Brined Applewood Smoked Chicken Thighs

These succulent Smoked Chicken Thighs bring out the best in backyard smoking. They are brined, seared, and smoked with apple wood until absolute perfection. Your family will be convinced you are the ultimate pitmaster!

If you love the taste of smoked meat, this is the recipe for you. The secret is adding moisture in with a simple brown sugar brine, then locking it in with a quick sear. Set your smoker on low and slow to get the juiciest, most succulent chicken thighs. 

Backyard barbecues aren’t complete without a selection of fresh and tasty side dishes. While you’re smoking the thighs, throw on a few cobs of corn and whip up this Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad. Or, keep it light and fresh with a tossed Strawberry Spinach Salad with a bright Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette. 

Brined Apple Wood Smoked Chicken Thighs

Summertime is the time for delicious home smoked meats of all kinds. We have a very small charcoal smoker so we usually stick to smaller cuts of meat that are ready in a few hours. Two of our quick favourites are chicken wings, and smoked Bison burgers. We just really love the flavour of smoke on meat, especially apple wood. 

Now that we have mastered smoking chicken thighs, I can tell it’s going to be one delicious summer. I suggest you smoke a double batch, because smoked chicken thighs make some of the best leftovers there are!

Three perfectly smoked and grilled chicken thighs on dark wooden board in the green grass.

Simple Chicken Thigh Brine

For these smoked chicken thighs, a simple brown sugar brine in a 1:1 ratio works best. Start the brine by adding six cups of water, one cup of brown sugar, and one cup of kosher salt to a sauce pan. Heat the mixture until the salt and sugar have dissolved. 

As the brine is cooling, add in any extra flavour elements you like. Use fresh (or dried) herbs such as thyme, bay leaves, and rosemary, or add fruit such as sliced apples or orange peel. Kick it up a bit with some chopped jalapenos or a splash of apple cider in place of a portion of the water. 

A bowl filled with brown sugar brine, herbs, and raw chicken thighs.

How Long to Brine Chicken Thighs

The longer you brine the chicken thighs, the more flavour and moisture enters the meat. However, too much brine time results in salty thighs and we don’t want those!

The trick is to aim for that sweet spot where the brine time results in super tender and flavorful thighs, but not so long that salt dominates the taste. To get the best results with this brine, go with a 4-6 hour brine period. That way the chicken can brine on the same day you plan to smoke it.

A pair of grilling tongs places raw chicken thighs on a hot grill.

How to Get Crispy Skin on Smoked Chicken Thighs

To sear or not to sear, that is the question. Of course if you want crispy skin on the thighs, you have to go for the sear. Whether you do it before or after the smoke is up to you. We did it both ways and didn’t find it made that much of a difference. 

The best sear begins with thoroughly dried the chicken thighs. Once removed from the brine, place the thighs on a rack over a pan and air dry them in the fridge for a few hours. 

At a high searing temperature, keep a very close eye on the thighs. It only takes a minute or two to get that skin crispy and flare ups are bad news!

A chef takes the temperature of a chicken thigh on a hot grill using a thermometer.
Not ready yet!

How to Tell When Are Chicken Thighs Done

The smoky aroma is going to drive you crazy with hungry anticipation but remember, we’re aiming for low and slow cooking time. It will be worth it! 

This recipe was tested with bone-in, skin on chicken thighs. Using bone-in thighs, along with a brine and slow cooking time is the best way to ensure the end result is the best, most succulent thighs possible.

Five chicken thighs on a barbecue grill. with smoke rising.

Cooking times will be different for bone-in vs. de-boned chicken thighs, so to be sure, always use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the meat. The internal temperature must reach 165 F (74 C) for safe consumption. 

It’s always a good idea to get a final temperature check for each thigh because chicken thighs often vary quite a bit in size. 

Three perfectly smoked and grilled chicken thighs on dark wooden board in the green grass.

What to Do with Leftover Smoked Chicken

You’ve made a double batch like I told you to, right? Leftover smoked chicken is just as amazing as day-of smoked chicken and there are so many delicious ways to use it! 

  • chicken salad with grapes – trust me on this one. The combination of smoky chicken and sweet grapes with creamy mayonnaise is out of this world.
  • in pasta – cook up your favourite pasta shape, add your favourite sauce and you have a quick weeknight dinner. May I recommend either a cream sauce or pesto with peas or asparagus?

Three perfectly smoked and grilled chicken thighs on dark wooden board in the green grass.

  • on a cold chicken burrito bowl – add rice, grains, or noodles and all you favourite raw or cooked veggie toppings. Don’t forget the sauce! 
  • in smoky chicken fried rice – OMG so good. The ultimate clean out the fridge dish.
  • on top of smoked chicken nachos – enough said.
  • in a braised navy bean stew – use in place of bacon to make a great bean dish amazing!
  • inside a quesadilla or wrap 
  • in a soup 
  • in smoked chicken pot pie
  • as a pizza topping

The delicious possibilities are endless! 

One perfectly smoked and grilled chicken thigh on dark wooden board.

How to Store Leftover Smoked Thighs

Like any leftover chicken, store the smoked chicken in a closed container in the fridge for up to a week. It will freeze well in the same manner for months. 

Plan on eating cold leftovers? Eat them the day after or two days maximum after they were cooked. 

While re-heating, always take proper care when preparing your leftover chicken from cold storage. Heat it well in a covered pan with a bit of water for moisture. Do not keep leftover leftovers! 

PIN Smoked Chicken Thighs HERE.

Pinterest image of one perfectly smoked and grilled chicken thigh on dark wooden board and five chicken thighs on a barbecue grill.

Yield: 10 smoked chicken thighs

Apple Wood Smoked Chicken Thighs

One perfectly smoked and grilled chicken thigh on dark wooden board.

These succulent Smoked Chicken Thighs bring out the best in backyard smoking. They are brined, seared, and smoked with apple wood until absolute perfection. Your family will be convinced you are the pitmaster!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 6 minutes
Additional Time 6 hours
Total Time 8 hours 16 minutes

Ingredients

  • 10 bone in, skin on chicken thighs
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • handful fresh thyme
  • handful fresh rosemary
  • apple slices, orange peel, etc. (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the brine in the morning by combining the salt and sugar with the water in a medium saucepan. Heat until both are entirely dissolved.
  2. Add the herbs and allow to cool until it is room temperature.
  3. Place thighs in a bowl and pour brine over. Cover with plastic wrap and brine for two to four hours.
  4. Remove chicken from brine and place on a rack over a pan in the fridge for a few hours to air dry (optional). Discard brine.
  5. Pre-heat grill to high. Sear on presentation side for 1-2 minutes depending on how high the temperature is. Flip and sear another minute. (see notes)
  6. Lower heat to 225 F and add apple wood chips. (see notes)
  7. Smoke for two hours or until internal temperature of each thigh reaches 165 F (74 C).

Notes

If you are searing the chicken at the end of smoking, note that much of the fat will be rendered out already and it will take much less time to get a nice sear. Watch for flare ups!

If using a charcoal smoker, add a pan of water after the searing. The water keeps the heat from directly cooking the meat and helps to keep the heat at an even temperature.

This recipe was tested with bone-in, skin on chicken thighs. You can use de-boned thighs but please remember cooking times will be different for bone-in vs. de-boned chicken thighs. Always use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the meat. The internal temperature must reach 165 F (74 C) for safe consumption. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

5

Serving Size:

2

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 241Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 22706mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 4gSugar: 39gProtein: 7g

Nutritional calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. For special diets or medical issues please use your preferred calculator.

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© Bernice Hill
Cuisine: American / Category: Grilling

The post Brined Applewood Smoked Chicken Thighs appeared first on Dish 'n' the Kitchen.

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