---
title: BBQ Chicken Thighs
description: Delicious BBQ Chicken Thighs with a homemade, refined sugar-free sauce. Perfectly seared and paired with sweet potato fries or veggies for a wholesome meal.
---

[Blog | California Center for Functional Medicine ](https://www.ccfmed.com/blog)

# [BBQ Chicken Thighs](https://www.ccfmed.com/blog/bbq-chicken-thighs)

 Written by [Sunjya Schweig, MD](https://www.ccfmed.com/blog/author/sunjya-schweig) | May 15, 2025 5:29:55 PM

 

These flavorful BBQ Chicken Thighs are a delicious, healthy twist on a classic comfort food. Made with a homemade, refined sugar-free BBQ sauce, this dish balances smoky, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors with nourishing, wholesome ingredients. The chicken is marinated for maximum flavor and then seared to perfection in a skillet.

Best served warm with a side of crispy sweet potato fries or lightly steamed vegetables for a well-rounded, satisfying meal.

Makes: 6 servings  
Prep Time: 15 minutes, +30 minutes marinating  
Cook Time: BBQ sauce: 1-2 hours (hands-off simmering), Chicken Thighs: 15-20 minutes

### **Homemade BBQ Sauce**

**Ingredients:**

- 2 cups no sugar added tomato puree
- ½ cup raw apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp. coconut aminos
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1 Tbsp. chili powder
- ½ tsp. ground cloves
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- Pinch of salt and pepper

**Instructions:**

1. In a stockpot over low to medium heat, combine all sauce ingredients.
2. Stir well and simmer for 1–2 hours, stirring frequently, until the sauce has thickened.
3. Allow to cool slightly. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.

### **BBQ Chicken Thighs**

**Ingredients:**

- 3 lbs. organic chicken thighs
- 1 cup homemade BBQ sauce
- Extra salt and pepper, to taste
- Coconut oil, for cooking

### **Instructions:**

1. Place the chicken thighs in a mixing bowl and pour 1 cup of the homemade BBQ sauce over them.
2. Coat the thighs thoroughly on both sides. Marinate for 30 minutes.
3. Season with extra salt and pepper if desired.
4. Heat a gridded skillet over medium heat and add coconut oil.
5. Cook the chicken thighs on both sides until browned and cooked through.

 

[View full post](https://www.ccfmed.com/blog/bbq-chicken-thighs)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Sunjya Schweig, MD"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-08-07T14:44:35.274Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-05-15T17:29:55Z",
  "headline" : "BBQ Chicken Thighs",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 780,
    "url" : "https://5714482.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5714482/Blog-BBQ-chicken-thighs.jpg",
    "width" : 1400
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.ccfmed.com/blog/bbq-chicken-thighs",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60.0,
      "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent30.net/hubfs/5714482/ccfm-amp.jpg",
      "width" : 112.50001
    },
    "name" : "Blog"
  }
}
```