Easy Grilled Hen Thighs are juicy, tender, and extremely simple, plus they do not require an armful of seasonings nor marinade. Hearth up the grill for this foolproof grilling recipe that is easy but craveable.
My husband is an distinctive griller and meat smoker. Do you wish to know the 2 seasonings he makes use of to get the very best taste on grilled meats – particularly hen and pork?
Garlic salt and pepper.
That’s it! I really like watching individuals’s faces once they ask what he’s used to season the meat with, and his reply is so easy. They’re at all times stunned.
Grilling naturally imparts cravable taste to no matter’s on the grates. With hen thighs particularly, you don’t want a cabinet stuffed with seasonings nor marinade that may probably burn to make them scrumptious and flavorful.
Seize a pack of boneless, skinless hen thighs, plus a pair on a regular basis seasonings, and a smokey, scorching grilled dinner might be in your desk in minutes!
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Easy Grilled Hen Thighs
Boneless skinless hen thighs are considered one of my favourite meats to grill for 3 causes:
- Idiot proof: boneless skinless hen thighs are extraordinarily exhausting to overcook. They’re thought-about achieved once they attain an inner temperature of 165 levels, however can go as much as 180-185 and nonetheless stay tender and juicy.
- Fast cooking: boneless hen thighs cook dinner shortly on the grill – simply 3-5 minutes per aspect.
- Flavorful: hen thighs are thought-about darkish meat and comprise extra fats than hen breasts. That means, they’re inherently extra flavorful and don’t require additional fuss within the type of a ton of seasonings or marinade.
Boneless vs Bone-In Hen Thighs
This grilling recipe – or methodology, actually – is for boneless skinless hen thighs, which might be grilled instantly over medium-high warmth on both a charcoal or fuel grill.
To grill bone-in hen thighs we’d must create two warmth zones on the grill (like for my Grilled Pork Tenderloin). First we’d sear the outsides of the hen thighs over medium-high warmth, then cook dinner them low and gradual over the unlit aspect.
Each are scrumptious however this grilling methodology is particularly for boneless, skinless thighs.
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What to Pair with Grilled Hen Thighs
Grilled hen thighs make for a fast and straightforward summer season dinner. Serve together with your favourite BBQ sauce or recent pesto then pair with Greatest Ever Pasta Salad, Cucumber and Tomato Salad, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, and/or Fruit Salad.
Grilled hen thighs additionally preserve effectively within the fridge for as much as 4 days (or frozen for as much as 3 months), and can be utilized in a wide range of methods. Toss them into:
- Tacos: chop the grilled thighs then reheat in a skillet with taco seasoning. Function grilled hen tacos with all of the fixins.
- Wraps: layer strips of the chilled hen with greens, hummus, and salad dressing (creamy or a French dressing) inside a tortilla then wrap and serve.
- Quesadillas: chop then use inside my BBQ Hen Quesadillas.
- Salads: high any and all salads with chopped chilled grilled hen thighs.
- Pasta Salads: toss into Hen Caesar Salad Pasta, or your favourite chilled pasta salad recipe for a lift of protein.
Alrighty, hearth up the grill and let’s get cooking!
Attempt Excellent Grilled Steak
The right way to Grill Hen Thighs
Step 1: Preheat and clear the grill.
Begin by preheating your fuel or charcoal grill over medium-high warmth. I prefer to let the within of the grill get to at the least 400 levels then keep there for 5-10 minutes earlier than grilling.
It is a Massive Inexperienced Egg, although any charcoal or fuel grill will work. I’ve additionally made grilled hen thighs indoors on a grill pan over excessive warmth many instances!
Grilling Tip
To forestall your meat from sticking or burning, remember to clear the grill grates first. You are able to do this both earlier than or after preheating. I rub a balled up piece of foil over the grates to take away any caught on meals.
Step 2: Trim then season the hen thighs.
Whereas the grill is preheating, trim boneless skinless hen thighs of additional pores and skin or fats. I discover a pair of sharp kitchen shears is the very best and easiest method to do that.
Subsequent brush the tops with vegetable oil, or spray with nonstick spray, then season liberally with garlic salt and pepper. You possibly can in fact use your favourite / go-to hen seasoning for the grill as an alternative. Flip then brush and season the second aspect.
Recipe Tip
If you’d like a bit of additional shade to your grilled hen thighs, you possibly can add a really gentle sprinkle of paprika as effectively. Only a bit – we wish the colour, not essentially the flavour.
Step 3: Grill the hen thighs.
Add the seasoned hen thighs smooth-side-down on the new grates then shut the lid and grill for 3-5 minutes or till the thighs are opaque up and across the sides, and the hen doesn’t stick whenever you try to flip it.
Grilling Tip
Remember to preserve the lid DOWN when grilling, in any other case you’ll lose all of your warmth!
Flip then grill for an additional 3-5 minutes with the lid down, or till the thickest a part of the hen thighs learn at the least 165 levels as measured by a digital meat thermometer.
I prefer to let thighs attain at the least 175 levels as a result of they really turn out to be extra tender the upper the interior temperature.
Switch the grilled hen thighs to a platter then cowl with foil and allow them to relaxation for at the least 5 minutes earlier than serving.
I hope you like these smokey, scorching, juicy, and tender thighs as a lot as we do. My mouth could be watering only a bit proper now! 😉 Get pleasure from!
Extra Scorching Grilling Recipes
- 2-1/2 lbs boneless skinless hen thighs, 8-10 medium-sized thighs
- garlic salt
- pepper
- paprika, non-obligatory, for shade
- canola or vegetable oil
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Warmth a fuel or charcoal grill over medium-high warmth till it reaches at the least 400 levels. Let the grill preheat for 5-10 minutes at this temperature to make sure the grates are highly regarded.
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Whereas the grill is preheating, trim the hen thighs of extra pores and skin and fats then place them onto a platter or giant plate. Brush the tops with oil, or spray with nonstick spray, then season with garlic salt, pepper, and a small quantity of paprika if desired for shade. Flip the hen thighs over then brush with oil and season the second aspect with garlic salt and pepper.
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Place the hen thighs smooth-side-down on the grates then shut the lid and grill for 3-5 minutes or till the hen is opaque up and across the sides, grill marks seem on the bottoms, and the hen doesn’t stick with the grates whenever you try to flip it over.
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Shut the lid then grill on the second aspect for an additional 3-5 minutes or till a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest a part of the thigh reads 165 levels – I like them extra round 175 levels. Be aware: boneless skinless hen thighs might be cooked as much as 180-185 levels and nonetheless stay tender, so there’s some wiggle room right here. Take away the hen to a platter then cowl with foil and let relaxation for at the least 5 minutes earlier than serving.
- Be at liberty to make use of your favourite grilling seasoning mix as an alternative of merely garlic salt and pepper.
- You should use a grill pan over excessive warmth to grill the hen thighs as an alternative of a fuel or charcoal grill.
- Make certain your grates are clear earlier than grilling to keep away from sticking and burning. I like to make use of a chunk of balled up foil to rub the grates till they’re clear (grill brushes might be exhausting to wash and depart behind bristles).
- Boneless skinless hen thighs can come in several sizes. In case your thighs are smaller or bigger than 4-5 per pound, regulate the grilling time accordingly.
Energy: 270kcal, Protein: 44g, Fats: 9g, Saturated Fats: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 3g, Trans Fats: 0.04g, Ldl cholesterol: 215mg, Sodium: 202mg, Potassium: 556mg, Vitamin A: 54IU, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 2mg
Dietary values are estimates solely. Please learn our full vitamin data disclaimer.
Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin