Grilled BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs {Quick & Easy}

Name: Grilled BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs {Quick & Easy}
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs ((about 8 larger thighs or 12 smaller ones)); 4 garlic cloves (minced); 1/2 cup olive oil; 1/2 cup barbecue sauce (store-bought or homemade); 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper

These grilled BBQ chicken thighs are perfectly sweet and smoky and are the ultimate way to enjoy chicken during grilling season! Marinated and glazed in a simple BBQ marinade, this sticky grilled chicken makes for such a quick, easy and delicious meal. {Dairy-free & gluten-free-friendly}

Sticky BBQ chicken thighs on a plate ready to serve.

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Quick & Easy BBQ Chicken!

Grilled chicken is one of our favourite go-to easy dinners, so that’s why we’ve been loving these grilled BBQ chicken thighs!

The sweet and smoky BBQ marinade (that also doubles as a glaze) is a cinch to prepare, and results in the most flavourful and juicy chicken with a lightly charred and crispy exterior.

Additionally, because skinless boneless chicken thighs are used, the cooking time is super quick. You can whip up the simple marinade in the morning and let the chicken infuse in all of those delicious flavours throughout the day.

When meal time rolls around, simply heat the grill and barbecue the chicken in less than 15 minutes. It pairs well with so many different sides and the leftovers are always tasty too (if you have any left, that is)!

Next time you’re looking for a mouthwatering way to prep your chicken, add this easy BBQ chicken to your list!

For more delicious ways to flavour up grilled chicken, be sure to check out these Healthy Chicken Marinades and this Curry Chicken Marinade!

Close up of grilled BBQ chicken thighs on a white plate.

Why We Love this Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

Easy: The BBQ chicken marinade can be prepped in 5 minutes and the chicken requires less than 15 minutes of cooking time. Such a quick and easy recipe!

Family-friendly: My kids and husband devour these sticky BBQ chicken thighs. Any recipe that the whole family loves is always a win in my books!

Juicy: The chicken is marinated in the sauce before it’s grilled and brushed in the BBQ glaze, resulting in flavourful, tender and juicy grilled chicken thighs!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for grilled BBQ chicken thighs recipe.

Chicken thighs: I typically like to use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe since they take the least amount of time to cook and result in the best caramelization. Bone-in chicken thighs tend to take longer to cook so the outside gets too charred and dark before the meat on the inside is cooked.
Garlic: Use freshly minced garlic cloves for the best flavour. You can sub in garlic powder if in a pinch.
Olive oil: Helps infuse extra moisture for juicier chicken. You can use extra-virgin olive oil or light olive oil. Canola also works well.
BBQ sauce: Gives the chicken that classic BBQ chicken flavour. You can use homemade BBQ sauce or store-bought. Look for one that’s lower in sugar for a healthier option.
Spices: Chili powder, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper further pump up the flavour of the BBQ sauce. You can stick with the recommended spices or add more depending on your taste preferences.

Required Equipment

Here’s what you’ll need to make this chicken thigh recipe:

Medium-sized bowl or jar
Large resealable bag (or a large bowl or container)
Gas or charcoal grill
Long BBQ tongs
Meat thermometer
Kitchen brush
Large plate

Step by Step Instructions

To Make BBQ Chicken Thighs Marinade

Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable bag, bowl or container.
In a medium-sized bowl or jar, mix together the marinade ingredients. Set aside a quarter cup of the marinade (this will be used for the glaze while cooking).
Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken and toss to coat. Allow it to sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Skinless boneless chicken thighs in BBQ marinade in a resealable bag.

How to Grill Chicken Thighs on Gas Grill

When you’re ready to grill the chicken, brush the BBQ with oil, and then preheat the grill to medium (about 350-400 degrees F). Pick up the chicken thighs with tongs or a fork, allowing any excess marinade to drip off. Place chicken thighs on BBQ and cook for 4 minutes until nicely caramelized.
Flip chicken thighs, and then brush generously with reserved glaze. Cook for 4 additional minutes. Flip, brush with more glaze, flip again and brush with remaining glaze.
Chicken is cooked when an instant read thermometer registers 170-175° F when inserted into the thickest part of the meat.

Cooked BBQ chicken thighs on a white plate.

Keep scrolling for the full printable BBQ chicken recipe!

Tips for the Best BBQ Chicken Thighs

For the best flavour, I prefer marinating the chicken thighs for at least 2 hours in the sauce, but 30 minutes will work if you’re short on time.

Oil the grill: I like to oil the grill grates before I preheat my grill to prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill.

Adjust cooking time depending on size of thighs: If you’re using smaller chicken thighs, they tend to cook up a lot faster, so start with a shorter cooking time and keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn.

Use medium heat: Sweeter marinades like BBQ sauce have a tendency to burn quite easily on the grill due to their sugar content. The trick is grilling chicken thighs with BBQ sauce slightly longer over medium heat to prevent them from getting overly charred.

Don’t skip the basting step: This helps add additional flavour since some of the marinade is left behind when the chicken is transferred to the grill. This helps to lock in some extra flavour and juiciness right before serving and also provides that nice sticky glaze.

Allow the chicken to rest on a plate tented with foil for 3 to 5 minutes before serving. This helps lock in the juices.

Recipe FAQs

How long do I cook chicken thighs on a gas grill?

The internal temperature of the chicken is a better indicator as to whether or not the chicken thighs are cooked. Cook the chicken thighs until they reach an internal temperature of 170-175 degrees F. For boneless skinless thighs, the cook time will be approximately 10 to 14 minutes over medium heat (325-350F), depending on the size of the thighs. For bone-in thighs allow 15 to 20 minutes over medium-high heat (375-400F).

What is the best temp for BBQ chicken thighs?

I find that the best cooking temperature is around 350 degrees F to prevent the chicken thighs from getting overly black and charred. Because the BBQ sauce does contain sugar, it tends to burn more quickly, so cooking at a lower grill temperature for slightly longer helps to minimize the charred effect.

What’s the best BBQ sauce for chicken thighs?

It’s a personal preference which BBQ sauce you go for. I like to look for a sauce that’s lower in sugar with minimally processed ingredients, but if you have a favorite BBQ sauce, feel free to sub that in.

Can I freeze the BBQ sauce chicken thighs?

Yes! You can freeze the raw chicken thighs in the BBQ sauce marinade in a large freezer safe bag and the reserved glaze in a small freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Allow both to thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you’re ready to cook it up. Follow the cooking instructions in the recipe card below to cook it up!

Two BBQ chicken thighs on a plate with salads.

Storing & Reheating Guidelines

Refrigerator: Leftover grilled chicken can be stored covered on a plate or in an airtight container in the fridge for up 4 days.

To reheat: Leftover BBQ chicken can be reheated in the oven at 300F degrees until warmed through. You can also pop it in the microwave for a minute or so, or eat it cold.

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken

There are so many ways to serve up grilled BBQ chicken thighs! Pair them with rice, potatoes, or your favourite salads and vegetable side dishes.

They also taste great with any of the follow recipes:

What to do with Leftover BBQ Chicken Thighs

Leftover chicken thighs are great to have on hand because there’s so much you can do with them!

Reheat them and serve them with any of the options above or try any of the suggestions below:

Serve on a salad (try this Tossed Salad for a Crowd or Blueberry Walnut Salad )
Mix with quinoa salad (it’s delicious with this Greek Quinoa Salad)
Serve in a rice bowl
Chop it up and make chicken salad (like this Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad)
Serve it sliced up on a sandwich
Add to pasta salad
Make it into a wrap

Recipe Variations

Use bone-in chicken thighs: If you prefer to use bone-in thighs, you can sub these in. You’ll need to cook the thighs for 15 to 20 minutes over medium-high heat (375-400F).
Use chicken breasts: You can use this marinade and glaze with skinless boneless chicken breasts as well. Keep in mind that grilled chicken breasts will require a longer cooking time.
Add additional spices: Onion powder, thyme and/or oregano would also be great additions to the marinade and glaze.
For a spicier kick: Add a pinch of cayenne to the marinade or a few dashes of hot sauce.
Bake in oven: If you prefer to bake the thighs in the oven, place on a baking sheet with a wire rack and bake at 400˚F for about 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 170-175.˚ Broil them for an extra 5 minutes for a crispier exterior.

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