35+ Must-Try Chicken Thigh Recipes (2024)

Table of Contents
Table of Contents Baked Chicken Thigh Recipes Mediterranean Chicken Baked Szechuan Chicken and Brussels Sprouts Baked Lemon Chicken Thighs Baked Zaatar Chicken Thighs Cuban Mojo Chicken Baked Salsa Macha chicken thighs Coq Au Vin Baked Tandoori Chicken and Veggies Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Tunisian Chicken Tagine w/ Couscous & Green Harissa Sauce Fesenjan {Persian Walnut Pomegranate Stew} Peruvian Chicken (Pollo a la Brasa) with Aji Verde Moroccan Chicken Lentil Soup with Saffron and Preserved Lemon Japanese Farm-Style Teriyaki Chicken Feel Better Chicken Soup Bone In Chicken Thighs Berbere Chicken with Ethiopian Lentils Chicken Cacciatore Sumac Chicken with Lemon Lebanese Chicken with 7-Spice Harissa Chicken Thai Chicken Thighs Rosemary Chicken with Grapes Five-Spice Chicken with Roasted Plum Sauce Succulant Braised Chicken Thighs Chicken Biryani with Coconut Cilantro Chutney Chicken Provençal Butter Chicken (Chicken Makhani) Braised Chicken with Fresh Figs One Skillet Creamy Orzo Chicken Braised Chicken Thighs with Artichokes Chicken Mole Get These Chicken Thighs in your Instant Pot! Chicken Carnitas (Instant Pot, Stove Top, Oven) Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Instant Pot Chicken Pozole Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Grilled Chicken thighs! Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Easy Grilled Chicken Shawarma Recipe Moroccan Chicken Thighs Indonesian Grilled Sambal Chicken Italian Grilled Chicken Smoked Chicken Thighs More collections you may like 40+ Mouthwatering Chicken Breast Recipes 25+ Amazing Salmon Recipes! 25 Best Sheet-Pan Dinners! 35+ Best Instant Pot Recipes! Our Latest Recipes 30+ Easy Cabbage Recipes for Any Season Acai Bowl Irish Lamb Stew FAQs

Here is a collection of tasty Chicken Thigh Recipes full of exotic flavors from all over the globe. We love chicken thighs for their deep flavor and succulent texture. Their dark meat stays tender, juicy, and delicious, no matter the cooking technique. In addition to being affordable, chicken thighs are full of healthy nutrients and take well to marinades, sauces and diverse flavors! Whether you enjoy boneless skinless chicken thigh recipes, or bone in chicken thighs, you’ll find both here. We will also show you how to cook them in a variety of ways, from baked chicken thighs to grilled, braised, and instant pot recipes, there is something the whole family will enjoy!

Table of Contents

  • Baked Chicken Thigh Recipes
  • Mediterranean Chicken
  • Baked Szechuan Chicken and Brussels Sprouts
  • Baked Lemon Chicken Thighs
  • Baked Zaatar Chicken Thighs
  • Cuban Mojo Chicken
  • Baked Salsa Macha chicken thighs
  • Coq Au Vin
  • Baked Tandoori Chicken and Veggies
  • Bone In Chicken Thighs
  • Berbere Chicken with Ethiopian Lentils
  • Chicken Cacciatore
  • Sumac Chicken with Lemon
  • Lebanese Chicken with 7-Spice
  • Harissa Chicken
  • Thai Chicken Thighs
  • Rosemary Chicken with Grapes
  • Five-Spice Chicken with Roasted Plum Sauce
  • Succulant Braised Chicken Thighs
  • Chicken Biryani with Coconut Cilantro Chutney
  • Chicken Provençal
  • Butter Chicken (Chicken Makhani)
  • Braised Chicken with Fresh Figs
  • One Skillet Creamy Orzo Chicken
  • Braised Chicken Thighs with Artichokes
  • Chicken Mole
  • Get These Chicken Thighs in your Instant Pot!
  • Chicken Carnitas (Instant Pot, Stove Top, Oven)
  • Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Instant Pot Chicken Pozole
  • Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
  • Grilled Lemongrass Chicken
  • Easy Grilled Chicken Shawarma Recipe
  • Moroccan Chicken Thighs
  • Indonesian Grilled Sambal Chicken
  • Italian Grilled Chicken
  • Smoked Chicken Thighs
  • More collections you may like

Baked Chicken Thigh Recipes

Full of savory flavor, these recipes for Baked Chicken Thighs are quick and easy to put together before the oven takes over. A delicious dinner in no time flat!

Mediterranean Chicken

Mediterranean Chicken with chickpeas, veggies, olives and herbs baked until tender and succulent. A delicious sheet pan dinner that is easy to make and quick to clean up!

Mediterranean Chicken

Baked Szechuan Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

Sheet-Pan Szechuan Chicken (or Tofu) with Brussel Sprouts takes only 15-20 minutes of hands on time before baking in the oven. A full-flavored weeknight dinner your whole family will love!

Szechuan chicken!

Baked Lemon Chicken Thighs

A simple delicious recipe for RoastedChicken and Crispy Potatoes with lemon, garlic and thyme.

Baked Lemon Chicken !

Baked Zaatar Chicken Thighs

Zaatar Chicken (or Tofu) with Green

Tahini Sauce

and Broccolini – asimple flavorful Middle Eastern sheet-pan dinner that is vegan adaptable and gluten free.

Baked Zaatar Chicken Thighs!

Cuban Mojo Chicken

A delicious recipe forCuban-inspired Mojo Chicken. Thighs and legs roasted in the oven with a citrusy mojo marinade alongside yams and peppers. An easy sheet pandinner!

Mojo Chicken!

Baked Salsa Macha chicken thighs

How to create a flavorful Mexican-style Salsa Macha Bowl with chicken thighs, roasted sweet potato, bell peppers, and optional black beans and rice.

Baked Salsa Macha Chicken !

Coq Au Vin

Easy & delicious, Coq Au Vin is a French chicken stew braised in a rich red wine sauce with cremini mushrooms, onions, carrots, and herbs.

Coq Au Vin

Baked Tandoori Chicken and Veggies

Baked Tandoori Chicken and veggies in a flavoful Indian-spiced yogurt marinade.Serve over basmati rice,with Cucumber Raita and Indian Naan Bread.

Baked Tandoori Chicken

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

These Boneless Chicken Thigh recipes are the ultimate comfort food! Wholesome and nourishing for body and soul.

Tunisian Chicken Tagine w/ Couscous & Green Harissa Sauce

A delicious Tunisian-inspiredTagine (with your choice of Chicken or chickpeas) Carrots, Couscous and flavorful Green Harissa Sauce. A one-pan meal that can be made in 45 minutes! Vegan and Gluten-free adaptable!

Tunisian Chicken Tagine!

Fesenjan {Persian Walnut Pomegranate Stew}

A delicious recipe for Fesenjan, aPersian Walnut Pomegranate Stew with chicken and chickpeas. Earthy, rich and tangy, this is bursting with Middle Eastern Flavor!

Fesenjan!

Peruvian Chicken (Pollo a la Brasa) with Aji Verde

A simple recipe for Peruvian Chicken with spicy Peruvian Green Sauce is bursting with flavor and can be made with either chicken or portobellos (a tasty vegetarian option) or both for mixed households. Served with Spicy Cilantro Sauce, Avocado Cucumber & Tomato Salad and optional rice, these can be made into individual Bowls, or served separately.

Pollo a la Brassa!

Moroccan Chicken Lentil Soup with Saffron and Preserved Lemon

A richly spiced Moroccan-inspired soup, full of flavor, nutrients and soul-warming color. Saffron, dried apricotsand preserved lemon give this brothy Chicken Lentil Soup its depth. Easy to throw together, perfect for weeknight dinners.

Moroccan Chicken Lentil Soup

Japanese Farm-Style Teriyaki Chicken

A simple, authentic grilled Japanese farm style teriyaki Bowl that can be made with chicken or Portobellos. Serve with rice, cucumber salad, and avocado for a delicious Teriyaki bowl. Feel free to sub portobellos mushrooms for the chicken and make this totally vegan. ( See notes)

Teriyaki Chicken!

Feel Better Chicken Soup

Feel Better Chicken Soup with lemon and ginger. A delicious and EASY low-carb, keto soup that you can make in an Instant Pot, Stove top or in a slow cooker. Simple and healthy! Add rice, quinoa, noodles or beans!

Feel Better Chicken Soup

Bone In Chicken Thighs

These bone-in Chicken thigh recipes are succulent and delicious. Cooking chicken thighs with their bone in, doubles the flavor and makes them even more tender.

Berbere Chicken with Ethiopian Lentils

Berbere Chicken and Lentils – a flavorful delicious Ethiopian recipe that features Berbere Spice. See notes for a vegan tofu option!

Berebere Chicken!

Chicken Cacciatore

This recipe for Chicken Cacciatore is very simple to make with huge flavor rewards! Chicken is cooked until tender in a rich tomato sauce with red wine, mushrooms, olives, capers and rosemary. So savory and wholesome. The best part? This Chicken Cacciatore recipe comes together in about an hour, with only 30-minutes of hands-on time- a delicious, Italian Comfort food meal, that is easy enough for weeknights.

Chicken Cacciatore!

Sumac Chicken with Lemon

Roasted Sumac Chicken with Meyer Lemons- a flavorful chicken recipe with roots in Middle Eastern Cuisine, deliciously tangy and earthy.

Sumac Chicken!

Lebanese Chicken with 7-Spice

Lebanese Chicken with 7-spice, caramelized onions, almonds, and roasted lemon. A simple flavorful Lebanese-inspired dinner, with only 15 minutes of hands-on time. See notes for grilling!

Go to Recipe!

Harissa Chicken

This Harissa Chicken is baked with Sweet Potatoes takes about 10-15 minutes of hands on time before going into the oven to bake. Mildly spicy and smoky, the quick harissa marinade is easy and simple- just stir it up in a bowl. Sub tofu or white fish instead of chicken for vegans!

Harissa Chicken!

Thai Chicken Thighs

Easy Pan-Seared Thai Chicken-with flavorful red curry paste.Flavorful, fast and delicious! Paleo and Low Carb!

Thai Chicken Thighs!

Rosemary Chicken with Grapes

A delicious recipe for Pan-Roasted Chicken with Grapes. Chicken thighs are pan-seared in a skillet, then baked in the oven with grapes and shallots. A fast and simple weeknight dinner.

Rosemary chicken !

Five-Spice Chicken with Roasted Plum Sauce

Flavorful Pan-seared, Five-Spice Chicken with Roasted Plum Sauce- infused with ginger and garlic. A delicious Chinese-inspired dinner highlighting juicy red plums.

Five-Spice Chicken!

Succulant Braised Chicken Thighs

Braised Chicken Thighs cook up so tender and delicious. Deeply immersed in flavor these recipes deliver fall-off-the-bone deliciousness!

Chicken Biryani with Coconut Cilantro Chutney

An authentic and delicious recipe for Indian Chicken Biryani and a flavorful Cilantro Yogurt Sauce. Perfect for a Sunday dinner.

Chicken Biryani!

Chicken Provençal

Chicken Provençal is all about ease and elegance! Melty tender chicken seasoned with aromatic Herbs de Provence braised in white wine with olives, garlic and shallots. So simple and so delicious. Easy enough for a weeknight and elegant enough for company.

Chicken Provençal

Butter Chicken (Chicken Makhani)

Indian Butter Chicken served over your choice of roasted cauliflower or brown basmati rice- a flavorful Indian Curry dish that is vegan-adaptable!

Butter Chicken!

Braised Chicken with Fresh Figs

This simple rustic Braised Chicken with Fresh Figs, Shallots and Thyme requires only 25 mins of hands on time before baking in the oven. Perfect for entertaining.

Braised Chicken with Figs

One Skillet Creamy Orzo Chicken

One Skillet Creamy Orzo Chicken with Artichoke Hearts- a deliciously cozy dinner, made with simple pantry ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights.

Orzo Chicken

Braised Chicken Thighs with Artichokes

Crispy Braised Chicken Thighs with Artichoke hearts, leeks, potatoes and tarragon- a delicious, French-inspired one-pan recipe perfect for spring!

Braised Chicken with Artichokes

Chicken Mole

A flavorful recipe for Chicken Mole is made with Black Mole Sauce (Mole Negro)- smoky, spicy and nutty with dried chilies, and a hint of chocolate. A flavorful Oaxacan-inspired meal.

Chicken Mole

Get These Chicken Thighs in your Instant Pot!

Chicken Thighs in your instant pot are a perfect one-pot easy weeknight dinner, quickly delivering the most tender chicken.

Chicken Carnitas (Instant Pot, Stove Top, Oven)

Healthy Chicken Carnitas- cook these in an Instant Pot, on the stove top, or bake in a Dutch Ovenwith only 15 minutes of hands on time! Great for meal prepping -make ahead on Sunday then turn these into tacos, quesadillas, breakfast skillets, burrito bowls or nachos during the workweek!

Chicken Carnitas!

Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo

Instant Pot Arroz con Pollo – made in a fraction of the time! This Spanish version is infused with saffron and smoked paprika and full of amazing flavor! See notes for stovetop version. Please read recipe notes about the “Burn Error” before starting. Updated recipe 3/11/20

Arroz con Pollo !

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup – a fast and flavorful recipe that can be made using dry or canned beans, and using fresh or frozen thighs, or breast meat. Very adaptable! Very easy. Read the Notes!!!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Instant Pot Chicken Pozole

A simple easy recipe for Chicken Pozole that can be made in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop. A healthy, delicious, Mexican-inspired weeknight dinner that can be made in 30 minutes! Gluten-free!

Chicken Pozole

Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken

Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken can be made in under 30 minutes! Cube it for rice bowls, or shred it for Asian tacos. An easy, healthy and versatile recipe! Stove top version in recipe card.

Teriyaki Chicken

Grilled Chicken thighs!

Our favorite grilled recipes for Chicken Thighs offer richly spiced and deep-roasted flavor that will keep you coming back for more.

Grilled Lemongrass Chicken

An authentic recipe for Grilled Lemongrass Chicken- bursting with Vietnamese flavor! Simple, Easy and delicious!

Lemongrass Chicken

Easy Grilled Chicken Shawarma Recipe

A simple delicious recipe for chicken shawarma that can be grilled or baked – full of Middle Eastern flavor. Serve with homemade pita bread and tzatziki or over Israeli Salad.

Chicken Shawarma

Moroccan Chicken Thighs

Moroccan Chicken with Ras El Hanout, garlic and lemon – a simple healthy recipe, using skinless chicken thighs, bursting with North African flavor! Delicious, fast and easy! Grill it or pan-sear it!

Moroccan Chicken!

Indonesian Grilled Sambal Chicken

A flavorful Grilled Indonesian Style, Sambal Chicken that is easy and delicious! Serve with Asian Slaw or Thai Crunch Salad!

Sambal Chicken

Italian Grilled Chicken

Grilled Chicken with Italian Salsa Verde (an Italian herby caper sauce) – a simple easy weeknight meal perfect for supper on the patio!

Italian Grilled Chicken Thighs!

Smoked Chicken Thighs

A very simple recipe for Smoked Chicken Thighs- great in pasta, salads, pizza, tacos or enchiladas. Can be made ahead and frozen.

Smoked Chicken Thighs

Chicken Thigh faqs

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

Yes! Chicken thighs are a darker meat with more connective tissue that turns into gelatin as the thighs cook resulting in juicy and tender meat.

What cooking method is best for chicken thighs?

For boneless chicken thighs, direct heat works best. For bone-in chicken thighs, light searing and then the indirect heat of baking, results in tender juicy meat. Grilling, roasting and slow cooking are great choices to bring out the rich flavor of thigh meat.

How do you know when chicken thighs are done cooking?

They are fully cooked at 165 degrees but they will be more tender if cooked until 175-195 degrees.

Are chicken thighs good for you?

Thighs are filled with essential nutrients, higher than white meat (such as breasts).

What are the best chicken thighs to buy?

Always try to purchase the best quality chicken you can afford. I opt for pasture-raised, organic chicken thighs.

How long do chicken thighs keep in the fridge?

Try to cook chicken thighs within 2-3 days of buying. Always check the “best buy” date on the package before purchasing, and if your plans change, you can always freeze them for later. Once cooked, chicken thighs will keep up to 4 days in the fridge.

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35+ Must-Try Chicken Thigh Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How many chicken thighs for 35 people? ›

The size can vary dramatically, so for menu planning purposes, plan about 1/2 lb of chicken per person. Depending on the size and menu, a serving would typically be one or two chicken thighs per person.

Is it better to fry or bake chicken thighs? ›

If you're looking for a quick, relatively easy path to crispy-skinned thighs with juicy meat, call in the skillet-only method. If you're a stickler for even cooking, the sear and high-heat roast method is the way to go. For beautifully flavored meat and a light, crisp skin, try the dry brine and slow roast.

What pairs well with chicken thighs? ›

Rice or Quinoa: Fluffy white rice or nutty quinoa make great side dishes to complement the chicken thighs. Roasted Potatoes: Seasoned and roasted potatoes, whether crispy wedges or creamy mashed, are always a crowd-pleaser. Corn on the Cob: Grilled or boiled corn on the cob with butter and herbs is a classic choice.

Is chicken thigh still healthy? ›

The Bottom Line. If you are on team dark meat and prefer the taste of juicy chicken thighs to that of leaner chicken breast, feel free to enjoy it. Between their protein and the boatload of nutrients that they provide, including chicken thighs in an overall healthy diet is A-OK.

How many people does 1 pound of chicken thighs feed? ›

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.

How much fried chicken for 35 people? ›

Some people will be fine with one chicken breast, while others might prefer three legs. In her experience, it almost always averages out to two pieces per person. If that sounds like it won't be enough, remember that you'll probably have plenty of fried chicken sides to satisfy your guests' appetites.

What cooking method is best for chicken thighs? ›

However, boneless, skinless dark meat is still much more flavor dense than chicken breasts. The cooking methods that are ideal for boneless skinless thighs are grilling, roasting, and slow cooking.

Why do chefs prefer chicken thighs? ›

We do tend to prefer chicken thighs here at NYT Cooking HQ, and we've been pushing our agenda in recipe after recipe. Boneless thighs are fattier, which makes them far juicier, more tender and more flavorful than breasts, and more difficult to overcook.

Is chicken thigh or breast nicer? ›

Way More Flavorful

Chicken thighs are a fattier cut of meat, which means they're going to have more intense, rich flavor than their white meat counterparts. No matter the cooking preparation, chicken thighs will always yield a richer, more flavorful product.

What is a good binder for chicken thighs? ›

Binder for Chicken: The 4 Best Options

Often folks will call it a "smear" or "slather." One of the most common binders in barbecue is mustard. However, not many people use this for chicken (myself included). Rather, I will almost always use water, cooking oil, hot sauce, or pickle juice.

Is 2 chicken thighs enough? ›

Chicken Thighs

One chicken thigh will yield about 3 ounces of meat (without skin or bone), so for big meat eaters, count on two thighs per person. For kids and lighter eaters, one chicken thigh per person should be enough.

When should you not eat chicken thighs? ›

Spoiled chicken may be slimy or sticky to the touch or have an off odor. If you notice any of these things, discard the meat (3).

Can I lose weight eating chicken thighs? ›

Parts like chicken wings, thighs, and drumsticks are very high in calories and fat, thus, making them a not-so-good option for weight loss. Apart from this, make sure that the chicken that you are eating is not deep fried or loaded with sauces, as this increases the calorie count.

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 much chicken is enough for 30 people? ›

A rule of thumb is to consider 200–300 gms of chicken per person. Of course, the general composition of the crowd can affect the proportion. Hungry growing adolescents can easily make a short work of their 300 grams as appetisers.

How many servings is 4 chicken thighs? ›

The average package of four chicken thighs will weigh approximately 1 1/2 pounds. One chicken thigh will yield about 3 ounces of meat (without skin or bone), so for big meat eaters, count on two thighs per person. For kids and lighter eaters, one chicken thigh per person should be enough.

How much pulled chicken do I need for 30 people? ›

Smoked whole chickens that are pulled, includes white and dark meat. Our Full tray of Pulled Chicken on average will feed 20-30 people. We estimate a third of a pound per person to go, so if you have big eaters grab some more food to go!

How much chicken breast for 40 people? ›

I go for um, about 4 ounces of cooked chicken breast per. Per. Per person, per adult serving. And to get that, about one and a/2 pounds of raw chicken. will give you about four pounds of cooked chicken, which would be the family four, if you're trying to be a family four.

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