Description
These Sweet & Savory Grilled Chicken Thighs are juicy, flavorful, and perfect for any cookout or weeknight dinner. The sweet‑and‑savory glaze caramelizes beautifully on the grill and gives you chicken you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger (optional)
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Optional: ¼ tsp red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for heat
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, olive oil, garlic, ginger (if using), vinegar, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Place the chicken thighs in a large zip‑top bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Seal or cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight for best flavor. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- Preheat your grill (or grill pan) to medium‑high heat and lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off; discard the used marinade.
- Grill the chicken thighs about 5–7 minutes per side (depending on thickness) until fully cooked and nicely charred on the outside. The internal temperature should register 165 °F (74 °C).
- Once cooked, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing or serving.
- Garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Marinating for at least 30 minutes improves flavor; up to 12‑24 hours is fine—but don’t exceed 24 hours if your marinade has strong acid (vinegar) to avoid meat becoming mushy. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- This marinade hits all the flavor bases: salty (soy), sweet (honey + brown sugar), acid (vinegar), aromatics (garlic + ginger) and a little heat if you add red pepper flakes. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- If you’re using bone‑in or skin‑on thighs, adjust cooking time and start over indirect heat to avoid burning the glaze.
- No grill available? You can use a grill pan, cast iron skillet, or bake in the oven at 425 °F until cooked through and glazed.
- Leftover thighs store in the fridge for up to 4 days and freeze well for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 thigh (approx.)
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: grilled chicken thighs, sweet savory chicken, honey soy chicken, weeknight dinner, outdoor cookout