The Best Smoked Chicken Thighs
These smoky chicken thighs are perfectly juicy, slightly crisp and bursting with flavor. And the best part is they come together in only an hour. Serve alongside your favorite veggies and for a delicious dinner that tastes like it took hours to prepare. This chicken is perfect for leftovers too — I like to chop it up and add to my salads or my kids’ quesadillas.
Prep Time – 15 minutes
Cook Time – about 45 minutes
Servings – 6-8
Ingredients
· 1 tbsp garlic powder
· 1 tbsp smoked paprika
· 1 tbsp coconut sugar
· 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
· 1/2 tbsp sea salt
· 1 tsp onion powder
· 1/2 - 1 tsp cayenne (optional)
· black pepper
· 1/2 cup orange juice
· 3 tbsp avocado oil
· 3.5 lbs organic boneless, skinless chicken thighs (pasture-raised if possible)
DIRECTIONS
Mix together all the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Place chicken thighs in a large dish and coat with the spice mixture. Add orange juice and avocado oil, and mix until the chicken is well-coated.
Allow the chicken to sit in the refrigerator while the smoker preheats. Chicken can also be prepped ahead of time.
Preheat the smoker to 200°F.
Once the smoker is preheated, place the chicken on the grill grates. Cook at 200°F for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, increase the smoker temperature to 375°F. Cook for 25-30 more minutes, or until the internal temperature is at least 165°F and the edges are slightly crispy. Flip chicken halfway through.
Remove chicken from the smoker and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
