14 Best Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipes - Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas! (2024)

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Boneless chicken thighs are one of my favorite proteins to cook. I’m sharing 14 Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipes for dinner that you can make in any season.

14 Best Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipes - Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas! (1)

14 Best Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipes - Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas! (2)

The Best Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipes

When it comes to cooking weeknight dinner, chicken is one of my all-time favorite ingredients. It’s always on regular rotation in our house. I’ll never run out of new ways to use chicken in everything from sheet pan dinners to stir-fries, and roasts to braised chicken dishes.

Like the age-old dark meat vs. light meat debate, you have chicken breast people, and then you have chicken thigh people. I’m firmly in the thigh camp because they’re so juicy, taste great and are hard to mess up! Boneless chicken thighs are extra convenient since this they come with the bone and skin already removed. Boneless skinless thighs cook more quickly than bone-in chicken thighs, and they’re super versatile.

Today, I’m sharing my best chicken recipes featuring boneless chicken thighs that you can make any night of the week.

What Is the Best Way to Cook Boneless Chicken Thighs?

Boneless skinless chicken thighs are an easy ingredient to use in tasty, healthy dinners, and there are so many ways to cook them. Here are some of the cooking methods (which you’ll also find in the recipes below):

  • Baking and Roasting: Oven-baked chicken thighs are a hands-off way to achieve succulent chicken with golden, crispy skins.
  • Pan-Frying: Cooking chicken thighs in a skillet or cast iron skillet is a quick, easy method. It’s useful for stir-fries and perfect for searing and braising.
  • Grilling:Grilled chicken is great in the summertime, or any time of the year. Add some chicken marinade and you’ll have juicy chicken with a delicious smoky, charred flavor.
  • Instant Pot: Cooking chicken thighs in the Instant Pot or pressure cooker is a great way to lock in moisture and flavor while cutting down on cooking time.
  • Air Fry: The air fryer is a quick way to whip up chicken thighs, place them in an air fryer basket in a single layer 400F and cook them about 14 minutes, turning halfway until cooked through in the center.

What to Serve With Chicken Thighs

No matter which way you cook them, chicken thighs are extremely versatile and pair great with loads of sides. Below are some healthy side dishes that go well with chicken:

  • Vegetables: Pair your chicken thigh recipes with veggie sides like Garlic Butter Mushrooms, Herb Roasted Carrots, or Sautéed Zucchini.
  • Salad: Chicken thighs pair with just about any salad. Try a side of superfood-packed Quinoa Salad with Kale, or make a BBQ Chicken Salad.
  • Rice: Serve chicken over white rice, Cauliflower Rice, or, use chicken thighs to make Greek Chicken Meal Prep Rice Bowls.
  • Potatoes: Serve chicken thighs paired with a Baked Potato, Smashed Potatoes, or Sweet Potato Fries.
  • Pasta: Enjoy chicken thighs as an add-in to your favorite pasta recipes, like Spaghetti Carbonara. For a low-carb option, try Zoodles (zucchini noodles).

14 Healthy Chicken Thigh Recipes

These are some of my favorite boneless chicken thigh recipes that I just know you’ll want to make ASAP.

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15. Air Fryer Asian-Glazed Boneless Chicken Thighs

This recipe for succulent air fryer chicken thighs is smothered in a mouthwatering sweet and sticky Asian-style glaze with honey, garlic, and ginger. Serve with broccoli to make it a meal.

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16. Food Cart-Style Chicken Salad with White Sauce

If you're as obsessed with your local Halal food cart as I am, you'll love this fresh and easy chicken salad dressed in a homemade version of the famous Halal white sauce. It's an easy meal prep idea topped with flavorful seasoned boneless chicken thighs and a drizzle of harissa.

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17. Peruvian Grilled Chicken Skewers

You won’t believe how much flavor this Peruvian chicken recipe packs onto one skewer! These zesty chicken skewers are loaded with spices and grilled to perfection, served with creamy avocado Aji verde (a fresh spin on spicy Peruvian green sauce!).

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18. Chicken Shawarma Kebab Salad

Make your own juicy grilled chicken shawarma kebabs to serve over a bed of fresh greens, ripe tomatoes, cucumber, and feta. Pair this Greek-inspired salad with a side of tzatziki for a light and healthy lunch or dinner.

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19. Yogurt Marinated Boneless Chicken Thighs

Easy Yogurt-Marinated Chicken made with grilled boneless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts) made in a Greek yogurt marinade for the most tender chicken.

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20. Chicken Thighs with Shallots in Red Wine Vinegar (Poulet Au Vinaigre)

Try out this lightened-up French favorite, poulet au vinaigre. This easy skillet dinner combines juicy chicken thighs and shallots in a delicious white wine sauce zested up with red wine vinegar.

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21. Chicken and Zucchini Yakitori

Warmer weather calls for these flavor-packed grilled chicken skewers with fresh zucchini and green onions. This is an easy grilling idea made from boneless chicken thighs marinated in homemade Japanese-style yakitori sauce with sake, honey, and garlic. Seriously delicious!

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22. Chicken Tzatziki Bowl

Turn boneless chicken thighs into this easy Mediterranean-style chicken tzatziki recipe. These bowls are an easy meal prep idea with tender chicken thigh meat marinated in yogurt, grilled, and served over quinoa, tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives with a sprinkle of lemon and feta cheese.

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23. Sheet Pan Italian Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs and Veggies

It’s hard to beat a sheet pan dinner. This Italian-style recipe for chicken thighs baked on one pan with tender Mediterranean veggies is always a hit, and clean-up is a breeze.

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24. Embarrassingly Easy Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Thighs

Despite the name, there’s ZERO shame in this easy crock pot salsa chicken thighs recipe. It’s seriously the simplest slow cooker dinner ever, made with boneless skinless chicken thighs and your favorite salsa. That’s it!

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25. Balsamic Chicken with Roasted Vegetables

My balsamic chicken and vegetables is a one-pan dinner seasoned with savory herbs, including rosemary and sage. It’s a light and healthy meal idea that’s full of flavor!

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26. Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken cacciatore is a family-favorite Italian recipe made with sautéed chicken thighs simmered in a rich tomato sauce with bell peppers and mushrooms. Comfort food at its best!

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27. Arroz Con Pollo (Latin Rice and Chicken)

I grew up on my mom’s recipe for arroz con polo, a.k.a. Colombian rice and chicken, and now I make my own lighter version every chance I get! This Latin classic is a one-pot meal made with spicy chicken thighs cooked together with seasoned rice and veggies.

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28. Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts and Feta Cheese

I love this recipe for skinless boneless chicken thighs marinated with artichoke hearts, broiled until golden, and then topped with tangy feta. It’s the perfect weeknight chicken dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes.

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How to Tell When Chicken Is Done

Boneless chicken thighs cook quicker than bone-in thighs. The easiest way to tell if your chicken is done cooking is to take the temperature at the thickest part of the thigh using an instant-read thermometer. If the temperature inside registers 165ºF with a meat thermometer and the juices run clear when you cut into the chicken, your thighs are done!

Are Chicken Thighs Healthy?

Yes! Chicken meat is a great natural source of lean protein that’s low in fat and carb-free. Protein helps to build and maintain muscle, and other nutrients found in chicken, like selenium, support healthy immune function. Chicken thighs are dark meat, and they’re especially high in vitamins B12 and B6, iron, and zinc.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

I’m a thigh girl through and through, but every cut of chicken has its place! Visit the recipe finder for even more healthy chicken recipes featuring chicken thighs, chicken breasts, drumsticks, and more.

14 Best Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipes - Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas! (2024)

FAQs

How does Gordon Ramsay cook boneless chicken thighs? ›

  1. Mix chicken thighs with soy sauce, rice vinegar and Shaoxing wine.
  2. Grate and add orange zest. Marinate.
  3. Heat oil. Saute ginger and garlic.
  4. Now, add spring onion, chili flakes and peppercorns.
  5. Then, add the chicken.
  6. Mix soy sauce. Cook for 30 min.
  7. Season with black pepper and salt.
  8. Garnish and serve.

What to eat with chicken thighs for dinner? ›

The best side dishes to serve with chicken thighs are green beans, French fries, Spanish rice, carrots and potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, onion rings, cannellini beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, couscous salad, buttermilk biscuits, creamed spinach, quinoa, roasted beet salad, cornbread, and grilled zucchini.

What takes longer to cook bone-in or boneless chicken thighs? ›

Keep in mind that bone-in chicken thighs will take longer to cook than boneless chicken thighs.

How do you keep boneless chicken thighs from drying out? ›

Drizzle a shot of olive oil over the chicken before warming to help keep it moist. If reheating in the microwave, cover the chicken with a wet paper towel and make sure not to overheat, as the chicken will dry out. Make sure to check out my recipes featuring chicken thighs: Roast chicken salad with low carb cloud bread.

Should you sear boneless, skinless chicken thighs before baking? ›

Searing is great for chicken tenders, boneless chicken breasts, and thighs (boneless, skinless, or otherwise). With skin-on cuts, you'll want to sear the chicken skin-side down until the skin is golden brown.

What's the difference between chicken thighs and chicken thigh fillets? ›

Thighs. Chicken thighs can be bought as thigh fillets with skin and bone removed, or thigh cutlets, with bone and skin still attached. Chicken thigh meat is brown and has a little more fat then the breast, but also slightly more flavour. Thigh fillets are great sliced or chopped in stir-fries, or in casseroles.

How many chicken thighs per person for dinner? ›

As a rule of thumb, for a main course, plan on about 1/2 pound of boneless chicken thighs per person, or 3/4 to one pound of bone-in chicken thighs per person.

Why do chefs prefer chicken thighs? ›

While the breast is very low in fat, chicken thighs are higher in fat, and in cooking, fat equals flavor. It also means the thighs are more tender and less likely to dry out than chicken breasts—in other words, they are very easy to cook and very difficult to ruin.

Can you still lose weight eating chicken thighs? ›

🐥 If you're main goal is just to lose weight but you hate eating chicken breast, then just eat chicken breast... So long as you're trimming the fat off of chicken thigh, chicken thigh only has 6 more calories with a tiny bit more fats and slightly lower protein per 100g!

Is it better to bake chicken thighs at 350 or 400? ›

Chicken thighs can be baked anywhere between 350 and 425 degrees, but at 400 or 425 degrees, they have enough time to get super tender while still having the heat they need to crisp up the skin. Should you cover chicken thighs in the oven? For baking, it is not necessary to cover chicken thighs.

Are boneless skinless chicken thighs better than breasts? ›

Chicken breast is significantly leaner than chicken thighs. According to the Australian Chicken Meat Federation, 100g of skinless chicken breast contains 22.3g of protein and 1.6g of fat. Compare this to 100g of skinless chicken thigh, which contains 17.5g of protein and 8.4g of fat.

How do you know when boneless skinless chicken thighs are done? ›

In our basic meal prep boneless chicken thighs recipe, they take about 25 to 30 minutes baked at 425 degrees F. You'll know the chicken thighs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

How do you tenderize boneless chicken thighs? ›

Instructions
  1. Place chicken in a bowl and sprinkle baking soda all over the surface.
  2. Toss with fingers to coat as evenly as possible.
  3. Refrigerate 20 minutes for slices, 30 minutes for bite size pieces.
  4. Rinse well in colander to remove baking soda.
  5. Shake off then pat away excess water (doesn't need to be 100% dry).
Feb 23, 2019

Should I wash boneless chicken thighs before cooking? ›

Put simply, if you wash raw chicken, you are cross-contaminating your kitchen. Yes, fresh fruit and vegetables should be washed with cold water before preparation, but raw poultry should not. Don't worry: Properly cooking chicken will destroy any pathogens. In fact, it is the only way to destroy those pathogens.

Do chicken thighs get more tender the longer you cook them? ›

Unlike chicken breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks actually become more tender the longer they cook. That's because of their makeup. Dark meat has an abundant amount of connective tissue, which dissolves into gelatin as the meat cooks, rendering it juicy and tender.

How do you know when boneless chicken thighs are done? ›

In our basic meal prep boneless chicken thighs recipe, they take about 25 to 30 minutes baked at 425 degrees F. You'll know the chicken thighs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Can you overcook boneless skinless chicken thighs? ›

Once you send the chicken thighs off to the oven to bake, that's it! There's no need to flip the thighs or rotate the baking pan while they roast. Fool proof. While chicken breasts can become overcooked quickly and easily, it's very difficult to overcook chicken thighs.

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