Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Thighs Recipe
Juicy grilled teriyaki chicken thighs coated in a sweet and savory homemade sauce — perfect for summer BBQs, camping, and easy dinners!
Satisfy your taste buds with these juicy and flavorful grilled teriyaki chicken thighs. Marinated and cooked to perfection, this dish is a must-try!
This teriyaki chicken thighs recipe is perfect for a gas grill or charcoal grill, but what makes for the most tender dark meat is the indirect heat of a smoker. This cooking method is ideal for grilling teriyaki chicken to perfection!
Give these teriyaki grilled drumsticks and BBQ chicken thighs a try too!
Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!
This easy recipe for teriyaki chicken is a must-make this grilling season. These grilled chicken thighs are full of the delicious, tangy flavor of our favorite teriyaki sauce!
How Long Do You Grill Chicken Thighs?
Boneless, skinless thighs are typically grilled on medium-high for 10-12 minutes, while bone-in chicken thighs should cook for 12-15 minutes. Be sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
Pair these tender chicken thighs with this easy potato salad recipe, grilled corn salad, or dill pickle pasta salad for the best summertime meal you’ve had in a long time. Add this tasty recipe to your menu planning this week!
This post contains affiliate links.
Supplies
- Traeger 780 Pro Smoker Grill – This is our Traeger model and it’s the perfect size for families who like to entertain! Be sure to check out all of our must-have Traeger products.
- Meater Thermometer – We love this wireless meat thermometer. It connects to an app that tells you exactly when your meat is done!
- BBQ tongs – These are my favorite tongs for grasping grilled meat.
- Basting brush – This one is great for coating each thigh in BBQ sauce.
- Paper towel – A must for cleanup!
- Aluminum foil – Used to wrap and transport the chicken.
Teriyaki Chicken Thigh Recipe
Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs – This rich, juicy dark meat stays tender and forgiving on the grill or smoker.
- Water, divided – Helps create the perfect consistency for the homemade teriyaki marinade and, when mixed with cornstarch, thickens the sauce without lumps.
- Soy sauce – The salty, savory backbone of classic teriyaki flavor.
- Brown sugar – Adds rich sweetness and helps create that glossy, caramelized finish on the grill.
- Fresh ginger (or ground ginger) – Adds warm, zesty flavor that gives the sauce its signature kick.
- Honey – Creates a sticky glaze and balances the salty soy sauce perfectly.
- Minced garlic (or ground garlic) – Adds bold savory flavor that makes the marinade irresistible.
- Cornstarch – Thickens the teriyaki sauce into a glossy coating that clings to every bite.
- Sesame seeds – Add a light crunch and delicious finishing touch to the grilled chicken.
Note: You can also use your favorite store-bought sauce, but we love this easy homemade teriyaki sauce. It combines simple ingredients like brown sugar, ginger, and soy sauce in a way that our whole family loves.
Instructions
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine water, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, ginger, and garlic. Whisk together.
2. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water. Mix well.
3. Pour the sauce ingredients into a small saucepan and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
4. When the sauce begins to boil, add the cornstarch mixture and whisk continuously.
5. When the teriyaki marinade begins to thicken (about 2 minutes), remove from heat. Allow to cool to room temperature.
6. In a dish or resealable plastic bag, coat the chicken in 3/4 of the teriyaki marinade and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
7. Place the chicken thighs on the grill, discard marinade, and baste with remaining sauce.
8. Cook for 5 minutes, flip, and baste with more sauce.
9. Grill chicken thighs for an additional 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 170°F when measured with a meat thermometer.
10. Top with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and serve.
Tips and Tricks
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
- Add a little bit of onion powder, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, or cayenne pepper to the coated chicken before grilling to take them up a notch.
- You could coat the boneless skinless thighs with a spice rub before basting with BBQ sauce. We make our own dry rub spice blend for all of our smoked recipes.
- Test out a variety of different teriyaki sauces to find the ones that suit your family’s tastes.
- Cook time for bone-in thighs will vary, so be sure to check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer.
Substitutions and Suggestions
- Chicken breasts can be used instead of boneless chicken thighs.
- Serve on white rice, green beans, or garlic rice.
- Top with diced green onions, red pepper flakes, or chives.
- Create baked teriyaki chicken by placing the chicken in a single layer in a casserole dish or on a baking sheet and baking at 350°F for 12-15 minutes.
How perfect are those grill lines?! These tender and juicy chicken thighs are seriously a must-make and a great addition to any summertime meal.
Become inspired this BBQ season with these delicious chicken dishes!
More Chicken Recipes
- Grilled BBQ chicken wings
- Bacon wrapped chicken tenders
- BBQ skinless chicken thighs
- Teriyaki chicken wings
- Huli Huli chicken recipe
- Baked chicken breasts
- BBQ chicken drumsticks
- Beer can chicken
- Traeger grilled chicken wings
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should you grill teriyaki chicken thighs?
Boneless skinless chicken thighs typically grill in about 10–12 minutes over medium-high heat, flipping halfway through cooking. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F.
Can I make teriyaki chicken thighs in the oven?
Yes! Bake the chicken thighs at 350°F for 12–15 minutes in a casserole dish or on a baking sheet until fully cooked and juicy.
Should I marinate chicken thighs before grilling?
Absolutely. Marinating for at least 1 hour helps tenderize the meat and infuses it with sweet and savory teriyaki flavor. Overnight marinating works even better for maximum flavor.
Why are chicken thighs better for grilling?
Chicken thighs contain more fat than chicken breasts, which helps keep them moist and tender even over high heat. They’re also much harder to overcook — great news when distracted by hungry kids!
What sides go best with grilled teriyaki chicken thighs?
These juicy chicken thighs pair perfectly with potato salad, grilled vegetables, corn salad, white rice, garlic rice, or fresh green beans for an easy summer meal.
If you love this grilled teriyaki chicken thighs recipe, please give it a five-star rating by clicking the stars below! Help me share it on Facebook and Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too.
Teriyaki Grilled Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 5 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp fresh ginger or 1 tsp ground
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp minced garlic or 1 tsp ground
- 2 Tbsp corn starch
- ¼ cup water
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine water, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, ginger, and garlic. Whisk together.
- In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water. Mix well.
- Pour the first mixture into a medium saucepan and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- When the sauce begins to boil, add the cornstarch mixture and whisk continuously.
- When the teriyaki marinade begins to thicken (about 2 minutes), remove from heat. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- In a dish or freezer bag, coat the chicken in 3/4 of the teriyaki marinade and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
- Place the chicken thighs on the grill, discard marinade, and baste with reserved teriyaki sauce.
- Cook for 5 minutes, flip, and baste with more sauce.
- Grill chicken thighs for an additional 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 170°F when measured with a meat thermometer.
- Top with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and serve.
Notes
- You can also use your favorite store-bought sauce, but we love this easy homemade teriyaki sauce. It combines simple ingredients like brown sugar, ginger, and soy sauce in a way that our whole family loves.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
- Add a little bit of onion powder, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, or cayenne pepper to the coated chicken before grilling to take them up a notch.
- You could coat the boneless skinless thighs with a spice rub before basting with BBQ sauce. We make our own dry rub spice blend for all of our smoked recipes.
- Test out a variety of different teriyaki sauces to find the ones that suit your family’s tastes.
- Cook time for bone-in thighs will vary, so be sure to check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer.
Nutrition
can you use bone in thighs as well?
Yes, be sure to adjust the cooking time and check the internal temp for doneness.
We make these all the time!! We have high teriyaki standards and we searched a long time for a recipe that kept us from going out. We finally found it, and we’ve never looked back. This recipe beats all our favorite restaurants!
I’m so glad to hear it!!