Tenderize, lock in the juices, and infuse chicken thighs with mouthwatering flavor thanks to the BEST chicken thigh marinade recipe with soy sauce, lemon, honey, garlic, and other simple pantry ingredients!
Mince the garlic, then zest and juice the lemon. Transfer them and the remaining marinade ingredients to a large baking dish/bowl or Ziplock bag (big enough to fit the chicken), and whisk/shake well.
Add the chicken thighs, tossing to coat them well.
Marinate the chicken thighs for a minimum of 30 minutes at room temperature or cover/seal and transfer them to the fridge to marinate for up to 12 hours.For the best flavor, marinate it for 10-12 hours. Don't marinate the chicken longer than 12 hours; this can over-tenderize the meat, making it mushy and unpleasant.
How to Grill Chicken Thighs
For the full process, check out my recipes for grilled bone-in or grilled boneless chicken thighs. Alternatively, use this marinade for air-fried or oven-baked chicken thighs.Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 400ºF/200ºC)/ prepare the charcoal BBQ and liberally oil the grated.
Once ready, remove the marinated chicken thighs from the marinade, shaking off any excess, and place them in a single layer, flat-side down, onto the grill.
Grill the chicken for 10-14 minutes (over direct heat), depending on the size and thickness, flipping once hallway.The best way to check for doneness is to use a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat (avoid touching bones) to check the internal temperature. It should read 155-160ºF/68-71ºC.Chicken is considered safe to eat at 165ºF/74ºC. By removing it from the grill 5-10 degrees early, the residual heat will cook it the rest of the way while it rests, so you can avoid dry/tough chicken.
Leave the grilled chicken thighs to rest, tented loosely with foil for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Don't reuse the marinade: For food hygiene reasons, this grilled chicken thigh marinade should only be used once as the bacteria from the raw meat will have contaminated the marinade.
To store the chicken marinade: You can meal prep this grilled chicken thighs marinade in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (add fresh herbs and garlic up to a day in advance) or in the freezer for 3 months.
To freeze marinating chicken: Combine the meat and chicken marinade and freeze immediately. The chicken marinades while you thaw it in the fridge.
Optionally reserve some marinade: Save some of the marinade (before marinating the chicken) to baste the meat while it cooks.
Other marinade uses: This marinade for chicken thighs will work with other cuts of chicken (breasts, tenderloins, etc.), chicken skewers, other BBQ meats (like steak or seafood), and even grilled vegetables.