Grilled Chipotle Maple Chicken Recipe
This Grilled Chipotle Maple Chicken recipe features tender boneless, skinless chicken thighs coated in a smoky, spicy, and sweet spice rub and finished with a luscious chipotle maple BBQ sauce. Perfectly grilled over medium heat, the chicken balances smoky heat with the sweetness of maple and molasses for a deliciously satisfying meal ideal for summer cookouts or any dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour (including 30 minutes chilling)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Spice Rub
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Chipotle Maple BBQ Sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 finely chopped chipotle chile pepper in adobo sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 lime, juiced
For Serving
- Lime wedges, optional
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Trim excess fat from the boneless, skinless chicken thighs and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Make Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, dry mustard, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, and black pepper. Sprinkle and pat the spice rub evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs. Cover the baking sheet with foil and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to let the flavors infuse.
- Make BBQ Sauce: While the chicken chills, combine ketchup, maple syrup, molasses, chopped chipotle pepper, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and garlic powder in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture just to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set the sauce aside but keep warm.
- Preheat Grill: Prepare a gas or charcoal grill for direct medium heat cooking. Lightly oil the grill rack to prevent sticking.
- Grill Chicken: Arrange the chicken thighs on the grill rack. Cover and cook for 4 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
- Baste with Sauce: Stir the lime juice into the BBQ sauce. Brush some of this sauce onto the grilled side of the chicken, flip it, and cook for 1 minute. Then brush sauce on the other side and continue grilling until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (for juicier results, cook to around 170-175°F).
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes to retain juices. Serve warm with lime wedges on the side, if desired.
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh chipotle peppers in adobo. Adjust the amount to control heat level.
- Ensure chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F for safe consumption.
- Resting the chicken after grilling allows juices to redistribute, making the meat juicier.
- This recipe works well with both gas and charcoal grills for a smoky flavor.
- Leftover grilled chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
Keywords: grilled chicken, chipotle maple chicken, BBQ chicken, spicy grilled chicken, summer grilling, chicken thighs, chipotle BBQ sauce
Find it online: https://topreci.com/grilled-chipotle-maple-chicken-recipe/
