Summer grillin' is the best! Grab some chicken thighs and a few basic ingredients to make these juicy sweet and spicy grilled chicken thighs.

Tools Needed
Here are the key tools I use to make this recipe:
Glass Mixing Bowl. These are my go-to bowls in my home. They come with lids and are great for marinating meat.
Grilling Tongs. A good grilling utensil set is necessary when making food on the grill. Here is the set I recommend.
Grill. This Weber grill was my first and still is my favorite grill. It is very compact and great for small spaces.
Ingredients Needed
The good part is that most of these ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. There's no need to run to the store here. This chicken thigh marinade is so easy to make!
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs. For this recipe, I will be using boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can take a few extra minutes to shave off the extra chicken fat and veins, which will help clean the meat off even more of the excess.
Honey. A natural way to add sweetness to the grilled boneless chicken thighs. Choose a raw natural honey for best results.
Crushed Red Pepper. Add a fiery kick given off by the seed with earthy undertones.
Onion Powder. Brings a pungent onion taste that is not as sharp, with a slight sweet flavor and a hint of zest. It is a very concentrated flavor, so a little goes a long way.
Garlic Powder. Brings a milder garlic flavor to a dish with sweet and earthy notes. This is a concentrated garlic flavor, so a little goes a long way.
Salt. Highlights all the flavors added to the recipe.
How to Make The Recipe
The best grilled chicken thighs are so easy to make and can be marinated a day before grilling.
Here the step-by-step instructions:
- Combine honey, crushed red pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt in a small bowl and mix well.
- If the honey is too thick, heat it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften it a bit.
- Prepare the chicken thighs for the meat marinade.
- Rinse the thighs and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Remove all excess fat around the meat and any veins.
- Pour the sweet and spicy meat marinade over the chicken thighs and mix well.
- Cover with the lid and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- Cook the chicken on a preheated grill on medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until it reaches 165*F.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
What to Serve with This Recipe
These grilled sweet n spicy chicken thighs taste absolutely amazing, and you can serve pretty much anything with them. Grilling season can't get any sweeter than this, quite literally, haha.
Here are a few variations I have tried and loved:
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes with a side of Cabbage Cucumber Salad
- On a bed of greens. This is a great low-carb option I used when on my weight loss journey. Healthy doesn't have to mean tasteless.

How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover grilled chicken thighs in a container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
I have never had a chance to freeze these tasty grilled chicken thighs because they never make it that far. If you are meal planning and want to prepare a month's supply, give it a try, and let me know how it goes in the comments below.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Reheat grilled chicken thighs in a microwave to desired warmth.
For stovetop reheating: on medium-low heat, reheat grilled chicken thighs until warmed through on each side.
PrintSweet and Spicy Grilled Chicken Thighs
Summer grillin' is the best! Grab some chicken thighs and a few basic ingredients to make these juicy sweet and spicy grilled chicken thighs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 4.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup honey
- 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper (less if you want less spicy)
- 2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine honey, crushed red pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt in a small bowl and mix well.
- If the honey is too thick, heat it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften it a bit.
- Prepare the chicken thighs for the meat marinade.
- Rinse the thighs and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Remove all excess fat around the meat and any veins.
- Pour the sweet and spicy meat marinade over the chicken thighs and mix well.
- Cover with the lid and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- Cook the chicken on a preheated grill on medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until it reaches 165*F.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.