Smoked Cajun-Spiced Chicken Thighs with Citrus

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.

Juicy chicken thighs rubbed with a smoky Cajun spice blend and enhanced with bright citrus notes, smoked to perfection. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 195 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, paprika, cayenne pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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: 180 min Serves 4 American cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a bowl, mix 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp orange zest, and 1 tbsp lemon zest to make the Cajun spice rub.
  2. Step 2: Pat dry 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and toss them with 2 tbsp olive oil, then rub the spice mixture all over each piece thoroughly.
  3. Step 3: Preheat your smoker to 225°F and add 2 cups of pecan or cherry wood chips for a mild fruity smoke.
  4. Step 4: Place the chicken thighs skin side up on the smoker rack and smoke for 2.5 to 3 hours until the internal temperature reaches 175°F and the skin is crisp and flavorful.
  5. Step 5: Remove the chicken from the smoker, let rest for 10 minutes, and serve with fresh lemon wedges for extra brightness.

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