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    Home » Chicken & Poultry

    Sweet-Heat Grilled Chicken Thighs

    Published: Jul 15, 2020 · Modified: Jun 20, 2025 by Zimmy · This post may contain Amazon and other affiliate links · 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Sweet-Heat Grilled Chicken Thighs. If you like moist, tender, tangy, sweet and slightly spicy chicken, then this recipe is for you! Perfect for summer entertaining or a delicious meal that the whole family will love! 

    A platter with a ring of grilled chciken thighs with sauce in the middle.
    Sweet-Heat Grilled Chicken Thighs

    I was honoured when Williams Sonoma reached out to see if I’d be interested in participating in their IG Story Cooking Guest Series with this recipe for Sweet-Heat Grilled Chicken Thighs!

    Check it out and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

    A round platter of Sweet-Heat Grilled Chicken Thighs served with a bowl of sauce.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Safe Temp for Chicken Thighs
    • Recommended Sides
    • Leave a Comment
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for a sweet and spicy grilled chicken thighs recipe.
    • Chicken thighs (bone-in, skin on)

    Chicken Thighs – Dry Rub

    • Paprika
    • Pepper
    • Salt
    • Onion powder
    • Garlic powder
    • Cayenne pepper
    • Coriander

    BBQ Sauce

    • BBQ Sauce (your favourite store bought)
    • Piri-Piri Sauce (or other flavourful hot sauce)
    • Smoked honey (or plain honey)
    • Chives, finely chopped
    • Long red pepper
    • Lime juice

    For Serving

    • Honey
    • Chopped chives

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Trim the chicken thighs of any excess fat or skin. Pat dry the chicken using paper towels.

    In a small bowl/jar, combine all the dry rub ingredients. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken liberally with the dry rub.

    Mix the BBQ sauce ingredients well and reserve ½ cup to serve as a dipping sauce.

    Place the chicken thighs, skin side up, on the upper rack of your grill and cook (lid closed) until internal temperature of 180°F is reached. Approximately 30-35 minutes.

    Note: If you do not have an upper rack, cook your chicken over an indirect heat zone on your grill.

    Place the chicken thighs, skin side up, on the upper rack of your grill and cook (lid closed) until internal temperature of 180°F is reached.
    Glazed chicken thighs on the grill.

    Once the temperature is reached, brush each thigh with the sauce, close the lid, turn off the grill and let the sauce set for 5 minutes. Remove the thighs to a serving platter, lightly tent with foil for 5 minutes.

    Remove foil, drizzle with honey, sprinkle with chives and serve with reserved sauce.

    Safe Temp for Chicken Thighs

    Thighs are safe to eat at 165°F but more tender at 180°F-185°F.

    Recommended Sides

    Here are a few of our favourite make-ahead sides that would compliment these sweet and spicy chicken thighs.

    • A bowl of cucumber and radish salad with dill.
      Cucumber Salad
    • A potato, bean and tomato salad.
      New Potato & Bean Salad
    • A dill pickle salad in a wooden bowl.
      Dill Pickle Potato Salad
    • A pile of corn topped with a chili-lime butter, feta and cilantro in a galvanized tray.
      Chili-Lime Corn on the Cob

    Leave a Comment

    Did you try this recipe? If you could spare a few moments to leave us a comment and rating it would really help us out (and make our day!) Thanks so much, Elaine & James

    📖 Recipe

    A platter with a ring of grilled chciken thighs with sauce in the middle.

    Sweet-Heat Grilled Chicken Thighs

    If you like moist, tender, tangy, sweet and slightly spicy chicken, then this recipe is for you! Perfect for summer entertaining or a delicious meal that the whole family will love! 
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Resting time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Dinner, Entree, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 3 -4 People

    Ingredients
      

    • 9 chicken thighs bone-in, skin on

    Dry Rub

    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ½ teaspoon coriander

    BBQ Sauce

    • ½ cup BBQ Sauce your favourite store bought
    • ½ cup Piri-Piri Sauce or other flavourful hot sauce
    • ¼ cup smoked honey or plain honey
    • 1 teaspoon fresh chives finely chopped
    • 2 teaspoon long red pepper finely diced (seeds optional)
    • Juice of ½ a lime

    For Serving

    • Honey
    • Chopped chives

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat grill to 425°F.
    • Trim the chicken thighs of any excess fat or skin. Pat dry the chicken using paper towels.
    • In a small bowl/jar, combine all the dry rub ingredients. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken liberally with the dry rub.
    • Mix the BBQ sauce ingredients well and reserve ½ cup to serve as a dipping sauce.
    • Place the chicken thighs, skin side up, on the upper rack of your grill and cook (lid closed) until internal temperature of 180°F is reached. Approximately 30-35 minutes. Note: If you do not have an upper rack, cook your chicken over an indirect heat zone on your grill.
    • Once the temperature is reached, brush each thigh with the sauce, close the lid, turn off the grill and let the sauce set for 5 minutes. Remove the thighs to a serving platter, lightly tent with foil for 5 minutes.
    • Remove foil, drizzle with honey, sprinkle with chives and serve with reserved sauce.
    • Last Step! Please take a moment to rate this recipe below. We would greatly appreciate it!

    Notes

    Thighs are safe to eat at 165°F but more tender at 180°F-185°F.
    Use a thermometer to ensure the correct final internal temperature. Please, never by time alone.
    Keyword sweet and spicy bone in chicken thighs, sweet and spicy glazed chicken thighs, sweet and spicy grilled chicken thighs, sweet heat chicken, sweet heat chicken thighs, sweet heat chicken thighs recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda M

      July 16, 2020 at 7:29 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Zimmy,
      Thanks for the recipe idea. This was a hit tonight. It was so easy to make and delicious. We’ll definitely do this one again.

      Linda

      Reply
      • zimmysnook

        July 16, 2020 at 7:47 pm

        Hi Linda,
        We are so glad you liked it, hope it wasn’t too spicy!
        Have a great night!
        Zimmy!

        Reply
    2. Surur Muntasser

      July 17, 2020 at 12:28 pm

      5 stars
      Great hit with the family.
      Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
      • zimmysnook

        July 17, 2020 at 12:34 pm

        5 stars
        Hello Surur!
        So glad you and your family enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
        Hope you have a fantastic weekend!
        James!

        Reply
    3. Toni Forstik

      July 20, 2020 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      Fabulous Recipe. This is a real keeper. Also made the ribs and Corn. Fabulous!!!

      Reply
      • zimmysnook

        July 21, 2020 at 7:20 am

        Hi Toni,
        I am so glad to hear you enjoyed these recipes, thanks for letting me know!
        Hope you have a delicious day!
        James!

        Reply
    4. Toni Forstik

      September 08, 2020 at 11:35 am

      5 stars
      I have made this dish several times . It is easy and Fabulous.

      Reply
      • zimmysnook

        September 10, 2020 at 4:56 pm

        Hi Toni,
        I’m so glad you are enjoying this recipe!
        If you are on Instagram or Facebook, please tag me @zimmysnook if you make it again!
        Thanks again for taking the time to comment!
        Have a great day!
        James

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m James (aka Zimmy), a home chef who loves to grill year-round. In partnership with my wife Elaine, we work with and passionately promote the stories of local farmers, food producers/purveyors, as well as the products of companies who share our passion for quality, innovation and design.

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