Close
Photo: Jason Donnelly
Chicken thighs are the budget-friendly, flavorful cut of meat we can’t stop cooking. Whether you grill them or make them the star of a sheet-pan meal, chicken thighs are versatile and can easily be paired with summer flavors. Recipes like our Key West-Inspired Chicken and Skillet Honey-Lemon Chicken Thighs with Potatoes are healthy main dishes you’ll want to make again and again.We also like cooking with chicken thighs because they are difficult to overcook, resulting in tender and juicy meat. To ensure they are done, use an instant-read thermometer to check the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding the bones for bone-in chicken. The internal temperature should reach 165°F. In addition to getting a temperature reading, there should be clear juices when you slice into it; if the juices are red or pink, it needs more cooking time.
Chicken thighs are the budget-friendly, flavorful cut of meat we can’t stop cooking. Whether you grill them or make them the star of a sheet-pan meal, chicken thighs are versatile and can easily be paired with summer flavors. Recipes like our Key West-Inspired Chicken and Skillet Honey-Lemon Chicken Thighs with Potatoes are healthy main dishes you’ll want to make again and again.
We also like cooking with chicken thighs because they are difficult to overcook, resulting in tender and juicy meat. To ensure they are done, use an instant-read thermometer to check the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding the bones for bone-in chicken. The internal temperature should reach 165°F. In addition to getting a temperature reading, there should be clear juices when you slice into it; if the juices are red or pink, it needs more cooking time.
01of 15Chicken Katsu with Creamy SlawView RecipeThis crispy Japanese chicken recipe comes complete with a creamy warm slaw on the side. Serve with steamed brown rice or buckwheat soba noodles to round out the meal. We like to use chicken cutlets made with dark-meat chicken thighs—they have more than twice the immune-boosting zinc of white-meat chicken breasts.
01of 15
Chicken Katsu with Creamy Slaw
View Recipe
This crispy Japanese chicken recipe comes complete with a creamy warm slaw on the side. Serve with steamed brown rice or buckwheat soba noodles to round out the meal. We like to use chicken cutlets made with dark-meat chicken thighs—they have more than twice the immune-boosting zinc of white-meat chicken breasts.
02of 15Braised Chicken Thighs with Olive, Orange & FennelView RecipeThis technique sears chicken thighs before braising. Serve this vibrant skillet chicken dish with rice or cauliflower rice.
02of 15
Braised Chicken Thighs with Olive, Orange & Fennel
This technique sears chicken thighs before braising. Serve this vibrant skillet chicken dish with rice or cauliflower rice.
03of 15Air-Fryer ‘Fried’ Chicken ThighsView RecipeAir fryers need a lot less oil to create a deep-fried crispy crust. Here, chicken thighs are marinated in buttermilk and dredged in a simple breadcrumb coating. With the help of a little cooking spray, they cook up nice and crispy with a lot less fat. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce or slice them up to top a salad.
03of 15
Air-Fryer ‘Fried’ Chicken Thighs
Air fryers need a lot less oil to create a deep-fried crispy crust. Here, chicken thighs are marinated in buttermilk and dredged in a simple breadcrumb coating. With the help of a little cooking spray, they cook up nice and crispy with a lot less fat. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce or slice them up to top a salad.
04of 15Key West-Inspired ChickenView RecipeJason DonnellyChicken breast is marinated in soy sauce, citrus and honey and then grilled as a nod to the tropical Key West chicken. A garnish of chopped cilantro and orange slices keeps it sweet and refreshing.
04of 15
Key West-Inspired Chicken
Jason Donnelly
Chicken breast is marinated in soy sauce, citrus and honey and then grilled as a nod to the tropical Key West chicken. A garnish of chopped cilantro and orange slices keeps it sweet and refreshing.
05of 15Herb-Grilled Chicken FritesView RecipeWe combine fresh herbs, capers, lemon juice and olive oil along with the juices collected from the chicken as it rests to make a simple sauce that livens up this take on poulet frites, or chicken and fries.
05of 15
Herb-Grilled Chicken Frites
We combine fresh herbs, capers, lemon juice and olive oil along with the juices collected from the chicken as it rests to make a simple sauce that livens up this take on poulet frites, or chicken and fries.
06of 15Pressure-Cooker Chicken & Rice (Arroz con Pollo)View RecipeSatisfy your Mexican-food craving with this healthy recipe. Just dump all your ingredients into an electric multicooker, such as the Instant Pot, in this easy recipe for flavorful arroz con pollo.
06of 15
Pressure-Cooker Chicken & Rice (Arroz con Pollo)
Satisfy your Mexican-food craving with this healthy recipe. Just dump all your ingredients into an electric multicooker, such as the Instant Pot, in this easy recipe for flavorful arroz con pollo.
07of 15Skillet Honey-Lemon Chicken Thighs with PotatoesView RecipeCaitlin BenselMoist chicken thighs, tender potatoes and a bright honey-lemon sauce cook together in this flavorful one-pan dinner. It’s tasty enough for company, yet easy enough for a weeknight.
07of 15
Skillet Honey-Lemon Chicken Thighs with Potatoes
Caitlin Bensel
Moist chicken thighs, tender potatoes and a bright honey-lemon sauce cook together in this flavorful one-pan dinner. It’s tasty enough for company, yet easy enough for a weeknight.
08of 15Lemon-Garlic Dump Chicken Thighs with BroccoliView RecipeBrie PassanoThis fuss-free dinner is as easy as dumping chicken thighs, veggies and sauce in a baking dish! As the chicken cooks it adds flavor to the sauce that thickens while it cooks and softens the vegetables.
08of 15
Lemon-Garlic Dump Chicken Thighs with Broccoli
Brie Passano
This fuss-free dinner is as easy as dumping chicken thighs, veggies and sauce in a baking dish! As the chicken cooks it adds flavor to the sauce that thickens while it cooks and softens the vegetables.
09of 15Skillet Chicken with Orzo & TomatoesView RecipeVictor ProtasioIn this healthy chicken recipe, chicken thighs are infused with lemon, garlic and herbs and paired with orzo that’s perfectly al dente. Charred tomatoes and onions add full flavor to complete this easy, one-skillet dinner.
09of 15
Skillet Chicken with Orzo & Tomatoes
Victor Protasio
In this healthy chicken recipe, chicken thighs are infused with lemon, garlic and herbs and paired with orzo that’s perfectly al dente. Charred tomatoes and onions add full flavor to complete this easy, one-skillet dinner.
10of 15All-American BBQ Chicken ThighsView RecipeIn this healthy chicken thigh recipe, bottled barbecue sauce—often loaded with sodium and high-fructose corn syrup—is replaced with a homemade barbecue sauce recipe. Use the barbecue sauce to baste the chicken thighs while cooking—but if you want to also serve the barbecue sauce at the table, separate some before grilling to avoid cross-contamination.
10of 15
All-American BBQ Chicken Thighs
In this healthy chicken thigh recipe, bottled barbecue sauce—often loaded with sodium and high-fructose corn syrup—is replaced with a homemade barbecue sauce recipe. Use the barbecue sauce to baste the chicken thighs while cooking—but if you want to also serve the barbecue sauce at the table, separate some before grilling to avoid cross-contamination.
11of 15Skillet Lemon Chicken with SpinachView RecipeThis simple, ultra-quick chicken dinner—packed with spinach and peppers—is delicious on its own or served over brown rice or your favorite pasta.
11of 15
Skillet Lemon Chicken with Spinach
This simple, ultra-quick chicken dinner—packed with spinach and peppers—is delicious on its own or served over brown rice or your favorite pasta.
12of 15
Chicken Pad Thai
13of 15Sheet-Pan Chicken & ShrimpView RecipeThis Creole-inspired variation of a shrimp boil can be made in the oven on just one baking sheet. A medley of spices gives this healthy dish of chicken, sausage and veggies a rich, complex flavor. Bonus: This easy sheet-pan dinner requires just 20 minutes of active prep time.
13of 15
Sheet-Pan Chicken & Shrimp
This Creole-inspired variation of a shrimp boil can be made in the oven on just one baking sheet. A medley of spices gives this healthy dish of chicken, sausage and veggies a rich, complex flavor. Bonus: This easy sheet-pan dinner requires just 20 minutes of active prep time.
14of 15Honey-Garlic Chicken Thighs with Carrots & BroccoliView RecipeThis sweet and savory baked honey-garlic chicken thigh recipe comes with a side of veggies that cook on the same sheet pan as the chicken for the perfect weeknight dinner.
14of 15
Honey-Garlic Chicken Thighs with Carrots & Broccoli
This sweet and savory baked honey-garlic chicken thigh recipe comes with a side of veggies that cook on the same sheet pan as the chicken for the perfect weeknight dinner.
15of 15Pineapple-Teriyaki ChickenView RecipeGrilled teriyaki chicken with pineapple can be made with just a few pantry staples. Although it’s delicious when made with canned pineapple, fresh pineapple and its juice can easily be used in its place. Serve with brown rice and snow peas.
15of 15
Pineapple-Teriyaki Chicken
Grilled teriyaki chicken with pineapple can be made with just a few pantry staples. Although it’s delicious when made with canned pineapple, fresh pineapple and its juice can easily be used in its place. Serve with brown rice and snow peas.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
