Smoked chicken is one of my favorite smoked meats and chicken thighs are my favorite part of the chicken. So it only makes sense to master this meat. Fortunately, smoking chicken on a pellet smoker is easy to do and it doesn’t take that long to do either. Watch my video below and you’ll see what I mean.

Chicken thighs are part of the leg and drumstick, cut just above the knee. It’s referred to as dark meat and has extra fat that makes it darker. This is just fine with me because fat = flavor especially if you’re going to smoke it. Thighs tend to be very tender, flavorful, and as a bonus, cheaper than breasts. 

Do You Cut The Fat Off Chicken Thighs?

I recommend keeping the skin on during the smoking process even if you don’t plan to eat the skin. The skin keeps the meat moist and adds more flavor.

https://youtu.be/vu1L3gJzSbc

Preparing Chicken Thighs For Smoking

I like to prepare the chicken the day before so the seasoning can get into the meat but you don’t have to do that. You may be reading this to make dinner in a few hours. No worries. Either way works.

1. Take the meat out of the package and rinse it off with cold water.
2. Add your rub or seasonings all over each chicken thigh. I like to put the rub into a ziplock bag, add a piece or two of chicken, then shake it round until the pieces are evenly coated. Add seasoning to the bag as needed. Discard extra seasoning. DO NOT KEEP IT if chicken has touched it. I usually toss the bag and the seasoning after coating all the chicken.
3. Put the chicken into a container and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to smoke, or if you’re ready to smoke, head for the grill. 

Preparing Your Smoker Grill For Chicken Thighs

You should be familiar with how your pellet grill operates. Most of them follow a simple start up plan.

• Make sure you have wood pellets in your hopper.
• Spray the grates with non-stick spray.
• Turn it on and let it go through its initial start up. Usually only about 5 minutes.
• Set the grill to your preferred smoke temperature and give it time to reach and hold that temperature.
• Place thighs on grates allowing space between pieces for smoke to get through
• Close lid and let the smoker do its job. No need to turn chicken over.

The Process Of Smoking Chicken Thighs

Wood pellet smoking surrounds a piece of meat in a confined smokey space while lower heat temperatures (usually between 200-225 degrees) do the actual cooking of the meat. The smoke penetrates the meat giving it the rich, unique smoke flavors that people crave. If done properly, this low and slow method of cooking can yield moist and juicy meat. It can also dry cook thinner meats like jerky into a smoky rich and chewy treat. Pellet grills and smokers are versatile cookers.

I usually smoke chicken thighs for about 1.5 to 2 hours at 250 degrees. That can vary a bit by how much chicken or any other meat items are also smoking. In the video, I show that I’m also smoking a meatloaf. During the particular smoke, I kept the chicken on the grill for 2 hours. Both the chicken and the meatloaf came out spectacularly delicious!

Competition Smoked Chicken Thighs And Other Meats

I’ve never competed in meat smoking competitions, but you like to learn from people who have, check out these to ideas:

• Competition BBQ Secrets 300 Deg Hot & Fast
• Aaron Franklin’s Texas Style BBQ Masterclass

Serving Smoked Chicken Thighs 

One way to check the doneness of your smoked chicken is to wiggle the exposed bone ends. If it’s really flexible, it’s probably done. If you use a thermometer, poke it at its thickest part. You’re looking for a temperature of about 160 keeping in mind that the chicken will continue to cook after you take it off the grill. It will reach the perfect temperature of 165°F by the time you are ready to eat. Try not to poke a piece more than once because the inside juices may start leaking out. Juices you’d rather enjoy yourself than getting into your grill. If you set your pellet smoker grill to 250°F, figure about 30-45 minutes of smoke time per pound.

Best Side Dishes With Smoked Chicken Thighs

Smoked chicken thighs are amazingly good, but let’s not forget about delicious side dishes to make the meal complete. Here a few ideas if you don’t have anything else planned:

• Baked Beans
• Mac & Cheese
• Southern Greens
• Coleslaw
• Cheddar Cheese Biscuits
• Potato Salad
• Cornbread
• Potato Chips & Dip
• Jalapeno Poppers
• Broccoli Salad
• Pasta Salad
• Corn on the Cob

Smoked chicken thighs on a pellet smoker grill is an easy dish to prepare and enjoy. Don’t forget the video above. Clearly, if I can cook delicious chicken, you can too!