Crispy Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken Thighs
An easy recipe for juicy, flavorful grilled chicken thighs with crispy skin, bright lemon, and savory garlic. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or casual cookouts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs / 900 g)
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 2 medium lemons)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, olive oil, honey, salt, black pepper, and dried oregano. Whisk until honey is fully incorporated.
- Marinate the chicken: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Place in bowl or zip-top bag and pour marinade over. Toss to coat evenly. Seal and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Preheat the grill: Heat grill to medium-high (about 400°F / 204°C). For charcoal, let coals burn down to steady heat with light ash layer.
- Grill the chicken: Place thighs skin-side down on grill. Cook undisturbed for 6-8 minutes until skin is golden and crispy. Flip and cook 8-12 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Avoid pressing down on chicken.
- Rest before serving: Remove chicken from grill and let rest on plate or tray for 5 minutes to redistribute juices.
Notes
Pat chicken dry before marinating and grilling to ensure crispy skin. Marinate for no longer than 1 hour to avoid mushy texture. Use medium-high heat and flip only once. Rest chicken after grilling to keep it juicy. If flare-ups occur, move chicken to cooler part of grill.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 280320
- Fat: 1822
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Protein: 2530
Keywords: grilled chicken thighs, lemon garlic chicken, crispy chicken, easy dinner, summer grilling, backyard BBQ