How Long Do You Cook Marinated Chicken Thighs

A savory chicken thigh marinade with soy sauce, dear, lemon juice, garlic and herbs turns this affordable cut of meat into a tender, juicy and flavorful meal. Whisk together the simple ingredients in just 5 minutes, add together the boneless, skinless chicken thighs, and a few hours afterwards (or the adjacent day) finish them on the grill or in the oven. The healthy and piece of cake craven thigh marinade goes well with just about any of your favorite sides -- from rice to biscuits, mac and cheese to cornbread, salad and green beans!

Side shot of a platter of chicken thighs with chicken thigh marinade from the grill

Grilled Craven Thighs Marinade

When the weather is warm and yous tin can fire up the grill, nothing beats marinated grilled chicken thighs for a quick, inexpensive, and succulent family dinner. The good news? This easy chicken thigh marinade works as well for broiled chicken in the oven, so y'all tin relish the tasty supper all year round!

Boneless Chicken Thighs vs. Bone-In Chicken Thighs

Whether y'all use chicken thighs with or without the bones is actually a affair of personal preference, and ofttimes depends on the recipe that you're preparing. Os-in, skin-on chicken thighs are ideal when you're looking for fried craven or roasted craven with a crispy skin, or a slowly-braised or roasted dish that derives flavor from the fat and bones (like coq au vin or one pot chicken and rice).

When marinating thighs for the grill or oven, we're less concerned with the crispy pare, and more concerned with the moist, tender meat and the rich flavor. As a result, we prefer the ease of boneless, skinless chicken thighs here. That said, if you similar the os-in thighs, those will piece of work likewise -- you only might demand to increase the cooking fourth dimension slightly.

Overhead shot of chicken thigh marinade recipe served with rice and green beans.

How long should you marinate chicken thighs?

For the best results, marinate the craven thighs overnight. This particular marinade doesn't accept also much acid in information technology, then it won't turn the meat mushy. Instead, the longer marinating time will develop the most flavour and will yield the most tender, juicy meat. You can as well prep the marinade in the morning earlier you caput off to piece of work, and then that when y'all walk in the door tired at the end of the day all of the work is done -- just bake or grill and dinner is served!

Since there are days when we just don't plan ahead plenty for a long overnight marinade, information technology's fine to soak the chicken for most two-three hours. The meat volition withal be delicious!

Ingredients for an Easy Craven Thigh Marinade

This is but a quick overview of the uncomplicated ingredients that you'll need for a batch of this easy marinade. Equally ever, specific measurements and step-past-step instructions are provided in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the mail service.

Soy sauce: I adopt less-sodium soy sauce, simply any variety will work. This adds swell salty, umami flavor to the meat.
Olive oil: the fat that helps transfer fat-soluble flavors onto the meat and also helps the meat retain moisture.
Lemon juice: the acrid that tenderizes the chicken thighs.
Worcestershire sauce, honey, oregano, rosemary and garlic salt: add so much rich season to the marinade.
Craven thighs: we prefer boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, but you lot tin substitute with os-in thighs if you similar.

Overhead process shot showing how to make chicken thigh marinade

How to Brand Chicken Thigh Marinade

This is i of our favorite marinades because it comes together quickly with just a handful of pantry staples, and yields the most incredible, rich flavor. If you don't have fresh herbs, dried herbs will work fine! It's best when yous can plan alee and let the meat marinate overnight, simply that's also not necessary. Just a few hours will still yield delicious chicken thighs!

Whisk together all of the marinade ingredients.
Place craven thighs in a large Ziploc bag or bowl.
Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss to coat.
Refrigerate the chicken in the marinade for at to the lowest degree ii-3 hours, or overnight if possible.
Remove the chicken from the handbag and discard the marinade.
Grill or roast the chicken until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165° F. This will have about 6-vii minutes per side over medium-high heat on a grill, or about twenty minutes in a 425° F oven.

Boneless skinless chicken thighs in marinade

Grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs on a white platter

What to Serve with Marinated Craven Thighs

These versatile chicken thighs go well with near any of your favorite sides. Hither are a few ideas to become you started:

Charleston Red Rice, Rice Pilaf, Parmesan Risotto, or No-Stir Easy Mushroom Risotto
Buttered Homemade Egg Noodles or Pesto Pasta
Buttermilk Biscuits or Drop Biscuits
French Baguette, Soft Dinner Rolls, or a crusty loaf of No-Knead Bread
Homemade Coleslaw
Piece of cake Pasta Salad with Mayo, Lemon and Basil or Antipasto Pasta Salad
Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives or Garlic and Parmesan Cauliflower Mash
Potato Pancakes or Aunt Bee's iii-Ingredient Cheesy Potato Casserole
Zucchini Gratin with Corn, Zucchini Fritters or Sauteed Zucchini
Refrigerator Dill Pickles
Roasted Cabbage or Braised Red Cabbage
Amish Green Beans with Brown Butter, Roasted Light-green Beans or Southern-Mode Greenish Beans
Garlic Roasted Broccoli or Broccoli and Cheese
Wedge Salad, House Salad with Candied Pecans or Caesar Salad
Creamed Peas
Sauteed Spinach or Creamed Spinach
Chocolate-brown Sugar Roasted Carrots
Roasted Asparagus

Side shot of a plate of grilled chicken thighs with rice and green beans.

Storage

Shop leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container in thefridge for iii-iv days or in thefreezer for up to 3 months.

Can you freeze chicken thighs in a marinade?

Yep, y'all can prepare this recipe as a freezer meal by placing the raw chicken thighs in a large Ziploc freezer handbag with the marinade. Squeeze out all of the air from the bag, lay the bag apartment, and freeze for upward to three months. When you're set to apply the chicken, place the bag in the refrigerator to thaw overnight before cooking according to the recipe instructions.

Overhead image of a tray of grilled chicken thigh marinade

Recipe Variations

To serve a smaller family, cutting the ingredients in half and only bake most i pound of craven thighs.
Switch up the herbsand just use your favorites. For instance, add parsley instead of oregano, or use thyme instead of rosemary.
Instead of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, attempt bone-in thighs. The bone-in meat tends to crave a piffling bit longer cooking time.
Don't have any garlic common salt? Utilise garlic powder instead and add together a dash of salt.
Bandy out the honey for brown sugar.

Overhead shot of marinated chicken thighs with rice and green beans.

Tips for the All-time Chicken Thigh Marinade Recipe

Make Ahead: if possible, marinate the chicken thighs overnight. This will yield the almost tender, juicy meat. At a minimum, let the chicken sit in the marinade for two-3 hours.
Use fresh herbs for the best flavor. If yous don't have access to fresh rosemary or oregano, it'due south fine to utilize a smaller amount of the dried herbs instead.
The total cooking fourth dimension will varydepending on the size and thickness of your craven and on the temperature of the meat when it goes into the oven or onto the grill. As a issue, a meat thermometer is always the best way to know when your chicken is done. It volition exist perfectly tender and juicy when it reaches 165° F.

Overhead image of a platter of grilled chicken thighs marinade on a wooden table

More than Chicken Thigh Recipes To Try

Roasted Craven Thighs with Garlic and Herbs
Coq au Vin
One Pot Chicken and Rice
Crispy Fried Craven
Chicken Stew

Chicken Thigh Marinade

A savory chicken thigh marinade with soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, garlic and herbs turns this affordable cut of meat into a tender, juicy and flavorful meal!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword broiled chicken thighs, boneless chicken thighs, chicken thigh marinade, grilled chicken thighs

Prep Time five minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Marinating Time iii hours

Full Fourth dimension 3 hours 17 minutes

Servings 4 - 6 people

Calories 283 kcal

¼ cup less-sodium soy sauce
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon dearest
Juice of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons fresh chopped oregano (or 1 tablespoon dried oregano)
3 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary (or 1 tablespoon dried rosemary)
i teaspoon garlic salt
two lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs

In a large measuring cup or in a jar with a lid, whisk (or shake) together all of the marinade ingredients until completely combined.
Place chicken thighs in a large Ziploc handbag or basin. Cascade the marinade in the bag with the chicken. Seal the acme of the bag and place chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 2-3 hours (or overnight is fifty-fifty ameliorate).
Remove chicken from the purse or bowl and discard the marinade.

TO GRILL THE Chicken THIGHS:

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (nigh 400-450° F). Place the chicken thighs directly on grill grates and grill for approximately vi-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature in the thickest function of the thigh reads 165° F.

TO Broil THE Craven THIGHS:

Preheat the oven to 425° F. Place the chicken thighs on a rimmed blistering sheet lined with foil or in a greased baking dish. Bake until the internal temperature in the thickest role of the thigh reads 165° F, near twenty minutes.

To serve a smaller family unit, cut the ingredients in half and only bake well-nigh 1 pound of chicken thighs.
Switch up the herbsand just use your favorites. For instance, add parsley instead of oregano, or utilise thyme instead of rosemary.
Instead of boneless, skinless craven thighs, try bone-in thighs. The os-in meat tends to require a fiddling bit longer cooking time.
Swap out the dearest for chocolate-brown sugar.
Don't have any garlic salt? Utilize garlic powder instead and add a nuance of table salt.
Brand Ahead: if possible, marinate the chicken thighs overnight. This will yield the most tender, juicy meat. At a minimum, allow the craven sit in the marinade for 2-3 hours.
Use fresh herbs for the best flavor. If you don't have admission to fresh rosemary or oregano, it's fine to utilize a smaller amount of the dried herbs instead.
The total cooking time will varydepending on the size and thickness of your craven and on the temperature of the meat when it goes into the oven or onto the grill. Equally a result, a meat thermometer is ever the best mode to know when your craven is done. It will exist perfectly tender and juicy when it reaches 165° F.