Thai BBQ chicken thighs are the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Our simple Thai inspired marinade ensures big flavors and minimal effort for a main dish perfect for grilling season. These chicken thighs easy to make, require little prep and are are super quick to grill up, making them perfect centerpiece for your summer cookout.

Ingredients for Thai BBQ Chicken

To make these grilled chicken thighs, most of the ingredients you’ll need to gather are for a tasty Thai inspired marinade. You’ll need:

  • Chicken thighs: 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
  • Soy sauce: Use low sodium soy sauce
  • Fish sauce: For a deep umami flavor and added complexity
  • Lime juice: Freshly squeezed. Also have some extra lime wedges on hand for serving.
  • Brown sugar: For a rich sweetness to balance the salty soy and fish sauce
  • Ginger: Peel fresh ginger root easily by scraping the skin off with the edge of a teaspoon. Finely mince or grate on a microplane
  • Garlic: finely minced or grated
  • Lemongrass paste: Find prepared lemongrass paste near the fresh herbs in the refrigerated section of the produce department.
  • Vegetable oil: to oil your grill or grill pan
  • Cilantro: Sprinkle fresh cilantro over the grilled chicken for a delicious and herbaceous finish. If you don’t love cilantro, substitute some thinly sliced scallion.
  • Chopped peanuts: for amazing flavor and crunch

How to Make Thai BBQ Chicken Thighs

Making this flavorful BBQ chicken requires just a few basic steps. First you’ll whip up a speedy marinade before pouring it all over boneless skinless chicken thighs. Next you’ll marinate the chicken overnight, or for at least for 3 hours, to let all that flavor to soak in. Then, grill them up– either on an outdoor grill or on a grill pan. Finally you’ll garnish with a confetti of colorful and flavorful toppings.

  1. Marinade: Mix up the Thai marinade by combining the soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, garlic, ginger and lemongrass paste. Mix the marinade well to dissolve the brown sugar. If you like a little heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to taste. Transfer the chicken thighs into a large zip-top bag and pour over the marinate. let the chicken marinate in the fridge overnight, or for at least 3 hours.
  2. Grill it up: Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Rub vegetable oil on the grates using a paper or kitchen towel. Allow the marinated chicken to sit at room temp for about 30 minutes before transferring to the preheated grill. Cook the boneless skinless tights for about 5 minutes per side until they are cooked through. When they are ready to flip, they should release easily from your grill or grill pan.
  3. Plate & garnish: Plate up the Thai BBQ chicken thighs on a large platter and top with crunchy peanuts, chopped cilantro and sliced chilis if you want to add a bit of spice. Serve with simple white rice or a big green salad.

Thai BBQ Chicken Thighs

5 from 1 vote
Tyler Anastasio
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Servings: 8 chicken thighs
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Marinate: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Thai BBQ chicken thighs are the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Our simple Thai inspired marinade ensures big flavors and minimal effort for a main dish perfect for grilling season!

Ingredients 

  • 8 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup lime juice, plus lime wedges for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced or grated
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, minced or grated
  • 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste*
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • chopped cilantro, for garnish
  • chopped peanuts, for garnish
  • red chili peppers, optional garnish

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, garlic, ginger, and lemongrass paste.* Mix well to dissolve the brown sugar.
    Transfer the chicken thighs to a large zip top bag and pour over the marinade. Leave in the fridge over night or at least for 3 hours. When you're ready to grill, remove the marinated chicken from the fridge and allow to sit at room temp for about 30 minutes.
  • Preheat your outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grease the grates by rubbing them with a kitchen or paper towel coasted with a few tablespoons of vegetable oil.
  • Grill the Thai marinated chicken thighs over medium high heat for about 5-7 minutes per side depending how large the thighs are. Once fully cooked, remove from the heat and plate.
  • Plate the grilled chicken thighs on a large platter. Garnish with lime wedges and top with crunchy peanuts, chopped cilantro and thinly sliced chilis if you want to add a bit of spice. Serve hot or room temp.

Equipment

  • Grill or grill pan
  • large zip top bag

Notes

* Find prepared lemongrass paste near the fresh herbs in the refrigerated section of the produce department.

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