Perfect Smoked Chicken Thighs
This Perfect Smoked Chicken Thighs recipe is perfectly juicy and infused with delicious, smoky flavor and glazed with a luscious BBQ sauce. With simple ingredients you likely already have on hand and an easy smoking technique, you can easily impress your friends and family with this delicious, easy recipe!
Ingredients
- 6 lbs. bone-in, skin on chicken thighs (about 10 thighs) See Note 1
- 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce use your favorite, we love Sweet Baby Ray's
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat your smoker to 250°F.
- Prep: Remove chicken thighs from packaging and lay them out on a rimmed baking sheet or tray. Pat them dry with a paper towel and remove any excess moisture. Using a pastry brush, coat each thighs with a bit of olive oil.
- Mix Spices: In a small mixing bowl, combine the spices for the seasoning rub: brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper (if using).
- Sprinkle: Sprinkle the spice rub over the chicken, using your hands to press the spices into the chicken and ensure it sticks!
- Smoke: Place the chicken thighs in the preheated smoker. Close the lid and smoke for one hour.
- Check & Brush: After an hour, the internal temperature of the chicken thighs should be about 150-155°F. Brush on your BBQ sauce, close the lid and cook for an additional 30 minutes to an hour* or until the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 160-165°F. *Note: Checking the internal temperature of the meat a couple of times during this last hour. Chicken thighs typically vary a bit in size, so checking on them will ensure they don't get overcooked.
- Rest: Remove chicken thighs from the smoker. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and and allow to them rest for 5-10 then serve.
Notes
Note 1: I buy the large packs from Sam's Club, but if you are serving fewer people, this recipe can easily be halved.
Also, bone-in thighs yields the most delicious chicken with juicy dark meat. However, boneless chicken thighs, chicken breasts, or chicken wings are all great options. You will just have to make sure you adjust the cooking time DOWN based on the cut of meat. Boneless meat cooks much faster. Remember, take the meat off the smoker when the internal temperature reaches 16--165°F.
Note 2: My favorite all-purpose BBQ rub is the sugar and spice mixture in the recipe card: brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard, and a little cayenne pepper. However, feel free to use your favorite pre-made rub as well.
Nutrition is only an estimate based on the Very Well Fit Nutrition Calculator
Nutrition
Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 14.6gProtein: 17gFat: 21.8gSaturated Fat: 7.2gCholesterol: 726mgSodium: 726mgPotassium: 280mgSugar: 11.4gCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!