Grandma Hollar's No Bbq Sauce Bbq Chicken

Get ready to fall in love with the bold flavors of *Grandma Hollar’s No BBQ Sauce BBQ Chicken*, a recipe that proves you don’t need bottled sauce for juicy, flavorful barbecue. This dish swaps sticky store-bought BBQ sauce for a homemade marinade brimming with smoky paprika, zesty lemon juice, sweet honey, and fragrant oregano—infusing bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs with irresistibly rich, tangy flavor. Perfect for the grill, this recipe is enhanced with optional wood chips for a subtle smoky aroma and crispy, golden skin. With a minimum marinade of two hours (overnight recommended!), it’s the perfect make-ahead dish for cookouts or family dinners. Serve fresh off the grill alongside your favorite summer sides for an unforgettable meal that honors backyard barbecue traditions the old-fashioned way. Keywords: BBQ chicken, marinade, no sauce BBQ, grilled chicken thighs, smoky chicken recipe.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:65 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 6 pieces Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 3 tablespoons Olive oil
• 4 cloves Fresh garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons Smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons Honey
• 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 cup Wood chips for grilling (optional, for smoky flavor)

Directions

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, ground cumin, dried oregano, honey, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until well combined to create a marinade.

Step 2

Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and place them in a large resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight for optimal flavor.

Step 3

If using a grill, soak the wood chips in water for 30 minutes beforehand to enhance the smoky flavor. Preheat your grill to medium heat (about 375°F) and arrange the soaked wood chips in a smoker box or aluminum foil with holes poked in it. Place the smoker box or foil packet on the grill grates.

Step 4

Remove the chicken from the marinade and let excess liquid drip off. Discard the remaining marinade.

Step 5

Place the chicken thighs skin-side down on the grill. Cook for 7-10 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and slightly charred, then flip and cook for another 7-10 minutes on the other side.

Step 6

Lower the heat to medium-low or move the chicken to an indirect heat zone on the grill. Close the lid and cook for an additional 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.

Step 7

Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve immediately with your favorite side dishes.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1305.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2619.3

Total Fat 198.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 50.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.0g
Cholesterol 729mg	0%
Sodium 3114.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 44.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 2.8g	0%
Total Sugars 35.4g
Protein 164.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 172.4mg	0%
Iron 12.2mg	0%
Potassium 2282.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 68.1%

Protein: 25.1%

Carbs: 6.8%