Published on 08/27/24

Our simple Balsamic Grilled Chicken Thighs are juicy, tender, and full of the best flavor! Made with an easy homemade marinade that only take 5 minutes to make. Use these perfectly grilled chicken thighs any way you want, we love them on our Balsamic Chicken Rice Bowl!

The best recipe for balsamic grilled chicken thighs.

The Best Balsamic Grilled Chicken

Our whole family loves the wonderful, slightly sweet flavor that balsamic vinegar brings to any recipe. And when combined with other classic marinade ingredients, it adds so much moisture to create mouthwatering chicken thighs. Plus, the hot grill gives it that little bit of char on the outside, making it a delicious main dish to serve with just about anything! A new family favorite recipe that will be on repeat all summer long!

Looking for More Grilled Chicken Recipes?

If you love grilling chicken as much as we do, you definitely need to try our Grilled Chicken Caprese!

What You Will Need

balsamic vinegar & olive oil – these combine to create the base of the marinade to keep any cut of chicken moist.
dijon mustard – a little bit to bring a wonderful depth of flavor.
rice vinegar – another mild vinegar that is the perfect compliment in this recipe card.
lemon zest – added for a touch of acidity to help amplify the natural flavors.
fresh garlic – everything is always better with some garlic in the mix.
soy sauce – another essential ingredient that is a great addition in any homemade marinade recipe.
salt and pepper – simple seasonings that are needed every time you cook any cut of meat.
boneless, skinless chicken thighs – highly recommend this type of chicken, but feel free swap them for any variety at your local grocery store.

How To Make Balsamic Grilled Chicken

The first steps to making this basic recipe are to place the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together to fully combine.

Two images showing the balsamic chicken marinade before mixing and after.

Place the raw chicken in a shallow baking dish, large bowl, or ziplock bag. Pour the balsamic marinade over the top and toss the chicken to make sure they are all coated. Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.

Balsamic chicken marinade in a glass bowl with raw chicken thighs.

Now bring your gas grill to a medium high heat and make sure the grill grates are clean. Give the hot grates a quick spray with your favorite nonstick cooking spray. Then pull the chicken thighs out of the marinade, allowing the excess liquid to drip off. Place the chicken directly on the grill and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (use a meat thermometer). Be sure to flip them halfway through the cooking process.

Balsamic chicken thighs cooking on the hot grill.

Carefully remove the grilled chicken breasts and let meat rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Best Way To Serve Balsamic Grilled Chicken

There are so many great ways to enjoy your perfectly grilled chicken thighs! Our all-time favorite is in a Balsamic Chicken Rice Bowl. Perfect for a quick dinner on those busy weeknights! You can also enjoy them by themselves with some easy side dishes. A few we love are our Balsamic Pasta Salad, Strawberry Spinach Salad, or a Caprese Pasta Salad. Or enjoy them as a grilled chicken sandwich or in a chicken wrap.

Grilled balsamic chicken thighs on a plate.

Pinterest image for balsamic chicken thighs.

Made this delicious recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!

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