Authentic Kansas City-Style BBQ Chicken Thighs

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Slow-smoked chicken thighs with a rich, smoky-sweet sauce that honors the true Kansas City tradition, using real hardwood smoke. This American-inspired grilling recipe, ready in about 145 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, paprika, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 25 min Cook: 120 min Serves 4 American cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat 8 chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then rub with 2 tsp paprika, 3 tbsp brown sugar, and 1 tsp smoked salt.
  2. Step 2: Preheat smoker to 225°F (107°C) using applewood chips. Place chicken skin-side up on the grate and smoke for 1.5 hours until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  3. Step 3: While chicken smokes, whisk 4 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp liquid smoke, 1/4 cup honey, and 1 tsp onion powder in a bowl until smooth.
  4. Step 4: After smoking, brush both sides of chicken with 3/4 of the sauce, then return to smoker for 30 minutes until sauce is glossy and caramelized.
  5. Step 5: Let rest 10 minutes before serving to lock in juices, then brush with remaining sauce just before plating.

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