How to Smoke Chicken Thighs

It’s time to bite into juicy, meaty Smoked Chicken Thighs. Transform this affordable chicken cut into a mouth-watering meal with little effort. Each bite has crispy skin, juicy dark meat, and plenty of smoke flavor.

Smoked chicken thighs are a perfect example of meaty, fatty, and crispy meat which can soak up the spices and char. Each bite reminds me of childhood and cooking with the family.

Why This Process Works

• Crispy, Juicy, Meaty. These chicken thighs are crispy on the outside with charred skin and loaded with juicy, fatty meat on the inside. Every bite will remind you why you love smoked chicken. Plus, nothing beats a bite of smoked crispy chicken skin.
• Simple, for Any Grill. Smoking chicken thighs is incredibly simple as you can do it with any pellet grill, charcoal grill, or even gas grill. The process will be the same, giving you the flexibility to repeat it anywhere you are.
• Affordable and Accessible. Chicken thighs, especially bone-in, and skin-on, are much cheaper than many other high-demand cuts of chicken.

Ingredients Needed

Very few ingredients are required, outside of seasonings and sauce (optional, of course).

• Bone-in chicken thighs – Make sure these are skin-on as well. The bone and skin helps to prevent the meat from drying out. Plus, the skin gets crispy.
• Oil – Brushing a neutral oil onto the skin promotes rendered fat and crispy skin, specifically at the last step when the chicken is seared. Use what tastes good to you.
• Seasoning – If you’re looking for a balanced barbecue flavor, my preferred seasoning choices would be the Signature Sweet & Smoky Rub, or Brad’s House Rub from the Chiles and Smoke Cookbook.
• BBQ Sauce – There are a lot of homemade options available, and all of them will work very well with the seasonings recommended. My favorite would be the Sweet Honey Bourbon or Maple Chipotle BBQ Sauce.

Step 1: Prep and Season

Trim any excess skin or fat that might be hanging off the side. Don’t remove more than necessary, the skin helps to insulate the chicken and is also very tasty in the end.

Pat the skin dry with a paper towel, and space them out on a baking sheet with a wire rack. This really works well when adding your bbq seasoning to any cut of meat.

Brush each chicken thigh with oil, and then sprinkle on your seasoning.

Most plastic tubes of barbecue seasoning have very large holes, so I prefer to pour it into a shaker which will give you an even distribution.

Step 2: Smoke Time

Preheat your smoker to 275-300°F. Once preheated, place the chicken skin-side up on the grates away from the heat source.

You can prepare smoked chicken thighs on a pellet grill, or by using the 2-zone method with a charcoal grill. Personally, I prefer the charcoal grill for this recipe and it will easily allow you to sear the chicken to finish.

Smoke the chicken thighs for about 45-60 minutes, until they reach 175°F internal temperature.

Step 3: Sauce and Sear

Saucing the chicken is very optional. Smoked chicken thighs are crispy and delicious if you smoke them to temperature, and you do not need the sauce… but it does add an additional layer of flavor.

Try the Smoky Sweet Heat Sauce for these, which is our signature bbq sauce.

Once the chicken thighs reach about 175°F internal temperature, brush your BBQ sauce on and get ready to sear for a finish.

If you’re using a pellet smoker, make sure you turn the heat up in an attempt to sear the chicken. I’d recommend 400°F if possible.

Flip the chicken skin-side down right over the coals for about 2 minutes, just enough to char the skin a little without burning anything. It’ll be done faster than you think, so don’t let it go for too long.

Once they are seared, set the chicken aside and allow them to rest for a few minutes before digging in.

Congrats! You have delicious smoked chicken thighs! Now crack open a beer and dig in.

Important Tips

• Boneless chicken thighs will work for this recipe, but you’ll need to make sure to tuck them in so they don’t lay flat. The cooking time will be shorter, as the bone is no longer there insulating the meat. Do not use boneless skinless thighs for this method.
• Hungry guests will likely eat at least 2 smoked chicken thighs, so make sure you purchase enough to accommodate.
• The chicken thighs can be prepped a few hours ahead of time, but make sure that you take the chicken out of the fridge at least 30 minutes prior to hitting the grill.
• Light meat, such as chicken breasts are typically cooked to a safe 165°F, but chicken thighs and wings are cooked to a higher temperature. The meat will fall off the bone and be tender, not chewy. Cook your thighs to 175-180°F and I promise you’ll have better results.

Common Questions

You’ve read about smoking chicken thighs and probably have a few questions. Hopefully, some of these frequently asked questions can clear up anything on your mind.

Recommended Sides for Smoked Chicken Thighs

Dark, smoky meat typically pairs well with bright foods. There’s also nothing wrong with a heaping pile of mac and cheese… you do you.

• Creamy Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese
• Grilled Broccoli Crunch Salad
• Creamy Southwestern Coleslaw
• Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Popper Boats
• Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip

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