These smoked boneless chicken thighs are the easiest to prepare and they taste amazing! The marinade comes together in a matter of minutes, resulting in flavorful and juicy chicken every time! Cook the chicken up low and slow for up to two hours, until the internal temperature reaches 160. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes and enjoy! This recipe is one we keep coming back to this summer. It’s a keeper. Make it with me!
How to Smoke Chicken Thighs
It doesn’t take long to prep your chicken thighs, but you do have to be patient when you cook them. Unlike chicken that you are cooking in the instant pot, oven, or on a grill, it takes time to smoke them in your smoker.
Low and slow is always the saying for smoking!
Smoking chicken thighs is not complicated. Actually, smoked chicken thighs are one of the easier meats to cook in your smoker.
Simply marinate your chicken thighs in the marinade, my recipe is below. Then, preheat your smoker. Season the meat again to your liking, and pop it on the smoker.
Once your thighs reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F they are done. It should take approximately an hour and a half to two hours. Take them out of the smoker and allow them to rest for 5-10 minutes or so before serving.
Smoked Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to make my favorite chicken thighs!
- boneless, skinless thighs
- margarita mix (can also sub for fresh lime juice or frozen margarita concentrate)
- Italian seasoning blend
- Johnny’s seasoning salt
- lemon pepper
Mix that all together in a gallon-sized zip lock and let it marinate. The longer the better! Anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours works! The sweet spot for me is one hour.
How long to smoke chicken thighs
When you are smoking it is less about the cooking time and more about the temperature. I recommend having a good meat thermometer.
My favorite is the Thermworks Thermopen ONE!
The cook time will vary depending on how big of a chicken thigh you have and how thick it is. It will take from one hour and a half to 2 hours with your smoker set to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Be sure to watch your thermometer carefully! You don’t want them overdone.
SAVE THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!
If you give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or snap a photo and tag it with @TheAlexDaynes on Instagram! I love to see what you’ve been cooking. It always makes my day!
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What to Serve with Chicken Thighs
The beauty of this recipe is that this chicken goes with everything! Our favorite way to serve it up is to have it on its own with some watermelon and a vegetable. So easy!
Here are a few of my favorite sides from my site.
- Coconut Rice
- Greek Lemon Rice
- Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- Zucchini & Corn Skillet
- Hawaiian Mac Salad
- Instant Pot Green Beans
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Corn on the Cob
You can also use this chicken in a variety of different recipes! Use it as the cubed chicken in a salad, on a roll, or in a recipe too!
Smoked Boneless Chicken Thighs
These smoke boneless chicken thighs are the easiest to prepare and they taste amazing! The marinade comes together in a matter of minutes, resulting in flavorful and juicy chicken every time!
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless thighs
- 1/2 cup margarita mix (can also sub for fresh lime juice or frozen margarita concentrate)
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning blend
- 1 teaspoon Johnny's seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
Instructions
- Trim off any excess skin on chicken thighs. Add the chicken, margarita mix, and seasonings to a gallon-sized ziplock and marinate for one hour.
- Preheat the pellet grill to 250 degrees Fahrenheit on smoke level 5.
- Place chicken thighs on the smoker and season with an additional sprinkle of seasoning salt. Insert the temperature probe into the thickest part of the chicken thigh. Close the pellet grill lid and smoke at 250 degrees for about 1 and 1/2 hours to 2 hours or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove from smoker and let rest for 5 minutes. Then serve!
