Grilled Kansas City-Style BBQ Chicken Thighs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-08 · Updated 2026-08-08

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 drafted and published.

Juicy chicken thighs marinated in a blend of smoky spices and grilled to perfection, embodying Kansas City barbecue traditions. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, brown sugar, paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 American cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

8 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp black pepper
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup Kansas City-style BBQ sauce

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tbsp black pepper. Rub this spice blend evenly over 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, coating all sides.
Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 2 tbsp olive oil. Pour over the spiced chicken thighs, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavor.
Step 3: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, about 400°F. Oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.
Step 4: Place the chicken thighs skin side down on the grill and cook for 7-8 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden. Flip and cook for another 7-8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 5: During the last 5 minutes of grilling, generously brush 1 cup Kansas City-style BBQ sauce over the chicken thighs, flipping and basting once to caramelize the sauce without burning.
Step 6: Remove chicken from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve hot with extra BBQ sauce on the side.