good cook and this is the first time I’ve marinated a piece of meat and could taste the flavors in every bite. Gives me hope I can make better meals for my mom. Thanks for taking the time to post the recipe for free. Will definitely be trying other ones.
You are so welcome Jim! Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve never left a review for a recipe before (and always kind of wondered if it’s people’s friends and family members writing them lol). This recipe really is very good, though – the best marinade I’ve tried for bbq chicken and one I’ll definitely be using again. Thanks for posting it!
You are so welcome Susan! Love the comment! Thanks for stopping by.
I can’t wait to get started…
Thank you excellent recipes..i can’t wait to get started
You are so welcome Janetbuffaloe! Thanks for stopping by.
This was Very Good!!
Thank you Leslie!
This has become my go-to grilled chicken recipe. It is really outstanding!
Love the feedback Nolee! Thanks for stopping by.
Unbelievable. I was concerned that the hour would not induce enough flavor but it was absolutely amazing and so full of taste. Loved it!
Love the feedback Amanda! Thank you so much for stopping by.
How differently should I prepare this recipe if I’m using skin-on thighs and drumsticks? I’m having a BBQ in 3 days.
If you’re using bone-in chicken, you can still use this marinade, but it will take quite a bit longer on the grill. To speed things up and avoid the chance of burning, you could par-cook the meat in the oven and then throw it on the grill. Or, start skin side down on oiled grates for 15 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 20-30 minutes or until it’s 165 degrees internally.
To bake with bone-in chicken, can I just bake in the oven at 425? In your recipe tips before the recipe, you recommend, for bone-in chicken, to start with pan roasting to sear all sides before putting in oven. Can I skip that and only bake in oven? What temperature and how long?
Here is a recipe for bone-in chicken thighs: Crispy & Juicy BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs
Delicious and easy….my go to for chicken on the grill.
I serve it with roasted baby potatoes and salad.
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Sharon.
This is incredible! So easy & quick. No customizations needed.
Awesome feedback Tori! Thanks for stopping by.
very good , I made thighs, going to do breast next
Sooooooo good! Everyone loved it— super savoury, but with a bit of sweetness. Tender, juicy and plenty of leftovers to freeze ❤️ . Thanks!
Love this recipe! It’s so easy and my husband loves it – it’s definitely a staple in our home! I bake rather than grill and it turns out fabulous. We also cut up the leftovers and use them on salads which is wonderful too.
Nice! Thanks for the awesome feedback Amy.
Really quick, easy and delicious. I’ll be using this often. Thanks!
Awesome feedback Pam! Thanks for stopping by.
Fabulous!! I used a dark mushroom soy sauce, that is kinda thick, otherwise I followed the recipe. Marinated 2 hours. I did chicken tenders, so really easy to dry out on the grill. They were perfect, everyone commented that it was amazing to get grilled chicken tenders that were moist & juicy. Will be doing this again.
That’s awesome Lara! Thanks for the awesome feedback.
Best marinade ever! So tasty and the chicken thighs turned out sooo juicy! Definitely adding this to my summer rotation. Thank you for this fantastic recipe!
You are so welcome Alexandra! Thanks for stopping by.