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Tender BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe Easy Crispy Skin Cooking Tips

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This recipe delivers tender, juicy BBQ chicken thighs with irresistibly crispy skin using a simple dry rub and a two-stage cooking method. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or weekend BBQs, it combines smoky, tangy flavors with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds / 900 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (choose your favorite brand or homemade)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure crispy skin.
  2. In a small bowl, mix garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to make the dry rub.
  3. Drizzle olive or avocado oil over the chicken thighs and rub evenly into the skin and meat.
  4. Sprinkle the dry rub generously on all sides of the chicken thighs.
  5. Let the chicken rest for 15-20 minutes at room temperature to absorb flavors.
  6. Preheat grill to medium-high heat (around 375°F / 190°C) or oven to 425°F (220°C) with a cast iron skillet or baking sheet inside to heat.
  7. Place chicken thighs skin side down on the grill grates or hot skillet and cook for 7-10 minutes without moving them until the skin is deep golden brown and crispy.
  8. Flip the chicken thighs and cook for another 15-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  9. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, brush the skin side with BBQ sauce and let it caramelize slightly without burning.
  10. Remove chicken from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.

Notes

Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure crispy skin. Avoid overcrowding the pan or grill for even cooking. Use moderate medium-high heat to prevent burning. Apply BBQ sauce near the end to avoid burning sugars. Rest chicken after cooking to lock in juices. For oven cooking, finish under broiler 2-3 minutes for extra crispiness. Trim excess fat to avoid flare-ups on grill.

Nutrition

Keywords: BBQ chicken thighs, crispy chicken skin, grilled chicken, easy BBQ recipe, smoky chicken, summer cookout, quick chicken dinner

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/tender-bbq-chicken-thighs-recipe-easy-crispy-skin-cooking-tips/