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What Great Grandma Ate / Recipes / Egg Free / Perfect Grilled Chicken Thighs (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)

Perfect Grilled Chicken Thighs (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)

Last Updated on October 11, 2021 by Jean Choi 3 Comments

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Prepare juicy chicken every single time with this recipe for the Perfect Grilled Chicken Thighs. It’s perfect for a BBQ and delicious with so many various sides!

perfect grilled chicken thighs on a plate

I love grilled chicken thighs, and I make them weekly when the weather is warm. They always come out so juicy and tender, and my entire family loves them. I’ve tried many different marinades before, but we always come back to these Whole30 and keto grilled chicken thighs with paprika garlic seasoning. The flavor is just unreal and it’s such a crowd-pleaser!

Paleo Grilled Chicken Thighs

So do you want to make the most delicious paleo grilled chicken thighs? If you have chicken thighs around and aren’t sure how to prepare them, then you are in the right place. Follow this recipe to learn exactly what you’ll need to marinate your chicken to perfection, giving it that juicy, flavorful taste. 

If you are tired of making chicken the same way or dealing with dry meat, this recipe might be perfect for you! Make these Whole30 chicken thighs for dinner, family barbecues, and any other special events. You can impress everyone with your skills on the grill when you use this recipe for grilling Chicken Thighs, and they’ll never know how incredibly easy it is!

marinating paleo chicken thighs with spices in a glass container

Ingredients Needed to Make the Perfect Grilled Chicken Thighs

If you want to make these Perfect Grilled Chicken Thighs that are juicy and full of flavor, you will need the following ingredients:

  • Chicken thighs: Grab about eight boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
  • Avocado oil: You can always use olive oil instead if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Lemon juice: Use the juice from one whole lemon to add an acidic punch to your meat.
  • Smoked paprika: Just a small amount of smoked paprika goes a long way, giving these thighs a ton of flavor.

Besides these ingredients, you will need garlic cloves, salt, and pepper to make these Whole30 chicken thighs. You definitely don’t need too many ingredients to make these juicy chicken thighs, and you probably have most of them on hand!

perfect grilled chicken thighs on a baking sheet

Do I Have to Use Avocado Oil?

Avocado oil is a great oil to use when preparing paleo grilled chicken thighs. It’s what I use to make the perfect marinade for Grilled Chicken Thighs, and I love it because it has a high smoking point for high heat grilling. If you do not have avocado oil or simply don’t want to use it, you can always use olive oil. Changing the oil used may slightly alter the taste of your chicken, but it won’t be noticeable much at all.

Can I Use Chicken Breasts?

If you prefer eating chicken breasts or only have breasts available instead of thighs, you can still get delicious, juicy chicken with the same marinade. You can follow this Whole30 grilled chicken thighs recipe to prepare chicken breasts with some tweaks. Since chicken breasts are generally thicker than thighs, I would pound the chicken to an even thickness first before marinading then grilling. The grilling time should stay the same.

Can I Use Regular Paprika?

Smoked paprika is a great addition to the marinade because of the smoky flavor it adds to the chicken. However, if you only have regular paprika available, you can use them same amount to yield similar results. If you do not have smoked paprika or regular paprika, chili powder is another tasty alternative.

close up of whole30 grilled chicken

What to Serve With Paleo Grilled Chicken Thighs

You can serve many tasty side dishes with the grilled chicken thighs. You may want to serve the thighs with rice, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or salads. These thighs will taste great with a starch and a vegetable, such as corn on the cob, glazed baby carrots, or fresh roasted broccoli. The best part about this recipe is that the chicken goes with just about everything!

What to Do With Grilled Chicken Thighs Leftovers

If you have leftovers, you can reheat them and serve them again with whatever sides you have. There are other ways to use the leftovers, too. You can make some of the following dishes if you shred your Perfect Grilled Chicken Thighs down into pieces:

  • Chicken soup. Add your shredded pieces of grilled thighs to broth and vegetables for an instant comforting chicken soup!
  • Homemade chicken salad. Use a food processor to shred your chicken thighs and then combine them with relish, mayo, salt, pepper, and a bit of garlic powder to create a tasty chicken salad. You can eat it with crackers, on bread, or over lettuce.
  • Chicken spaghetti. Add some of your chicken to a bowl of cooked spaghetti (or zoodles or spaghetti squash for Whole30) with marinara sauce.

You can make dozens of other meals, including chicken fried rice, chicken burrito bowls, and so much more.

How to Store Whole30 & Keto Grilled Chicken Thighs

Store your perfect grilled chicken thighs in a food storage container. You can use a glass container with an airtight lid. Be sure to put the thighs in the fridge. The chicken will stay fresh in the fridge for up to four days. You can also freeze your chicken for up to three months to save it for later.

If you enjoyed this Whole30 and keto grilled chicken thighs, you might also like…

  • Paleo Pollo Asado (Whole30, Keto)
  • Paleo Chicken Yakitori aka Japanese Chicken Skewers (Whole30, Keto, AIP Option)
  • Lemon Garlic Chicken Drumsticks (Paleo, Whole30, Keto, AIP Option)
  • Baked Asian Chicken Thighs (Paleo, Whole30)
  • Curry Chicken Skewers

Perfect Grilled Chicken Thighs (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)

Prepare juicy chicken every single time with this recipe for the Perfect Grilled Chicken Thighs. It's perfect for a BBQ and delicious with so many various sides!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 4th of july grill recipes, grill chicken recipes, grilled chicken thighs, keto grill recipes, keto grilled chicken, low carb grilling, paleo grilled chicken thighs, summer grill recipes, whole30 grill recipes, whole30 grilled chicken
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
Marinading Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 17 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 thighs (approx)
Calories: 144kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs about 8 chicken thighs
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil or olive oil
  • Juice from 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • Optional: chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Place chicken thighs in a resealable bag or a glass container.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and mix together to make the marinade.
  • Pour the marinade over the chicken thighs and massage to coat.
  • Marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
  • Preheat grill to medium high
  • Grill the chicken thighs for 4-6 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
  • Sprinkle with chopped parsley, if using. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Perfect Grilled Chicken Thighs (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
Amount Per Serving (1 thigh – makes approx. 8)
Calories 144 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 108mg36%
Sodium 684mg30%
Potassium 329mg9%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 890IU18%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 19mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
What Great Grandma Ate / Jean Choi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.

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By Jean Choi | April 8, 2021

Comments

  1. Melz says

    July 25, 2021 at 11:41 am

    5 stars
    These are perfectly delicious!! I’ve made them 3 times in the last week. The marinade is easy to put together and the ingredients are all things you probably have on hand.
    Thanks for another great dish 😋

    Reply
  2. Dana Harding says

    October 10, 2021 at 1:31 pm

    The recipe doesn’t specify amount of avocado oil. It just says 1/4. 1/4 what? I’m going to assume 1/4 cup for now as I’m making it now

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      October 11, 2021 at 8:32 am

      Sorry about that! Just fixed it. Hope it turned out well!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Jean!

headshot of Jean Choi - blogger of What Great Grandma Ate

I’m a food lover and recipe developer living in Southern California. I love to share simple and approachable gluten-free recipes that are healthy but never sacrifice on flavor. I hope I can help you feel confident in the kitchen and inspire you to try out some new-to-you dishes!

More About Jean

Recipe Key

  • 3030 Min or Less
  • AIPAIP
  • EFEgg Free
  • LCLow Carb
  • NFNut Free
  • PPaleo
  • VVegan
  • W3Whole 30

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