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–+ servings
smoked chicken thighs on a plate with a fork and fresh herbs.
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5 from 2 votes

Smoked Chicken Thighs

Smoked chicken thighs are marinated in your favorite seasonings, then slow-cooked to tender, juicy perfection in the smoker. A healthy alternative to fried chicken, this easy chicken recipe is perfect for Sunday dinner and weekly meal prep.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time1 hour
Resting Time20 minutes
Course: Chicken, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 272kcal
Author: Britney

Equipment

  • Smoker Grill
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Digital Meat Thermometer
  • Wood Chips

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp Smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp Garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Chili powder
  • 1 tbsp Onion powder
  • 1 tbsp Brown sugar
  • 1 tsp Ground mustard
  • ½ tsp Cumin
  • ½ tbsp Kosher salt
  • 2 tsp Pepper
  • 6 Chicken thighs
  • Olive oil

Instructions

  • Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F.
  • In a small bowl, combine seasonings and mix together.
  • Add chicken thighs to a baking sheet and drizzle oil on top. Pat chicken dry with a paper towel and coat all sides of the chicken with the seasoning blend. Optional - let chicken sit uncovered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours prior to cooking. This will give you a nice and crispy skin and very juicy and tender chicken thighs.
  • Place chicken in the smoker skin side up and cover with the lid. Smoke chicken thighs 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the thickest part of the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. 
  • Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the smoker. Add olive oil to a cast iron skillet/large pan over high heat. Sear chicken skin side down to get that crispy chicken skin, about 2-4 minutes, until crisp and golden brown.
  • Let the chicken rest until the internal temperature of the chicken thighs reaches 165 degrees F.

Notes

Tips 
  • Peel back the skin and season the meat underneath as well as the inside for super flavorful, well-seasoned chicken thighs.
  • Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken and the heat of your smoker. Be mindful of cooking time, however, it's most important to pay close attention to the temperature of the meat.
  • Aside from temperature, a visual indication that your chicken is done when the juices run clear.
  • Don't skip the resting time. This allows the juices to reabsorb into the meat so you have the most succulent chicken thighs.
  • Clean the grill grates prior to cooking! This may be obvious, but I have to mention it!

Nutrition

Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 671mg | Potassium: 293mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 853IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg