What could be better than a delicious, juicy piece of chicken? For this recipe, we are using mesquite smoked chicken thighs. Mesquite is an evergreen tree that can be found in the deserts of North America. It is known for its woody logs and smokey aroma. In fact, mesquite has been used as a cooking fuel for over 10,000 years! The leaves have also been ground down to make cattle feed and fertilizer. Mistake contains vitamins A and D which are both good sources of antioxidants that help prevent free radical damage to our cells and DNA causing aging issues like wrinkles or cancer tumors. It also has an alkaloid called phenolic, which is known to have some anti-inflammatory properties. Mesquite is also a rich source of magnesium, iron, calcium, and potassium.
Ingredients
8 pieces Chicken Thighs
1 tbsp Paprika
1 tbsp Salt
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
1/4 cup Light Brown Sugar
Directions
1. Take the chicken thighs out of their package and pat them dry with a paper towel -- make sure to get as much moisture out as possible!
2. Take a pinch of salt and rub it all over both sides of each thigh. Then take the spices (salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika) and sprinkle them all over both sides of each thigh.
3. Next, take the mesquite wood chips and cover them with water. Let them sit for at least 2 hours, on the countertop or in the refrigerator so they can absorb as much moisture as possible before putting them onto your chicken pieces.
4. In a bowl, combine all of the marinade ingredients and stir until they are well combined. Pour over both sides of your chicken thighs.
5. Next, let your chicken pieces soak in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before grilling to make sure that the marinade has had time to seep into their skin and season them properly for maximum flavor!
6. After 20 minutes, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let them sit for about 10 more minutes.
7. Prepare your smoking device. There are a number of options, but I prefer to use a wood smoker box with a water pan below and a temperature controller above. For this recipe, we will be using an aluminum foil pan with mesquite chips on top.
8. Put your temperature controller into the desired heat setting (usually around 225 -250F) and open up your box or grill and place the chicken pieces onto the foil-lined grill surface so they are standing on ends! Cover them with aluminum foil to keep in all of that smokey goodness!
