Best Chicken Thigh Smoker Finish With Honey Margarinebrown Sugar

Smoked chicken thighs full of sweet and savory smoked flavor and juicy as can be are a barbecue favorite!

Our smoked chicken thigh recipe is simple to follow and the perfect starter for getting comfortable with smoking meats. Try serving your finished thighs with a tortellini pasta salad and creamy corn casserole!

Smoked Chicken Thighs

Smoked Chicken Thighs

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Smoked Chicken Thighs Ingredients

• Chicken thighs – We prefer them bone-in, with the skin but you can do boneless/skinless. Just note that they will cook faster without skin/bone. The dark meat lends itself perfectly to smoking.
• Brine – We like this simple three ingredient chicken brine.
• Seasoning – I am currently obsessed with this maple bacon seasoning, but you can use any seasoning or rub that you like, or even just kosher salt and black pepper!
• Olive oil – Or other mild cooking oil.
• Barbecue sauce or teriyaki sauce – Not strictly required, but I find just a touch goes a long way. (Try our homemade bbq sauce!).
• Wood chips or pellets for smoking – We used a hickory wood chip, but there are so many different 'flavors' to try!

Our brine is just three simple ingredients. One is brown sugar, can you guess the other two?

How do you smoke chicken thighs? (Step-by-step)

⭐ First , brine your chicken in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. (Not strictly required, but please do this).

⭐ Next , pat the chicken dry, brush with oil, and sprinkle with your favorite seasoning or rub.

⭐ Then , place chicken on grill or in smoker skin side up and cook until just short of the final cooking temperature.

⭐ Finally , baste the thighs with sauce mixture, and if finishing on a grill move over to direct heat, and continue cooking until final temp is reached.

We use this same method for our smoked chicken legs recipe!

Pat your chicken dry, then season as desired.

Preparation

Can you prep smoked chicken thighs ahead of time?

You can brine the thighs for up to 24 hours ahead of cooking (and should always brine at least 4 hours before smoking).

Alternatively, you could smoke the chicken a day or two in advance and serve it cold or reheat before serving. The skin will become chewier if cooked in advance, but the flavor will still be great.

Do you have to brine chicken thighs before smoking?

They can be smoked without brining, but I very passionately urge you not to skip this step. Brining helps the chicken retain maximum moistness while also adding flavor.

What kind of seasoning for smoked chicken thighs?

We love this basic spice rub recipe that I always keep on hand, but I've also been enamored with this maple bacon seasoning if you want something with a hint of sweet. Another tried and true is just a gently dusting of Lawry's seasoned salt.

How do you know when the chicken is done?

Your chicken thighs are finished when they reach a minimum internal temperature, at the thickest part of the meat, of 165F. (Make sure you're not touching the bone when you measure the temp, and also that you didn't stick clear through to the other side).

You can continue cooking it up to about 180 degrees at most before it begins to taste dry and unpleasant.

It's crucial to use a meat thermometer when smoking chicken. For best results, you definitely want to use one that can be left in the chicken while it is smoking, and read from outside the smoker. This is the thermometer I use and love, and if you want a fancier bluetooth version, try this one!

Place skin side up on a heated smoker or grill.

Leftovers and storage

How long to smoked chicken thighs last?

Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days.  Store in a sealed, airtight container for best results.

Reheat in the microwave on high power for 30 – 90 seconds, or in your air fryer to re-crisp the skin!

Can you freeze chicken that has been smoked?

Absolutely! One of my favorite things is to make a huge batch of grilled or smoked food over the weekend and then freeze it in meal sized portions for later (I actually wrote a whole book on this).

Allow the meat to cool, then store in a freezer-safe/airtight container for up to 3 months in a standard upright freezer or up to 6 months in a deep freezer or chest freezer.

What to eat with smoked chicken thighs (recipe suggestions)

You'd better believe I'm serving homemade baked beans and stovetop mac and cheese with this meal!  And maybe a helping (or 2) of the best potato salad recipe ever!  For dessert, I'm thinking a classic watergate salad (or is that a side??), and maybe a batch of monster cookie bars.

You can use a traditional grill to smoke if you have a container for wood chips.

Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions

Can you smoke chicken on a regular grill?

You can smoke on a regular grill – gas, propane, or even charcoal!  You'll just need to purchase a smoker box to put in the grill with your meat.

When smoking on a regular grill make sure to put the smoker box over direct heat and the chicken over the indirect heat. Read and follow the directions that come with your box.

Do I need to soak my wood chips before smoking?

This is a hot topic in the smoking world!  Some folks recommend soaking your chips at least an hour before smoking, others say they need a full 24 hour soak, and yet others don't soak at all!

In truth, soaking wood chips is not strictly necessary.  Soaking the chips creates steam, not smoke, and can even lower the temperature of your smoker. That said, soaked wood chips will still yield a delicious outcome, so do what you're moved to do!

Do I need so soak pellets before smoking meat?

You should not soak pellets before using them in a pellet smoker unless specifically directed to do so in your users manual. I am not aware of any pellet smokers that require soaking.

Can I use wood chips in my pellet smoker?

It is not recommended to use wood chips or wood chunks in a pellet smoker. Please refer to your user manual for whether your device calls for wood chips or pellets.

What type of wood is the best for smoking chicken thighs?

We used hickory for this batch and it was absolutely delicious. Other solid contenders are apple wood, maple wood, cherry wood, pecan, or mesquite.

This chicken comes out perfectly moist with the most delicious smoke flavor.

Recommended cook times for smoked chicken thighs

It is important to note that cook times will vary slightly based on the size of your chicken thighs and your cooking mechanism (propane grill, electric smoker, pellet smoker, etc.). These times are estimates and doneness should always be verified with a digital meat thermometer.

How long do you smoke chicken thighs at 225 degrees?

To smoke chicken thighs at 225 degrees, it will take about 2.5 – 3 hours (150 – 180 minutes).

How long do you smoke chicken thighs at 250 degrees?

It takes about 2 – 2.5 hours (120 – 150 minutes) to smoke chicken thighs at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This is my preferred temperature and what we used for the pictured recipe.

How long do you smoke chicken thighs at 275 degrees?

At 275 degrees it will take about 1.5 – 2 hours (90 – 120 minutes) to smoke chicken thighs.

How long do you smoke chicken thighs at 300 degrees?

To smoke chicken thighs at 300 degrees, it takes about 1 – 1.5 hours (60 – 90 minutes).  When using faster cook times, you will get less of the smoke flavor in your meat and the texture will be more similar to baking or roasting.

I like to put the chicken skin side down over direct medium heat for the last few minutes to get some extra crisp on the skin.

More chicken thigh recipes

• Crispy chicken thighs recipe
• Honey garlic chicken thighs
• Sheet pan peanut butter chicken
• Italian dressing chicken
• Honey mustard chicken recipe
• See all our chicken thigh recipes!

More awesome grilled dishes

• Grilled pork chops
• Grilled flank steak
• Honey sriracha grilled chicken
• Grilled teriyaki chicken kabobs
• Check out all our grilling recipes!

Tools we love

• Basic electric probe thermometer – I have and love this one. Basic, inexpensive, and works great.
• Bluetooth electric probe thermometer – The fancier version, for when you can't be within earshot of the grill all day!
• Wood chip smoking box – For converting your grill into a smoker!
• Electric smoker – Electric smokers are great because they come ready to use and are very precise.
• Pellet smoker – Pellet smoker grills use convection cooking to surround your food with heat and smoke.
• Propane smoker – Propane smokers are very similar in looks to electric smokers, but use propane as their heating fuel.

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How to Make Smoked Chicken Thighs

• 8 Chicken thighs with bone and skin
• 1 batch chicken brine
• Seasoning/rub or salt and pepper
• Olive oil
• Barbecue sauce or teriyaki sauce
• Water

Cook Mode Toggle to green to prevent your screen from going dark while you cook!

• Brine chicken in the refrigerator for between 4 - 24 hours. (This step is not required, but is highly recommended).

• Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Brush with olive oil, then season on all sides with your choice of rub or spices (salt and pepper works great too!).

• Smoke chicken for about 2 - 2.5 hours at 250F until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160F. Baste chicken with diluted BBQ or teriyaki sauce (about 1 part water to 2 parts sauce), then continue cooking until chicken reaches at least 165F.

• If smoking on a grill, you can move the chicken to direct heat after basting to crisp the skin. Alternatively, if desired, you can raise the heat of your smoker at this time.

• Allow chicken to rest for several minutes before serving.

Calories are automatically generated. For best results calculate based on your exact ingredients.

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Calories: 372 kcal

Love smoke flavor? Try this smoked salmon dip or our smoked salmon rolls too!

Smoked Chicken Thighs

Click the button above to save this recipe!

Best Chicken Thigh Smoker Finish With Honey Margarinebrown Sugar

Source: https://www.mamalovesfood.com/smoked-chicken-thighs/

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