Smoked Chicken Thighs Recipe

When it comes to having chicken for dinner, many people turn up their noses. Too often, chicken can be boring. Or worse, it turns out rubbery. But recipe developer and food photographer Petar Marshall is here to change that reputation with this recipe for smoked chicken thighs.

"Smoking chicken thighs on a Traeger, or another other type of smoker, immediately gives them more flavor," says Marshall. "To take it even further, these thighs are marinated with a sweet and herbaceous marinade for a juicy, flavorful dish."

It only takes 10 minutes to prepare these chicken thighs for cooking. You'll have to prep a bit ahead of time as they need to sit in the marinade overnight, but Marshall assures us it's well worth the wait. Once you pull the cooked chicken thighs off the smoker, you'll have beautiful golden skin and succulent chicken that's jam-packed with flavor. Enjoy them on their own, or pair these smoked chicken thighs with rice, mashed potatoes, or even a medley of smoked veggies for a lovely dinner.

To get started on making these smoked chicken thighs, you'll need to grab all of the ingredients. For this recipe, you'll need 6 chicken thighs, sweet vermouth, 1 container fresh rosemary, 5 sprigs fresh thyme, 1 shallot, 1 whole piece of garlic, olive oil, brown sugar, onion powder, and garlic salt and pepper, to taste. 

The first step to making these smoked chicken thighs is to prepare the marinade. In a large bowl, whisk together the sweet vermouth, rosemary, thyme, shallot, garlic, olive oil, and brown sugar. Set the marinade aside while you season the chicken thighs. 

Remove the chicken thighs from their packaging. Season them generously with garlic salt, onion powder, and pepper, to taste. 

With the chicken seasoned and the marinade ready, it's time to marinate the chicken. Place the chicken thighs in a baking dish and pour the marinade over the top. Place the baking dish in the fridge to allow the chicken thighs to marinate over night. 

After marinating overnight, preheat the Traeger or other smoker to 200 F. Remove the chicken thighs from the fridge and place them on the Traeger. Put the baking dish underneath the chicken, with the juice it in it, to catch any drips while the chicken smokes. "Spooning the marinade over the chicken thighs periodically will help keep them super moist," says Marshall. Smoke the chicken thighs for 1 ½ hours. 

Crank the heat up on the Traeger to 400 F. Cook the chicken thighs for 30 minutes, turning them halfway through. "Be sure to check the temperature before pulling off the meat," says Marshall. "The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees."

Once cooked, pull the chicken thighs off the smoker. Garnish the smoked chicken thighs with minced rosemary before serving.