White BBQ Chicken Thighs (Juicy Every Time)

White bbq chicken combines juicy grilled chicken thighs with a tangy, peppery Alabama-style white barbecue sauce. Bone-in, skin-on thighs stay tender on the grill. Brush sauce on during the last few minutes and serve the rest for dipping.

This is one of my favorite ways to change up grilled chicken because the chicken itself stays simple. There’s no marinade or complicated spice rub. Season with salt, pepper and garlic salt, then let the homemade bbq sauce bring the flavor.

Quick Look: White BBQ Chicken Thighs

• Flavor: Tangy, peppery and savory with a little heat from cayenne
• Texture: Juicy chicken thighs with browned skin and creamy sauce
• Cook method: Grill bone-in chicken thighs at 400 to 450°F, then brush with white BBQ sauce near the end
• Why it works: Chicken thighs can handle the high heat of the grill without drying out, while adding the sauce at the end keeps it from overcooking on the hot grates.

Why are chicken thighs so good on the grill?

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are one of the most forgiving cuts of chicken to grill because their higher fat content helps keep the meat juicy. The skin protects the meat from the direct heat while developing those browned, slightly crisp edges that are my favorite.

For another way to cook this cut, try our baked chicken thighs, or make sheet pan chicken thighs when you want the entire dinner in one pan.

Try chicken thighs in our simple chicken and gnocchi bake and stuffed chicken thighs too.

How do you grill bone-in chicken thighs without drying them out?

Preheat the grill to 400 to 450°F, then pat the chicken thighs dry and season both sides with salt, pepper and garlic salt. Starting with dry skin and a fully preheated grill helps the chicken brown rather than steam.

Place the thighs skin-side down and grill for about 15 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes, depending on their size.

White bbq chicken is safe to eat at 165°F, but I prefer taking chicken thighs closer to 175 to 185°F. Thigh meat contains more connective tissue than chicken breast, so that extra cooking time breaks down the tissue for even more tender meat.

Watch the chicken closely. The fire can flare-up, especially while the skin side is down. If necessary, move the thighs temporarily away from the hottest area of the grill.

For boneless chicken that’s quicker on the grill, try our grilled chicken tenders.

What is white BBQ sauce?

White BBQ sauce, also called Alabama white sauce, is a creamy, tangy barbecue sauce made with mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar and seasonings. Instead of the sweet, tomato flavor of traditional barbecue sauce, this one is sharp, peppery and savory with a little cayenne heat.

Here’s the thing. You control how tangy it is.

I’ve made this sauce very vinegar-forward over the years, but that’s not everyone’s preference. Start with ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, whisk it into the mayonnaise and seasonings, then taste. Add more vinegar until the sauce is as tangy and thin as you like it. We generally stay between ¼ and ½ cup.

Make the sauce at least 30 minutes before dinner and refrigerate it. That little rest gives the flavors time to blend.

Brush some onto the chicken during the last 2 minutes of grilling, then serve more sauce alongside the chicken for dipping.

If your family prefers a traditional red barbecue sauce, try our sweet and spicy barbecue sauce instead.

White BBQ Chicken Thighs

4.75 from 8 votes

How to grill chicken thighs with simple flavoring. Serve white barbecue sauce alongside this easy chicken thigh recipe for a delicious dinner!

Servings 4

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

 

US Customary – Metric

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar **see notes
• 3/4 tablespoon Worcestershire
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more to taste)
• 4 Chicken thighs (skin on, bone in)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

 

For the White BBQ Sauce:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and vinegar (**see notes) until smooth. 1 cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• Mix in the remaining sauce ingredients, stirring well. Cover and refrigerate for at least a half an hour. ¾ tablespoon Worcestershire, 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic, ½ tablespoon salt, ½ tablespoon pepper, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the Chicken Thighs:

• Sprinkle Chicken thighs with salt, pepper and garlic. 4 Chicken thighs, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic salt
• Grill skin-side down for about 15 minutes. Flip and grill for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the thickest part of the thigh reaches at least 165°F. For more tender chicken thighs, we prefer an internal temperature of 175 to 185°F.
• During the last 2 minutes, brush the chicken with white BBQ sauce reserved specifically for basting.
• Allow the chicken to rest for 2-3 minutes, then serve with additional barbecue sauce on the side.

Video

Notes

**White BBQ sauce should taste noticeably tangy, but you can adjust it to your preference. Start with ¼ cup vinegar for a thicker, milder sauce. Add additional vinegar a tablespoon or two at a time for a thinner, sharper sauce. We generally use no more than ½ cup.

The calories shown are based on 1 chicken thigh only. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate.  **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcal | Protein: 18g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 959mg | Potassium: 231mg | Vitamin A: 90IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Calories 248

Keyword chicken thighs recipe, easy chicken recipe, grilling recipes, homemade barbecue sauce, keto, paleo, whole30

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What to Serve with white bbq chicken:

Here are just a few side dish options:

• Grilled Onion Potatoes
• Corn Tomato Avocado Salsa
• Sparkling Fruit Salad
• Sparkling Fruit Punch