Description
Juicy, tender smoked chicken thighs with crispy skin! Perfect for BBQ lovers, this easy recipe is packed with smoky, citrusy flavor.
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on): These are essential for maximum flavor and texture.
- Olive oil: Helps the marinade coat the chicken evenly.
- Lemon juice and zest: Adds brightness and acidity.
- Orange juice: Brings a subtle sweetness that complements the smoke.
- Garlic (crushed): Because everything’s better with garlic.
- Fresh rosemary: Adds a woodsy, aromatic touch.
- Sea salt and black pepper: For seasoning balance.
- Chipotle pepper and cayenne pepper: A kick of heat for bold flavor.
Instructions
In an extra-large bowl, pour in the olive oil along with lemon juice and zest, orange juice, crushed garlic, rosemary, sea salt, black pepper, chipotle, and cayenne. All these citruses and spicy spices will create an uplifting, bold, and flavorful marinade.
One at a time, each chicken thigh is dipped into the marinade to coat it well. The thighs are transferred to a large gallon-sized, resealable plastic bag, where any remaining marinade can be added. The air is squeezed out, the bag is tightly sealed, and placed into the refrigerator for a couple of hours. To maximize flavor, let the chicken marinate thoroughly overnight to absorb the flavors.
Preheat your Traeger or pellet grill to 200°F and let it heat up for about 15 minutes. Place the marinated chicken thighs directly on the grill grates, skin-side up. Use the super smoke setting for added smoky flavor and let the chicken smoke for 20 minutes. Hold onto the leftover marinade—it’ll come in handy later.
The grill temperature should be set to 375°F after the first smoke. Let the chicken thighs cook further for 30 minutes at this temperature so that some fat will be rendered, and the skin can be slightly crisped while the meat will remain juicy.
For the final step, turn the temperature up again to 400°F. Brush the chicken thighs generously with the leftover marinade and flip them skin-side down on the grill. Let them cook for about 5 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
Check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer for accuracy. The
Notes
- For best results, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours before grilling.
- The marinade can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Adjust the spice levels by increasing or decreasing the cayenne pepper according to taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: grilled chicken thighs, herb marinade, smoky chicken, grilled meat, easy chicken recipe, summer grilling, chicken marinade, flavorful grilled chicken