Grilled Honey Buffalo Chicken Thighs (Printer-friendly)
Juicy grilled thighs glazed in a honey-buffalo sauce—smoky, sweet, and spicy, ready in roughly 40 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
→ Marinade and Sauce
02 - 1/4 cup hot sauce (such as Frank's RedHot)
03 - 1/3 cup honey
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnish
10 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or chives
11 - Extra honey and hot sauce for drizzling
# How to Prepare:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the hot sauce, honey, melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
02 - Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken, reserving the remainder for basting. Seal tightly and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
03 - Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
04 - Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the used portion. Place the chicken thighs on the grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, basting occasionally with the reserved sauce, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Transfer the grilled chicken to a serving platter. Drizzle with additional honey and hot sauce if desired and garnish with chopped fresh parsley or chives.
06 - Serve hot alongside your favorite side dishes such as roasted vegetables, coleslaw, or a fresh salad.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The honey tempers the buffalo burn just enough that even my heat shy friend went back for thirds.
- Boneless thighs stay ridiculously juicy on the grill, far more forgiving than breasts ever dream of being.
02 -
- Toss the used marinade that touched raw chicken and only baste with the reserved portion you set aside earlier.
- If the honey in your sauce has crystallized, warm it briefly in the microwave before whisking or you will fight lumps.
03 -
- Pat the chicken thighs dry before marinating so the sauce clings rather than sliding off wet skin.
- Keep a spray bottle of water near the grill because honey sauces can flare up suddenly and you want to tame the flames fast.