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The Ultimate Juicy BBQ Chicken Thighs: Recipe for Grill, Oven, and Air Fryer

Two perfectly cooked, glazed bbq chicken thighs with a dark, caramelized crust served on a white plate.
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Learn how to cook perfectly juicy BBQ chicken thighs using your grill, oven, or air fryer. This recipe focuses on simple steps for tender meat and a flavorful homemade barbecue glaze.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 cup your favorite barbecue sauce (for basting)
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (for moisture)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs completely dry using paper towels. This helps achieve crispy skin.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika to create a dry rub.
  3. Rub the spice mixture evenly over all surfaces of the chicken thighs.
  4. Prepare your cooking method: For grilling, preheat the grill to medium heat (about 350 degrees F). For oven baking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. For air frying, preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F.
  5. If grilling, place the thighs skin-side up on the cooler side of the grill (indirect heat). Cook for 20 minutes.
  6. If baking, place the thighs skin-side up on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Add the apple cider vinegar to the bottom of the baking sheet to create steam. Bake for 30 minutes.
  7. If air frying, place the thighs in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 22 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  8. After the initial cooking time, brush the chicken thighs generously with barbecue sauce.
  9. Continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees F (this ensures tenderness in thighs), basting with sauce every 5 minutes for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Total cook time will be about 35-40 minutes depending on the method.
  10. Remove the chicken from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, you can marinate the seasoned thighs in the apple cider vinegar for 1 to 4 hours before cooking.
  • If you prefer a thicker glaze, mix 1 tablespoon of brown sugar into your barbecue sauce before basting.
  • Serve these juicy barbecue chicken thighs with coleslaw or baked beans for a classic barbecue chicken side dishes meal.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/bbq-chicken-thighs-grill-oven-air-fryer-recipe/