30 Grilled Chicken Thigh Recipes

By Melanie Fincher
January 27, 2021
Credit: Buckwheat Queen

Juicy, tender, and full of flavor, chicken thighs — whether boneless or bone-in — are an excellent choice for the grill. Toss your favorite vegetables on the grill alongside them and you have a quick and easy summertime meal. These recipes use flavorful marinades and seasoning rubs so dinner is never boring. Keep reading for 30 grilled chicken thigh recipes you'll want to make all grilling season long. 

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Shoyu Chicken

Credit: Steve Tims
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Shoyu, or Japanese-style soy sauce, is the key ingredient in the marinade for this Hawaiian chicken. "I am making this again tonight and I am going to skewer some veggies and brush them with the marinade as they grill," says reviewer Twigfilly. 

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Delectable Marinated Chicken

Credit: bellepepper
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"Husband called this the best chicken I've ever made. I have to agree. Do not skip the liquid smoke as that is the 'secret ingredient' in my opinion," says reviewer grillin_girl. Liquid smoke gives you that wood-smoked flavor without actually requiring you to cook with wood. 

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Grilled Chicken Thighs Tandoori

Credit: Raquel Teixeira
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Tandoori chicken gets its name for the cylindrical clay oven that it was traditionally cooked in. However, you can achieve similar results at home using indirect heat on the grill. 

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Rusty Chicken Thighs

Credit: KGora
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The sweet-heat combination of Asian chile pepper sauce and maple syrup gives these chicken thighs a truly unique flavor. 

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Grilled Chicken Adobo

Credit: LatinaCook
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"This is a very tasty and easy-to-make Filipino chicken dish made with soy sauce, garlic, and vinegar," says recipe creator HEART-OF-MIDLOTHIAN. "I can just as easily double or triple the chicken in this recipe to serve guests at a party. Serve over rice with just a little of the sauce (not too much)."

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Asian Grilled Chicken

Credit: bellepepper
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These Asian-inspired chicken thighs are marinated in a well-balanced combination of Thai-style sweet chili sauce, chili-garlic sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, lime juice, orange juice, garlic, and curry powder. 

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Turkish Chicken Kebabs

Credit: Chef John
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"I'd like to think that all the chicken coming off American grills this summer will be as tasty, juicy, and tender as these Turkish chicken kebabs," says Chef John. "By using a flavorful, yogurt-based marinade, like the one seen herein, even inexperienced grillers can produce impressive results."

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Big Al's Chicken

Credit: Molly
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Using ingredients you likely already have on hand, you can marinate the chicken overnight and cook it on the grill in just a matter of minutes. Reviewer BIZS450 says, "EXCELLENT recipe... the combination of simple spices is very complimentary to chicken and it keeps the meat moist."

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Lime-Tarragon Grilled Chicken

Credit: MattOlay V-H
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Zesty lime and sweet tarragon come together to create a bright and fresh flavor that's perfect for summer. Reviewer WIMANA suggests adding some of the marinade to a side of rice to make it a meal: "I added some of the juice from the marinade to my rice cooker for a flavorful rice dish."

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Jamaican Jerked Chicken

Credit: PARKER71
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There are many takes on jerk chicken, but the important thing is that it's marinated overnight in a flavorful blend of juices and spices, as in this recipe. 

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Chicken Satay with Homemade Peanut Sauce


Credit: Ann Makesymiw
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"This simply marinated chicken tastes just delicious, especially when paired with this spicy peanut sauce for dipping or basting," says recipe creator HANZOtheRAZOR. 

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Factory Workers Chicken

Credit: Sugarplum
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Don't let the short ingredient list fool you, these grilled chicken thighs are PACKED with flavor. All that's required are chicken thighs, Italian dressing, and salsa. 

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Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Chicken

Credit: Allrecipes
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Lemongrass brings it's unique, herbal-citrus flavor to these chicken thighs without overpowering the dish. Reviewer Amanda SusieQ describes it as, "restaurant quality."

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Copycat Chipotle® Chicken

Credit: Buckwheat Queen
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This chicken is inspired by everyone's favorite Mexican counter service chain. Use it in everything from burritos to tacos to bowls. 

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Grilled Chicken Spiedies

Credit: Chef John
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"The term 'spiedie' (SPEE-dee) comes from 'spiedo,' the Italian word for spit, and simply refers to meat grilled on a skewer," says Chef John. "This incredibly delicious sandwich, invented in central New York by an Italian immigrant named Camillo Iacovelli, breaks all the accepted rules regarding marinating meats, and not only does it work, it's amazing!"

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Laotian Grilled Chicken (Ping Gai)

Credit: Chef John
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Ping gai is Laotian for grilled chicken, but according to Chef John, this recipe originated from the Queen Mother Cafe in Toronto, so North-Americanization is possible: "But rest assured, this is at least twice as good as your average grilled chicken, North American or otherwise. Generous amounts of freshly ground pepper and chopped cilantro are the main players in the marinade, while a sweet, garlicky dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment."

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Hoisin-Glazed Chicken Thighs

Credit: Soup Loving Nicole
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These chicken thighs are seasoned with a five-spice rub and a hoisin sauce-based glaze. "It has become our favourite way to do chicken. With thighs and teenaged boys, it keeps things economical," says reviewer Helena Andresen. 

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Grilled Chicken Teriyaki Skewers with Miso Ranch

Credit: Chef John
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"If 'teri' means 'shine,' and 'yaki' refers to grilling, then these chicken skewers are the poster children for teriyaki," says Chef John. Don't skip on the miso ranch dipping sauce. 

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Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

Credit: Kevin Janzter
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Recipe creator Amy Snider Husk suggests serving this chicken with coconut rice for a tropically-inspired meal: "To make coconut rice, simply replace half of the water with coconut milk and cook rice as directed."

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Thai-Inspired Grilled Chicken Thighs

Credit: lutzflcat
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A savory and dynamic marinade brings the flavor to these chicken thighs with the help of ingredients like fish sauce, Sriracha sauce, lemongrass paste, and more. 

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Lime-Ginger Chicken Kabobs with Peanut Sauce

Credit: lutzflcat
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Allrecipes Allstar and recipe creator lutzflcat suggests serving these Asian-inspired kabobs alongside cucumber slices with dill and white rice. 

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Spicy Korean Chicken

Credit: Soup Loving Nicole
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Gochujang, or Korean-style chili paste is the secret ingredient here — it brings both sweet and spicy flavor. Allrecipes Allstar Soup Loving Nicole describes this recipe as, "...excellent and super simple to boot." 

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Grilled Chicken Thighs with Mango-Ancho Sauce

Credit: France C
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"Sweet mango and smoky ancho chile are combined to make both a delicious marinade and a sauce for these grilled chicken thighs," says recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar France C. "This isn't spicy, so the whole family can enjoy it. I like to serve this with cilantro-lime rice."

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Spicy Honey-Lime Chicken Thigh Kebabs

Credit: France C
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Juicy, colorful, and full of fresh summer flavor, these kabobs get a kick of heat from the Sriarcha and a touch of sweetness from the honey. 

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Baja Grilled Chicken Tacos

Credit: Soup Loving Nicole
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Although chicken breasts are usually reserved for tacos, this recipe uses thighs instead because they don't dry out as quickly, making them ideal for serving to a crowd. 

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Grilled Chicken Thighs with Peach and Cherry Salsa

Credit: Bibi
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Put two of summer's favorite fruits on display with this fresh peach and cherry salsa served overtop grilled chicken thighs. "We wait all year for fresh stone fruit, so take advantage of the abundance and dish up a slightly different take on salsa," says recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar Bibi. 

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Yogurt-Marinated Grilled Chicken

Credit: yumster
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This yogurt-based marinade keeps moisture and flavor (like that of the cilantro, lemon juice, and spices) locked in. 

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Gril