Easy Grilled Hen Thighs are juicy, tender, and extremely straightforward, plus they do not require an armful of seasonings nor marinade. Fireplace up the grill for this foolproof grilling recipe that is easy but craveable.
My husband is an distinctive griller and meat smoker. Do you need to know the 2 seasonings he makes use of to get one of the best taste on grilled meats – particularly hen and pork?
Garlic salt and pepper.
That’s it! I really like watching folks’s faces once they ask what he’s used to season the meat with, and his reply is so easy. They’re all the time shocked.
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 doubtlessly 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 shall be in your desk in minutes!
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Easy Grilled Hen Thighs
Boneless skinless hen thighs are certainly 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 performed 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 prepare dinner rapidly on the grill – simply 3-5 minutes per aspect.
- Flavorful: hen thighs are thought-about darkish meat and include extra fats than hen breasts. Which means, they’re inherently extra flavorful and don’t require further fuss within the type of a ton of seasonings or marinade.
Boneless vs Bone-In Hen Thighs
This grilling recipe – or technique, actually – is for boneless skinless hen thighs, which may be grilled instantly over medium-high warmth on both a charcoal or gasoline grill.
To grill bone-in hen thighs we’d have to 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 prepare dinner them low and gradual over the unlit aspect.
Each are scrumptious however this grilling technique 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 simple summer season dinner. Serve along with your favourite BBQ sauce or recent pesto then pair with Finest Ever Pasta Salad, Cucumber and Tomato Salad, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, and/or Fruit Salad.
Grilled hen thighs additionally preserve properly 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: prime 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, fireplace up the grill and let’s get cooking!
Attempt Excellent Grilled Steak
Grill Hen Thighs
Step 1: Preheat and clear the grill.
Begin by preheating your gasoline or charcoal grill over medium-high warmth. I prefer to let the within of the grill get to no less than 400 levels then keep there for 5-10 minutes earlier than grilling.
It is a Huge Inexperienced Egg, although any charcoal or gasoline grill will work. I’ve additionally made grilled hen thighs indoors on a grill pan over excessive warmth many occasions!
Grilling Tip
To forestall your meat from sticking or burning, you’ll want 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 one of the best and simplest way to do that.
Subsequent brush the tops with vegetable oil, or spray with nonstick spray, then season liberally with garlic salt and pepper. You may after all 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 colour to your grilled hen thighs, you possibly can add a really gentle sprinkle of paprika as properly. 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 while you try and flip it.
Grilling Tip
You should definitely preserve the lid DOWN when grilling, in any other case you’ll lose all of your warmth!
Flip then grill for one more 3-5 minutes with the lid down, or till the thickest a part of the hen thighs learn no less than 165 levels as measured by a digital meat thermometer.
I prefer to let thighs attain no less than 175 levels as a result of they really turn into extra tender the upper the inner temperature.
Switch the grilled hen thighs to a platter then cowl with foil and allow them to relaxation for no less than 5 minutes earlier than serving.
I hope you’re keen on these smokey, scorching, juicy, and tender thighs as a lot as we do. My mouth may 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 colour
- canola or vegetable oil
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Warmth a gasoline or charcoal grill over medium-high warmth till it reaches no less than 400 levels. Let the grill preheat for 5-10 minutes at this temperature to make sure the grates are very popular.
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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 massive 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 colour. 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 persist with the grates while you try and flip it over.
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Shut the lid then grill on the second aspect for one more 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. Word: boneless skinless hen thighs may 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 no less than 5 minutes earlier than serving.
- Be happy to make use of your favourite grilling seasoning mix as an alternative of merely garlic salt and pepper.
- You need to use a grill pan over excessive warmth to grill the hen thighs as an alternative of a gasoline or charcoal grill.
- Make sure 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 may be exhausting to scrub 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 diet data disclaimer.
Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin