Smoky and tender, there is absolutely nothing better than smoked chicken thighs. They’re the perfect dinner party food, weeknight meal or meal prep protein. Learn how to cook them perfectly on the smoker every single time.
While the smoker is preheating, mix together the rub ingredients (brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, and ground black pepper).
Coat both sides of the chicken thighs with avocado oil, ensuring it's completely coated. This is going to act as a binder for the rub.
Sprinkle the rub all over both sides of the chicken, rubbing it in so that all of the surface is coated in the rub mix.
Cover and let sit in the refrigerator until the smoker has finished preheating.
Place the chicken directly on the grates of the smoker and close the lid.
Smoke the chicken for 25-35 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
Remove from the smoker and allow the chicken to rest at least 10 minutes before serving.
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Notes
If you have the time to make a homemade chicken rub, it makes a huge difference! That said, a store-bought rub is a great way to try new flavors.
Be sure to trim the chicken thighs of any excess fat or tendons before smoking.
If your smoker doesn’t go all the way down to 270°F, you can also smoke it at 275°F. You might want to check on your chicken a little sooner.