EASY Tender Grilled Chicken Thighs with the BEST marinade. The thighs become so juicy, tender and flavor-packed once marinated and grilled. The grilled thighs have quickly become a favorite for summertime cooking.

If you love easy chicken recipes, then you will love our creamy tuscan chicken recipe.

Tender grilled chicken thighs on a plate with lime and chopped cilantro.

We love cooking with chicken thighs! Whether they are baked, added to stir fry, or in homemade gyozas, they are so juicy if cooked properly.

grilled chicken thighs-

Chicken thighs, if marinated properly are the best meat for grilling season. This easy marinade adds so much flavor to the bland thighs and the recipe requires like 10 minutes of prep time. The marinade consisting of seasoning, oil and lime is amazing with the thighs.

I love that the thighs may be marinated ahead of time making it the perfect recipe for parties and barbecues.

Grilled thighs on a plate with limes and topped with fresh chopped greens.

how to grill chicken thighs-

These grilled thighs require just 10 minutes of prep time and are flavor-packed.

Prepare marinade:

  • Combining the mayo, oil, lime, garlic, and seasoning.
  • Trim off excess fat from the thighs and cut thighs in half.
  • In a large bowl, combine the thighs, onion, marinade and mix to combine TIP: This may also be done is a gallon-size zip-top bag.
Chicken thighs in the chicken marinde with sliced onions next to skewers and limes.

Grill the thighs:

  • Preheat the grill to about 400°F.
  • Add the chicken to the grill and sear the chicken on both sides, then turn down the heat and cook until food thermometer read 165°F.
  • Drizzle fresh lime juice over the chicken before serving.

NOTE: Discard of leftover onion and marinade.

faq’s and TIPS for GRILLING CHICKEN THIGHS:

Can I taste the mayo from the marinade?

No! You cannot taste mayo in the meat, it just acts as a tenderizer and it does its job well.

How to keep meat from sticking to grates?

Before turning on the grill, grease the grates with cooking oil so the meat releases when flipping.

How long to grill chicken thighs?

You’ll want to sear the chicken then turn down the heat and cook until food thermometer reads 165°F, about 6-8 minutes per side. TIP: The grilling time will slightly vary depending on the thickness of the thighs.

When do I add chicken to the grill?

Never add the meat to a cold grill. Wait for the grill to fully preheat, then add the meat.

How long should I marinate chicken thighs?

Give the marinade at least 2 hours for it to penetrate into the meat. You can prep it up to 24 hours in advance.

how to use leftover grilled chicken thighs-

If you have leftover chicken thighs, it can be used for other recipes such as:

  • flatbreads– perfect for add to a flatbread for a quick lunch.
  • salad– the meat can be added to just about any salad, we love it with this Copycat salad recipe.
  • sandwich- add the chicken to a sandwich or grilled cheese.
  • pasta- make a quick pasta dinner with the chicken.
Upclose picture of grilled chicken thighs topped with fresh greens.

Grilling is by far one of my favorite methods of cooking, especially during the summer. The food turns out great and is usually simple to make.

These thighs are definitely a family favorite and so good!

Other recipes to try on the grill:

Tender Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe

Author: Valentina
Print
5 from 9 votes
Juicy and tender Grilled Thighs Recipe with just 10 minutes of prep time in the BEST grilling marinade.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
marinate-: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Trim off excess fat on thighs and cut thighs in half.
  • In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp lime juice, oil, garlic, salt, pepper and paprika.
  • In a bowl, add the thighs, marinade and onions, mix to combine.
  • Allow thighs to marinate at least 2 hours (or overnight).
  • Grill the chicken thighs on a preheated grill 6-8 minutes per side.
  • Drizzle thighs with fresh lime.

Notes

Marinade time- The chicken thighs can be marinated 2 hours or a day in advance. 
Grill time- Grill the chicken thighs until they read 165°F with a meat thermometer (about 15 minutes).
TIP: Discard of leftover marinade and onion. 

Nutrition

449kcal Calories2g Carbs44g Protein28g Fat4g Saturated Fat223mg Cholesterol450mg Sodium597mg Potassium1g Sugar255IU Vitamin A1.8mg Vitamin C27mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Tender Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 449 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28g43%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 223mg74%
Sodium 450mg20%
Potassium 597mg17%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 44g88%
Vitamin A 255IU5%
Vitamin C 1.8mg2%
Calcium 27mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)

This post was originally posted in August 2017 and updated in June 2020.