These grilled boneless chicken thighs are juicy, tender and full of flavor. Their easy prep makes them perfect for outdoor entertaining. Serve them with anything you like!
If you are looking for an easy marinade for grilled chicken thighs, then you are at the right place. This simple blend of every-day ingredients adds a ton of flavor to the meat and when grilled to perfection, it turns these grilled boneless chicken thighs into a finger-licking dinner.
My recommendations for side dishes would definitely be Greek Salad or Cucumber Tomato Salad, Parmesan Roasted Potatoes or Garlic Smashed Potatoes. But the best side dish is the one you like so if you have a favorite one, go ahead and make/buy it!
How to make grilled boneless chicken thighs
First get a bowl that is large enough to hold all the thighs. You can also use a Ziploc bag, if you like.
Then, add the ingredients for the marinade and mix well.
For these grilled boneless chicken thighs, I made a simple marinade with paprika, garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil and finely chopped parsley.
Then, add the thighs in and coat them in the mixture. Make sure all the thighs are well coated before covering the bowl with cling film or closing the Ziploc bag.
Let the meat rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before grilling. The longer you leave it in the fridge the better.
You can also make the prep for these grilled boneless chicken thighs ahead of time and marinade the meat overnight, if you like.
How long to grill boneless chicken thighs?
It takes about 10-12 minutes for these grilled boneless chicken thighs to be ready. Now bear in mind that the time may vary slightly. This will depend on how thick the pieces are and also, on your grill.
If in doubt, please use a food thermometer to check if the thighs are ready. The internal temperature has to reach 165°F (75°C). Always make sure you check the thickest part of the meat.
Tips for making grilled boneless chicken thighs
Marinade – at first, it may seem to you that there is not enough marinade. However, this amount is plenty for 1.5 up to 1.8 pound (800 grams) of thighs. This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled, if needed!
Make sure to use all the ingredients for marinade – there is only a few of them so it’s important to follow the recipe for best flavors.
Marinating – even though the prep takes literally minutes, you can still make it ahead and keep the meat in the fridge overnight. Also, the longer you marinate, the more intense the flavor.
To keep the thighs warm until ready for serving wrap them in a tin foil (aluminum foil).
If the grilling season is over but you still would like to enjoy these grilled thighs, throw them onto an electric indoor grill (also a panini press might do the trick)!
More recipes for grilling
- Grilled Turkey Kabobs
- Yogurt Marinated Grilled Chicken
- Honey Lemon Grilled Chicken
- Grilled Whole Fish
- Mediterranean Grilled Vegetables
Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
Recommended Products
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl (or a Ziploc bag), combine paprika, crushed garlic cloves, finely chopped parsley, salt, pepper and olive oil. Give everything a good mix.
- Add the chicken thighs and coat each one of them with the mixture. Make sure they are all well coated before covering the bowl with cling film (or locking the Ziploc bag). Refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes before grilling.
- Grill on both sides until they are nice brown and cooked through (see note 4).
- Best served right away!
Notes
- Paprika – either smoked or sweet can be used.
- I used 4 garlic cloves which was about 1 tablespoon of crushed/pressed garlic. It was the perfect amount but every garlic is different so you might like to adjust this the next time you make the marinade.
- Parsley – I use about 4 tablespoons of finely chopped parsley, but you can use slightly less or more, if you like.
- The time does not include marinating – count with at least 30 minutes.
- Please note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of the thighs you use and on the heat in your grill. If not sure, always check with food thermometer first. Mine were ready in about 10-12 minutes.
- I used skinless chicken thighs. You can also use thighs with skin. If you do, I recommend grilling them the skin-side down first.
Paula says
I made this marinade for my boneless chicken thighs last night and it was a win! Everyone ate it up and my son requested it for dinner again tonight! This is a nice, simple and super yummy marinade to have! Thanks!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks a lot for your feedback, Paula. Hope you try some other grilling recipes I have on the blog.
Donna says
Made this for dinner tomight. So easy and tasty! Will definitely make again. Served with grilled veggies.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Yay! :) Thanks for your feedback, Donna!
Beth says
Making this again tonight. Made it for a Dad’s day bbq and I didn’t get any but everyone Loved it. Can’t wait to try tonight. I used smoke paprika and dried chives ( instead of parsley) Thank you for the recipe
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome, Beth! Happy grilling! :)
Emily says
Can you use this recipe with boneless skinless chicken breast?
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Hi Emily. I highly recommend using thighs as chicken breasts tend to dry out easily. They would also need way longer on a grill. You could try wrapping them in aluminum foil and bake them in the oven instead. If you wanted to use grill, then I would too use the aluminum foil. Hope this helps.
Nancy says
Great recipe! I used smoked paprika and we grilled the chicken on a BQQ. It was so moist and flavorful. The garlic was roasted and crisp. We have enjoyed it many times.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thank you for finding time to leave comment and rating, Nancy. It’s always good to hear when our readers enjoy our recipes. Happy grilling!
Candy says
So delicious and easy. Thank you.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome, Candy! :)
Mike says
Could you use fresh rosemary instead of parsley? Or will that drastically alter the flavor?
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Hi Mike. You could give it a go. I would probably chop it very finely and add only a little as it is quite flavorful itself. Then, next time you will see if it works or if more is needed. Hope this helps.
Shannon says
Am I overlooking a recommended grill temp? 350 I assume?
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Hi Shannon, I use a simple grill that does not have any temperature setting. However, I suggest somewhere between 350-375 Fahrenheit. The cooking time will depend on the temperature, so please make sure the thighs are cooked through. Happy grilling!
Kitty Post says
Everyone loved this simple recipe!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks so much for your feedback, Kitty!
Cyndy says
The grilling season is over so can I bake them in the oven or air fryer?
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Yes, you can. You will have to adjust the time and temperature though.