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    Home » Recipes » Easy Main Dish Recipes

    Jul 21, 2022 by Andrea· This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

    Grilled Chicken Thighs - Bone-in with BBQ Sauce

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    Grilled Chicken Thighs with BBQ sauce are a summertime essential in our house. They are easy, economical, and perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a weekend get together. Make your own quick and easy BBQ sauce and impress your friends and family!

    4 bbq chicken thighs on a white plate with extra sauce on the side.

    We are big fans of chicken around here and you may have noticed from my Tex-Mex Chicken Bake, Margarita Chicken Kabobs, and One-Pan Chicken and Artichoke Bake that I love chicken thighs. It seemed only natural that I create the best Grilled Chicken Thigh recipe! Let's also not forget about the BBQ sauce. Listen, you don't have to make your own sauce for this recipe but I highly recommend you do. If you are feeling even a little more adventurous try the Bacon BBQ Sauce included with my BBQ Grilled Pork Chops recipe.

    Serve with this summery Zucchini Frittata, or Crispy Baked Zucchini Fritters to round things out perfectly.

    Jump to:
    • What You Need To Make Grilled Chicken Thighs
    • How to Make the BBQ Sauce
    • How to Grill Bone-In Chicken Thighs
    • Substitutions
    • How to Store Leftovers
    • Pro-Tips
    • Can I Oven Bake These Chicken Thighs?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • What to Serve With Grilled Chicken Thighs
    • More Grilling Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    What You Need To Make Grilled Chicken Thighs

    Here's what you will need to make this recipe. For quantities see the recipe card below.

    Raw chicken thighs, spice rub and bbq sauce on a white background.
    • bone in, skin on chicken thighs
    • BBQ Spice Rub
    • cider vinegar
    • ketchup
    • brown sugar
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • soy sauce
    • salt
    • yellow mustard 
    • cayenne pepper
    • freshly ground black pepper

    How to Make the BBQ Sauce

    BBQ sauce in a saucepan simmering on the stove.
    bbq sauce after it has simmered and thickened.
    1. In a saucepan, stir or whisk together all the BBQ sauce ingredients and bring to a gentle simmer.
    2. Continue simmering for about 10 minutes or until thickened. Set aside.

    How to Grill Bone-In Chicken Thighs

    Rubbing the spice rub on the chicken thighs.
    Brushing BBQ sauce on the chicken while on the grill.
    1. Rub the chicken thighs on both sides with olive oil and BBQ spice rub. You can leave them covered in the refrigerator for a few hours or cook them right away. The longer they sit with the rub the more flavourful they will become.
    2. Preheat the grill to 400°F (205°C) and oil with an oil soaked, folded up, paper towel.
    3. Place chicken thighs skin side down, close the lid, and cook for 10 minutes checking half way through and lowering the heat if they are getting dark too quickly.
    4. Flip and brush the skin side with barbecue sauce. Cook for another 10-15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175 - 185°F (80 - 85°C). You can add more barbecue sauce and grill for another minute or two or serve extra sauce on the side. Remove thighs from grill and let rest for 5-10 minutes.

    Substitutions

    • Bone in, skin on chicken thighs - feel free to use boneless chicken thighs or chicken breasts for this recipe. Keep in mind cooking times may vary. Use a quick-read thermometer to ensure proper doneness. Boneless chicken breasts and thighs should be cooked to 165°F.
    • Homemade BBQ sauce - you can use any barbecue sauce you like! You may also want to try this Bacon BBQ Sauce.
    • BBQ spice rub - use any store bought or homemade spice rub or simply use the quick spice rub included in the recipe below.

    How to Store Leftovers

    Keep in the refrigerator, wrapped tightly or in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. BBQ sauce will keep in a sealed container, in the fridge for 2 weeks. You may want to make a double batch!

    Pro-Tips

    • Don't walk away from the grill when barbecuing chicken with the skin on. Grill temperatures vary greatly so my times and temperature may not be perfect for your grill. Grilling is about getting to know your own grill, how hot it gets, and where the hot spots are. Sometimes you have to move things around to ensure even cooking and no burning. You also may need to adjust the temperature up or down.
    • Adding the barbecue sauce towards the end of cooking prevents it from burning. If you like lots of sauce you can slather it on each side one more time before removing from the grill. Or serve extra on the side.
    • Use a quality, quick-read thermometer to cook meat perfectly every time. My favourite thermometer is the Thermapen ONE. It is the best quality thermometer on the market and worth every penny. If you are on a tighter budget I recommend the ThermoPop. Any thermometer from Thermoworks is a good buy!
    Cooked grilled chicken thighs with parsley garnish.

    Can I Oven Bake These Chicken Thighs?

    Yes absolutely! Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C). Place thighs on a parchment lined baking tray. Rub with olive oil and spice rub. Divide the sauce in half and reserve half to serve on the side. Brush both sides of the thighs with BBQ sauce, finishing with skin side up. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove tray from oven and brush again on both sides with sauce. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 175 - 185°F (80 - 85°C). Serve with extra sauce.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does it take to grill bone-in chicken thighs?

    Times will vary based on the size of the thighs and the temperature of your grill but generally they will take 20 to 25 minutes.

    What temperature should bone-in chicken thighs be when done.

    Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches 165° F (74°C). However, bone in thighs can be cooked up to 180°F (83°C) and will come off the bone more easily when cooked to a higher temperature.

    How do I prevent BBQ sauce from burning when grilling?

    Always wait until towards the end of cooking to add the BBQ sauce to prevent burning. Keep an eye on it and adjust the temperature if necessary.

    What to Serve With Grilled Chicken Thighs

    Below are my top suggestions but you can find many other delicious sides to go with this recipe over in my Salad Recipes and Sides categories. And if you are looking for a perfect summer dessert recipe try my Easy Strawberry Shortcakes or Coconut Mango Panna Cotta recipe checks all the boxes!

    More Grilling Recipes

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      Juicy Marinated Pork Tenderloin
    • grilled salmon fillets on a white plate with a side of sauce.
      Simple Grilled Salmon with Spice Rub
    • grilled vegetable salad on an oval platter with feta cheese and extra vinaigrette on the side.
      The Best Grilled Vegetable Salad Recipe
    • a sliced grilled flank steak with chimichurri sauce poured over it.
      Grilled Flank Steak with Salsa Verde
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    Tried this recipe? I would love it if you could leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and/or a comment below. You can also follow me on social media here on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!

    Want to say thank you?

    📖 Recipe

    bbq chicken thighs on a white plate with extra sauce on the side.

    Grilled Chicken Thighs with BBQ Sauce

    Grilled Chicken Thighs with BBQ sauce are a summertime essential. They are easy, economical, and perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a weekend get-together.
    4.82 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 205kcal
    Author: Andrea Mut
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    Ingredients

    • 8 chicken thighs bone-in skin-on
    • 4 teaspoon BBQ Spice Rub

    Quick BBQ Sauce (makes 1 cup)

    • ½ cup cider vinegar
    • 1 cup ketchup
    • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or less if you want less spicy
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Rub the chicken thighs with olive oil and 1-2 teaspoons on both sides of spice rub on both sides to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to grill or up to overnight.

    To make the BBQ sauce

    • In a medium saucepan, bring all sauce ingredients to a boil, stirring or whisking until smooth. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, or until slightly reduced and thickened. Stir often to prevent sticking and burning. Set aside. Makes 1 cup.
    • Preheat barbecue to 400° F (205°C). Oil grill and place chicken skin side down. Close the lid and cook for 10 minutes, checking halfway through to make sure it isn’t getting too dark. If it is, turn the heat down.
    • Flip the thighs and brush the tops with BBQ sauce. Cook another 10 minutes, checking after 5 minutes. Adjust heat as necessary. Flip and brush skin side with BBQ sauce. Cook for another 5 minutes or until internal temperature reaches a minimum of 170° F (77° C) and up to 180° F (82°C). If you like them extra saucy, brush more on and cook for 1 more minute on each side.
    • Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes before serving with extra BBQ sauce on the side.

    Video

    Notes

    STORAGE - Keep in the refrigerator, wrapped tightly or in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. BBQ sauce will keep in a sealed container, in the fridge for 2 weeks.
    QUICK SPICE RUB - If you don't have time to make this BBQ Spice Rub use this quick rub instead:
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1thigh | Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 413mg | Potassium: 342mg | Sugar: 6g
    Tried this recipe?Mention @MyPocketKitchen or tag #mypocketkitchen!

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    Comments

      4.82 from 11 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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    1. Wendy Valhoff says

      August 18, 2023 at 9:30 pm

      5 stars
      Andrea, I love this recipe and have tried it several times. I have also made all of your soups, and your frittata and lots of other recipes. I love the way you print out each recipe and that you always give alternatives. My Pocket Kitchen is my favourite web site. I thank you for all of the expertise that you freely share, and for the excellence of your recipes. I can say this even though i hate garbanzo beans, (obviously one of your favourites). I have shared your web site with many of my friends, who also love what you do. So thanks so much.

      Wendy

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      • Andrea says

        August 21, 2023 at 10:22 am

        Thank you so much for your kind words and all your wonderful support. I am so thrilled you are enjoying everything and sharing the love! This made my day!

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    2. Suzanne says

      April 15, 2023 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      Yum! Made these chicken thighs with the homemade BBQ sauce. They turned out juicy and fantastic tasting. Next time I will use the homemade rub as well - was missing one ingredient so used another rub. But the BBQ sauce was a fantastic add and so easy to make. Will definitely be showing off this recipe when we have company this summer!

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      • Andrea says

        April 15, 2023 at 11:02 am

        I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe Suzanne!

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    3. Karen Link says

      April 14, 2023 at 10:08 am

      5 stars
      Delicious

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    4. Heather says

      September 03, 2022 at 5:47 pm

      5 stars
      Putting the versatile rub on first was a game changer. These are the most flavourful, succulent, barbecued chicken thighs ever!!!!! Thanks, Andrea!

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      • Andrea says

        September 04, 2022 at 7:55 am

        I'm so happy you enjoyed them! Yes we use that rub on almost everything 😆

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    5. Cheryl says

      July 22, 2022 at 1:09 pm

      This is similar to a recipe I make for ribs. It is yummy so I know this one will be as well. I am bar b que less so will have to make them in the oven…. Stand by for the results soon.

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      • Andrea says

        July 22, 2022 at 4:37 pm

        Let me know how it goes! Hope you enjoy them!

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    Andrea from My Pocket Kitchen

    Hello and welcome to My Pocket Kitchen! I'm Andrea, a professionally trained Chef & Pastry Chef . Here you will find easy, step by step recipes that are packed with wholesome, nutrient rich ingredients. Hope you have fun! Read More…

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