Marinating, and then grilling boneless chicken thighs results in the most tender and juicy chicken you can imagine. A simple marinade absorbs into the chicken giving it a scrumptious flavor and making it so tender that you’ll be creating this dish every week.
This amazing Tequila Chicken Marinade creates the most tender chicken with a slightly sweet taste.
Grilled boneless chicken thighs are one of my favorite, “go-to” dishes when I don’t want to spend much time in the kitchen. Dinner in under 30 minutes and it’s a meal that everyone is guaranteed to love. It’s even easier than queso covered chicken, which is an all time blog favorite.
The chicken thighs are great all by themselves but recently we grilled some pineapple with it, drizzled a little queso sauce on top and then wrapped it up in a soft tortilla and made tacos with chicken.
The marinade for these grilled chicken thighs has a bit of agave added to give it just a hint of sweetness and you’ll love the combination of orange and lime juice. I’ve been making this for years and it’s always a hit. A friend of mine told me that it’s the dish she makes anytime she has company over.
You can marinate it overnight, or if you forget, just an hour. The amazing marinade creates the most tender chicken with a slightly sweet taste. If you want to do some meal prep, you can add the marinade and freeze it. Let it thaw in the fridge before grilling.
The marinade comes together in less than 10 minutes and then all you have to do is place it on the grill. The tequila not only tenderizes the chicken, but it adds that unique tequila flavor without adding any alcohol so it’s kid friendly. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo or a summer cookout.
if you love the flavor of chicken thighs, try making super crispy baked chicken thighs.
Why you will love This Chicken Recipe
- It’s so easy
- Great all alone or as part of a salad or tacos
- Clean up’s a breeze
- Make ahead
- Juicy & tender every time, just like with chicken thighs and mushrooms.
- Easy enough for a weeknight but so good you’ll want to serve for company
Tequila Chicken Marinade ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs – this marinade makes enough for 10 chicken thighs.
- Agave – agave is an amber sweetener made from the agave plant. It is much sweeter than sugar. It’s great for marinades because it dissolves easily and compliments most flavors.
- Tequila – just ¼ cup, it will burn off when it’s grilled so it’s kid friendly. You can leave it out and still have a delicious marinade.
- Orange juice and lime juice – these will break down the protein which is what makes it tender. You can substitute any citrus, but I love the sweet and tart flavor these add.
- Garlic and Cilantro – these will add to the flavor that is absorbed into the chicken.
A chicken thigh marinade consists of three things, an acid, an oil and a flavoring agent. The acid helps break down the proteins and allows the chicken to maintain its own juices and also absorb the flavoring agent. The oil keeps all the moisture inside the chicken while it’s cooking.
For this chicken thigh marinade, the acid is from the orange and lime juice which also add some flavor. You also get flavor from the tequila, cilantro and garlic.
A Few Recipe Notes
- To avoid a mess, marinade the chicken in a ziplock bag that can be thrown away afterwards. This keeps germs from spreading.
- Never reuse a marinade after it has come in contact with raw chicken as it will be contaminated
- Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator, not at room temperature.
Why use boneless chicken thighs in Tequila Marinated Chicken?
Chicken thighs have a richer flavor that chicken breasts and while they have more fat, they are also more tender and juicy. By first marinating them, you don’t need the skin to keep them juicy. So while they have a little more fat than a chicken breast, you more than make up for it in the flavor.
Just a Few Steps
This recipe is so quick and easy you can make it for any weeknight meal.
Step 1: marinate
Combine the marinade and pour it into a resealable bag along with the chicken. Let it marinate for at least an hour or overnight.
Step 2: grill
Clean and oil the grill grates. Heat the grill to high, 400º. Place the chicken on indirect heat on the grill and cook for 15-20 minutes. While you have the grill on, Throw some pineapple slices on to serve with the chicken.
I generally don’t cook more than eight chicken thighs, but you’ll have enough marinade for a few more if you’ve got a big crowd. This freezes well and makes great leftovers.
How to store Leftovers
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Re-warm in the microwave or in the oven 350º for about 5-10 minutes.
If you want to make it ahead, freeze the raw chicken with the marinade in a sealable bag and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
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Easy Tequila Marinated Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs 8-10 thighs
- ¼ cup agave nectar
- ¼ cup tequila
- ¼ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice 2-3
- 2 cloves garlic cloves minced
- ⅓ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together all of the marinade ingredients and pour into a plastic resealable bag. Add chicken thighs and marinate for at least an hour or overnight.
- Turn grill to high and let it reach 400º Turn one side down to low. Remove chicken from marinade and grill over indirect heat for 15-20 minutes, turning half way through, until a meat thermometer reads 175º. Remove, let rest, and slice into strips or serve whole.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- These are even better if you can marinate them overnight.
- You can freeze the chicken with the marinade then let thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- You can leave out the Tequila
Nutrition
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