If you’re looking for a delicious and easy-to-make recipe for spring, then look no further than these Molasses BBQ Chicken Thighs! Perfect for spring get together, and simply enough for weeknight meals, this is one recipe you absolutely need to have in your warm weather repertoire.
The key to this recipe is the Molasses BBQ sauce, which is made with just a few simple ingredients – molasses, garlic, duck sauce, jalapeno, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and vanilla extract – and comes together in a matter of minutes. The sweet and spicy flavor of the molasses is the perfect match for the juicy chicken thighs and creates a dish that’s sure to please the entire family.
The best part of this recipe is that it’s quick and easy to prepare. All you need to do is combine the ingredients for the BBQ sauce, brush it onto the chicken thighs, and bake it in the oven for about twenty-five minutes. The end result is a comforting and delicious meal that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
So if you’re looking for a great spring recipe that’s easy to make and full of flavor, then you can’t go wrong with Chicken Thighs with a Molasses BBQ Sauce. Now, let’s get cooking.
Ingredient Checklist
- Chicken Thighs. The meat of today’s recipe. This recipe, naturally, works with chicken legs or wings. I’m using thighs purely as a matter of preference.
- Cilantro. Purely for garnish, feel free to leave out or to swap with basil, parsley, or scallions.
- Molasses. Brings a sweet and smoky flavor to the BBQ sauce. It also helps to thicken the sauce and gives it a unique depth of flavor.
- Garlic. For ‘garlicy bite,’ and a sharp and pungent flavor. It also helps to balance out the sweetness of the molasses.
- Duck Sauce. For added thickness, and a hint of background fruitiness and citrus.
- Jalapeno. A bit of kick to balance out the sweetness.
- Brown Sugar. No BBQ sauce is complete without the classic brown sugar-molasses combo, and today’s is no exception. The brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness to the BBQ sauce. It helps to round out the flavors and adds a nice depth of flavor.
- Black Pepper. I’d suggest fresh ground for the best results.
- Vanilla. A splash of vanilla plays beautifully with the molasses and brown sugar.
Pairing Suggestions
- White Wine. A dry, acidic white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc would pair well with this recipe. The acidity of the wine helps to balance out the sweetness of the BBQ sauce and the smokiness of the chicken. A dry rosé would also work well with this dish. The fruity flavors of the rosé help to cut through the smokiness of the BBQ sauce and bring out the sauce’s sweeter notes.
- Onion Rings. These are one of my favorite recipes. Period. They cook up with a deliciously thick and crispy coating, and pair wonderfully with a variety of foods, from burgers and steaks, to today’s Molasses BBQ Chicken Thighs.
- Coleslaw. An Asian-style coleslaw that’s sweet, spicy, and crunchy would be a delicious pairing for these chicken thighs.
- Grilled Corn. For these chicken thighs, I would suggest sweet grilled corn brushed with a creamy, mayo-based spread then seasoned with chili powder and garlic, and served with a squeeze of citrus and crumbled cotija. One of my favorite warm weather sides.
Molasses BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Thighs
- Cilantro, for garnish
For the Molasses BBQ Sauce:
- 4 tbs. Molasses
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 4 tbs. Duck Sauce
- 1 jalapeno
- 1 tbs. Brown sugar
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the sauce in a food processor and process for a few seconds. If you would like a chunkier sauce process a bit less.
- Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl and add 3 - 4 tbs. of the bbq sauce and toss.
- Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour or up to overnight.
- Preheat Oven 400 degrees F.
- Cook the thighs for 25 minutes; remove from oven and brush with more bbq sauce.
- Return to the oven to finish cooking for another 20 - 25 minutes.
- Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Discard the bbq sauce if it has come in contact with the raw chicken.
- Garnish with cilantro if desired.
Keywords: bbq, molasses sauce, chicken thighs, poultry
And those are our Molasses BBQ Chicken Thighs. If you enjoyed today’s post, be sure to like, share, and subscribe. It helps more than you can know.
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from you. Happy Cooking!
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Marie Cris Angeles says
I super loved chicken bbq. I will definitely try this recipe, I'm sure that my relatives will like it too.
briannemanzb says
Definitely, I'm looking for a delicious and easy-to-make recipe for this spring. The weather is warm enough to make bbq chicken.
★★★★★
beth says
For a quick and easy recipe for weeknights, look no further than this flavorful and tender grilled chicken recipe. It is so delish. Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Rhian westbury says
I actually have some chicken in the freezer and we always do the same style of chicken so maybe I need to try something different. I don't think I've ever had molasses before x
Claudia says
Here, chicken thighs are the most versatile and least inexpensive cut of meat, making it an optimal choice for dinner. And I'm looking for more delish chicken recipes!
★★★★★
Samantha Donnelly says
I love the sound of this, and this is the kind of meals we love in the summer so will be trying this out as we eat a lot of chicken
★★★★★
Melissa Cushing says
These look so delicious and love the crust you have given them with the molasses! I am pinning this one to make this week! Thanks for sharing 😉
★★★★★
Eileen M Loya says
Looks like real comfort food to me! I love BBQ anything. Your molasses BBQ sauce recipe sounds like a winner. I am going to make this dish very soon.
★★★★★
Karen says
This looks delicious omg!!! I can't wait to make it, can't wait! Your recipe is awesome, thank you.
MELANIE E says
I love that you used the thighs. They are moister and have more flavour to start with. Sounds like a lovely dish for my family to enjoy.
★★★★★
Lasonia says
This looks amazing. I am bookmarking this recipe. I want to try this for the upcoming holiday.
Yeah Lifestyle says
My family love chicken that has been marinated. This sauce sounds so tasty, I will be trying this out the next time we have a BBQ
Zab Zaria says
This recipe is looking so delicious! This will be on my list of things to try in the future.
★★★★★
JM says
My family and I are big fans of marinated chicken, and this sauce sounds absolutely delicious! I'm definitely going to give it a try the next time we have a BBQ.
★★★★★
David J Myers says
Catherine, I love the look and the ingredients with these chicken thighs. The garlic and jalapeno will nicely cut the molasses...balancing the entree's flavors. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Stacy Roman says
This chicken looks fabulous. I can not wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Jupiter Hadley says
I love BBQ sauces that are on the sweeter side instead of the smokey side, and this sounds like exactly that! Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Laura Side Street says
Ooh this sounds really yummy and easy to make, this is something my kids would eat (which is great!). It's going on the food list of things to try
Laura x