How to Cook Chicken Thighs: 17 Chicken Thigh Recipes You Have to Try
If you don't know how to cook chicken thighs—especially the bone-in, skin-on variety—getting started can be a little daunting. Having only ever cooked with boneless, skinless chicken breasts before, I can definitely say I was a little intimidated the first time I made a recipe with chicken thighs. Up until then, when I saw them at the grocery store, I would often find myself thinking, "why would anyone bother with these, when boneless, skinless breasts are so easy?"
Well, there are actually a few reasons to bother. For one, chicken thighs are usually cheaper than breasts. Plus, dark meat (which is actually quite nutritionally similar to white meat) is super flavorful.
As for the bone-in, skin-on stuff, they're actually not all that hard to work with. Because of the bone, they may need a little longer in the oven or on the stove than a boneless breast might, but as long as you're making sure you're cooking them until they're safe to eat (160 degrees F at the deepest point), everything else will fall into place. And, if you'd rather not risk it, boneless thighs cook at the same rate as boneless breasts. Think of those as training wheels for the big stuff.
Still not sure about how to cook chicken thighs? These 12 recipes will bring you over to the dark (meat) side.
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell1Skillet Chicken Thighs with Potato, Apple, and Spinach
This easy dinner is savory and just a little bit sweet thanks to the apple accompaniment. Crisp up the chicken skin on the stovetop first, then pop this in the oven for a one-pan meal ready in about 30 minutes. Get the recipe here.
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell2Corn, Quinoa, and Chicken Salad With Pistachios
Corn and quinoa add a ton of texture (and intrigue!) to this chicken salad. Bonus, the dish is good warm, cold, or at room temperature. Get the recipe here.
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell3Skillet Chicken Thighs With Sweet Potato and Asparagus
The cool thing about this dish is the way it plays with texture: Soft sweet potatoes, al dente asparagus, and tender chicken play off each other beautifully. There's nothing one note about this one-pan meal. Get the recipe here.
4Peachy Quinoa Salad With Grilled Chicken
This summery salad makes your packed lunch taste like an outdoor barbecue. Don't worry, you don't actually need a grill to make it—a grill pan works, too. Get the recipe here.
Andrew Purcell, Carrie Purcell5Skillet Chicken Thighs With Peaches, Arugula, and Quinoa
Here's another great way to rock the yummy chicken-and-peaches combo. Pro tip: One of the best ways to cook chicken thighs is by starting them on the stovetop. When you do that, some of the fat renders and flavors your entire dish. Plus, the skin will be extra crispy. Get the recipe here.
Chungah Rhee via damndelicious.com6Chicken and Potatoes with Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce from Damn Delicious
Chicken and potatoes may be old school, but this dish is nothing but classic. Because that creamy parmesan sauce with the crispy chicken skin is heaven. Get the recipe here.
Karina Carrel via cafedelites.com7Roasted Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs from Cafe Delites
This chicken thigh recipe forgoes crispy skin and instead gets doused with a sticky, sweet honey-soy sauce. And it's amazing. Get the recipe here.
Elizabeth Stark via brooklynsupper.com8Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables Over Herbed Farro from Brooklyn Supper
Maybe the simplest recipe of the bunch, these chicken thighs are cooked in just salt, pepper, and olive oil. With the herbed farro, it's totally addictive. Get the recipe here.
Lindsay Cotter via cottercrunch.com9One-Pan Cranberry Balsamic Roasted Chicken from Cotter Crunch
We are here for that crispy, charred skin. A sweet and savory cranberry-balsamic sauce takes things to the next level. Get the recipe here.
Andrea Bemis via dishingupthedirt.com10Chicken and Miso-Glazed Veggies
A rich miso marinade emphasizes the chicken's natural umami flavor. And we love it. Get the recipe here.
Brittany Mullins via eatingbirdfood.com11One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts from Eating Bird Food
This dish is both a one-pan wonder (as in, it's a whole meal that you can make in just one pan), and it's a great way to put chicken thighs to use. Get the recipe here.
Lori Yates via foxeslovelemons.com12Almond-Crusted Chicken Thighs with Winter Rice Salad from Foxes Love Lemons
We'll never turn down breaded chicken. Especially this recipe, because its crust is both gluten-free and a bit higher in protein than usual thanks to the fact that it uses almond flour instead of regular flour. Get the recipe here.
Tiffany Azure via lecremedelacrumb.com13Catalina Chicken from Creme de la Crumb
That bright orange sauce is made from a mix of honey, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, and ketchup. It's perfectly sweet, tangy, and sour all at once. Get the recipe here.
Lindsay Ostrom via pinchofyum.com14Skillet Chicken With Bacon and White Wine Sauce from Pinch of Yum
You are going to want to bottle this sauce and pour it over everything. But especially crispy chicken thighs. Get the recipe here.
Gina Homolka via skinnytaste.com15Balsamic Chicken with Roasted Vegetables from Skinny Taste
Sometimes, you just need a heaping plate of balsamic roasted veggies and chicken. When that feeling strikes, this dish is here to help. Get the recipe here.
Heidi Larsen via foodiecrush.com16Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore from Foodie Crush
Foodie Crush cooks the chicken in a skillet until it's nicely browned before she adds it to the slow-cooker. Doing this keeps the skin nice and firm. Get the recipe here.
Michelle Tam via nomnompaleo.com17Cantonese Crispy Chicken Thighs from Nom Nom Paleo
That crispy skin though. Nom Nom Paleo keeps this dish Whole30-friendly by cooking the chicken in ghee instead of butter. Get the recipe here.