Crispy Beer-Marinated Grilled Chicken Recipe Easy Garlic Butter Flavor
This recipe features juicy, crispy chicken thighs marinated in beer and finished with a luscious garlic butter glaze. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for casual gatherings or weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 30 minutes to 4 hours marinating)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes to 4 hours 25 minutes (including marinating)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 pounds / 700 grams)
- 1 cup (240 ml) light lager or pilsner beer
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade by whisking together beer, olive oil, lemon juice, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes if using in a medium bowl.
- Add chicken thighs to the marinade, ensuring each piece is fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, ideally 2 to 4 hours.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (around 400°F / 200°C). For charcoal grills, arrange coals for indirect grilling.
- Mix softened butter with minced garlic in a small bowl and set aside.
- Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Place skin-side down on direct heat and grill for 6-7 minutes until skin is golden and crisp.
- Flip chicken and grill for another 5-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- In the last 2 minutes of grilling, brush garlic butter generously over the chicken thighs to melt into the skin and meat.
- Remove chicken from grill and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Pat chicken skin dry before grilling to ensure crispiness. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness (165°F internal temperature). Apply garlic butter near the end of grilling to avoid burning. For gluten-free, substitute beer with gluten-free beer or sparkling water with apple cider vinegar. For dairy-free, use vegan butter or olive oil garlic brush.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Protein: 25
Keywords: beer marinated chicken, grilled chicken, garlic butter chicken, crispy chicken thighs, easy chicken recipe, BBQ chicken, weeknight dinner