Traeger Grilled or Smoked Chicken Thighs Recipe

Grilled or Smoked Chicken Thighs

One of the greatest features of a Traeger Grill is that you can cook low and slow or hot and fast. In this post, I am going to take you through a slow smoked bbq chicken thigh and how to grill thighs super fast at a higher temperature.

Both options are incredibly versatile. Once you get the timing down, I encourage you to experiment, try different rubs and marinades, and create new dinners based on what you are craving. You will never have a dull meal when you make delicious and tender chicken thighs out on your Traeger.

In fact, all of your wildest dreams might come true... Just kidding. But you will have a good dinner!

Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs

For Traeger grilled chicken thighs, I like a simple marinade. Cooking the thighs at a high heat is a great way to seal in the flavor and reduce cooking time. 

Here is my basic meat marinade recipe that combines soy sauce, Worcestershire, avocado oil, brown sugar, and spices for a really easy recipe. 

Another marinade option is this Lemon and Herb marinade that combines olive oil, lemon juice, dried herbs, dijon mustard and salt and pepper for a tangy grilled chicken.

Favorite Rubs For Chicken Thighs

​If you want to use a prepared rub and skip the step of mixing your own, I like a combination of the Traeger Rub and Traeger Pork and Poultry. They both have a balance of spices, sweetness, and salty element. The Traeger Pork and Poultry is especially good for smoking recipes.

Let's start with a favorite dry rub recipe. You can mix up your own or grab a favorite store bought rub. 

Great spices to look for include:

• salt and black pepper
• brown sugar
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• chili powder
• paprika
• mustard powder (optional)

Best Smoked Chicken Thighs Method

For Traeger smoked chicken thighs, set the Traeger temperature to 250˚F. Season the thighs generously on both sides with a good BBQ rub that has a smoky flavor to start off with. 

After the smoker has preheated, drizzle the thighs with a little olive oil and get the seasoned chicken thighs on the grill grates, close the lid, and cook for 25 minutes per side. 

I like my bbq chicken thighs sauce. When the internal temp reaches 140˚F, I baste them bbq sauce. The best way I have found is to dip the thighs in a large bowl with sauce and get them back on the grill for the last few minutes. The sauce gets hot and sticky for that mouth-tingling heat I am looking for.

When the internal temperature of the thighs has reached 165-175˚F. Let the smoked thighs rest for 5-10 minutes before serving for maximum juiciness.

Have a Good Meat Thermometer

The most important thing to watch when you are cooking chicken is the internal temperature. For food safety, 165˚F is the goal. However, with dark meat you can cook them to 185˚F to work through the rubbery texture. 

If you are using boneless skinless chicken thighs, pierce the thermometer through the thickest part of the thigh. This is a little easier with bone-in chicken thighs because the bone helps hold the thigh shape. 

Other Temps and Times

Here is a compete temperature guide for thighs on a Traeger. Put simply, a higher temperature will cook more quickly. 

250˚F for 90 minutes up to 2 hours for larger chicken thighs

300˚F for 45 minutes

375˚F for 20 minutes

One of the best parts about a Traeger Pellet Grill is that you can modify the time based on your personal preference. If you want smoky flavor but are short on time, crank up the heat to speed up the cooking  process.

Saving Leftover Grilled Chicken Thighs

I love to make a big batch and have extra cooked chicken on hand. I like to slice all of the cooked chicken and transfer it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also pre-cook a large batch and seal it in vacuum sealed bags after they cooled completely. Make sure to remove all the air before sealing.

My Favorite Chicken Thigh Meal

Chicken thighs are great for feeding a crowd. You can make an epic meal and stay on budget!

• Potato salad
• Homemade BBQ Sauce with a combination of bourbon, soy sauce, and spices
• Grilled Corn on the cob

Other Grilled Chicken Recipes

Get my temps and times for grilled chicken breasts.

I also a whole chicken out on the smoker.

Easy Tequila Lime Chicken Wings recipe.