Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 20 Delicious Chicken Thigh Recipes That Are Anything But Dry Time to grab some chicken thighs. By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on September 04, 2024 Close Photo: Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Hall Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Chicken is one of the most popular proteins to cook with, and while some cuts of chicken can be tricky to handle and may come out disappointingly dry, that’s not the case with chicken thighs. In fact, chicken thighs are beloved for their tenderness, ease of cooking, and relative affordability, which is probably why chicken thigh recipes are so popular. In this roundup of chicken thigh dishes, we share some of our favorites—from Apricot-Fresno Glazed Chicken to Salsa Verde Chicken Soup—that we bet you’ll love too. These recipes are versatile, packed with flavor, and many of them come together in under an hour. So, if you’re tired of (potentially) bland chicken breast dishes and don’t feel like cooking a whole bird, grab a package of chicken thighs on your next grocery run and take a peek at this collection of chicken thigh recipes you’ll want to make over and over again. 5 Crucial Things to Inspect When Buying Raw Chicken, According to Food Safety Experts 01 of 20 Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos Greg DuPree Stock a bottle of salsa verde in the pantry for nights when you’re craving tacos. This dish pairs the store-bought condiment with simmered chicken thighs. For more flavor, top each taco with chopped onion, plenty of fresh cilantro, crumbled cotija cheese, and creamy avocado slices. If you have sour cream in the fridge, add a dollop of that, too. Plus, be sure to stock up on plenty of fresh limes to serve on the side for a nice zing. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 20 Chicken Tortilla Crunch Salad Victor Protasio This isn’t your typical mayonnaise-based chicken salad but we promise it’s worth a try, especially since you can get it on the table in roughly 35 minutes. Store-bought fajita or taco seasoning coats chicken thighs before they hit a hot grill. Then, a simple dressing made with mayonnaise, salsa, and sour cream dresses a refreshing Napa cabbage and red bell pepper mixture. Top with handfuls of tortilla chips and dig in! GET THE RECIPE 03 of 20 Apricot-Fresno Glazed Chicken Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Hall Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen This recipe calls for a bevy of bone-in chicken pieces, including breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and wings. All of the chicken is seared and coated with a sweet and spicy glaze made with syrupy apricot preserves, umami-rich Worcestershire sauce, vibrant ginger, and spicy Fresno chiles. Once the chicken goes in the oven, make sure you baste it a few times to ensure that it stays moist and as flavorful as possible. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 20 Salt and Pepper Chicken Jen Causey Scrap your takeout plans and make this Chinese-inspired chicken and rice dish at home. Here, Chinese five spice and cornstarch helps transform chicken thighs into crispy and flavorful chicken bites, and let’s not forget the hefty helping of black pepper either. Crispy garlic and jalapeño add an extra kick to this 30-minute dish, while a side of blistered green beans and fluffy rice round out the meal. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 20 Crispy Honey Mustard Chicken With Fries Fred Hardy There’s nothing not to love about a crispy chicken dinner, especially when the succulent chicken thighs are slathered with honey mustard and coated in panko. What’s more? The chicken is served alongside a zingy slaw made with fennel, cabbage, and apple, plus a nice helping of fries, because fries are never a bad idea. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 20 Crunchy Salad With Chicken and Ginger Fred Hardy If a salad made with wilted lettuce isn’t your preference, give this one a try instead. This healthy recipe features strips of marinated and seared chicken thighs, shredded cabbage, carrots, and red bell peppers, as well as a topping of sliced almonds and fresh mint leaves. A dressing made with orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, olive oil, fresh mint, and grated ginger ties the whole thing together. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 20 Mango Chicken Curry with Coconut Rice Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley The backbone of this curry is coconut milk and yellow curry paste, with aromatics like garlic and ginger, while chunks of boneless chicken thighs, red bell pepper slices, and bite-size pieces of fresh or frozen mango round out the cozy meal. Serve over homemade coconut rice for a complete dish. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 20 Salsa Verde Chicken Soup Victor Protasio Thanks to a handful of supermarket staples, this deeply flavored chicken soup comes together in just 35 minutes. You’ll need boneless, skinless chicken thighs and chicken broth, canned beans and hominy, and jarred salsa verde. For a pop of freshness and acidity, don’t forget cilantro and some fresh lime juice. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 20 Skillet Chicken With Grapes and Shallots Fred Hardy You don’t often find grapes in savory dishes, but they add the perfect pop of sweetness to this 40-minute chicken dinner that’s great for guests or a simple night at home. Aside from the fruity surprise, you’ll find bone-in chicken thighs nestled in some creamy polenta that’s also studded with browned shallots. Yum! GET THE RECIPE 10 of 20 Classic Chicken and Dumplings Abi Gunasekaran You can’t go wrong with chicken and dumplings, and this recipe is proof positive of that. In this version, chicken thighs are seasoned and browned in batches, and are eventually joined by a medley of vegetables and homemade dumplings. While making your own dumplings may sound daunting, the dumplings called for here require just a handful of pantry staples. GET THE RECIPE 6 Foods You Should Never Store in the Pantry 11 of 20 Rosemary-Garlic Chicken Thighs Greg Dupree In this one-pot recipe, seasoned chicken thighs are joined by caramelized shallots, rosemary, garlic, and chicken broth. Once the chicken is cooked with the aforementioned ingredients in the oven, you’ll transfer it to a plate and cook the beans in a warm, buttery sauce before everything is plated together. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 20 Shawarma-Spiced Chicken Thighs Greg DuPree This simplified version of shawarma-style chicken calls for boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of the typical lamb or beef. Still, the meat is flavored with a spice mixture that includes coriander, cumin, paprika, and more. Once the chicken is seasoned, you’ll go ahead and sear it and tuck the juicy pieces into pillowy flatbreads. Don’t forget the quickly browned onions, which add even more flavor and texture. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 20 One-Pot Curry Chicken Thighs and Cilantro Rice Caitlin Bensel There’s nothing not to love about this one-pot chicken recipe that’s ready in just 30 minutes. All you need to do is braise curry powder-spiced chicken thighs in a coconut- and cilantro-infused rice mixture. Then, while that portion of the meal is cooking, go ahead and make a quick peanut sauce to drizzle over the whole thing. Delicious, balanced, and easy! GET THE RECIPE 14 of 20 Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs With Salsa Verde Jen Causey Consider serving this seriously easy Mexican dish if you’re in the market for a quick weeknight dinner. This mouthwatering sheet pan meal, featuring juicy chicken thighs, is ready in just 30 minutes and doesn't need too many ingredients to get the job done. Serve with warm tortillas and lime wedges for the best results. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 20 Chicken Thighs With White Beans and Tomatoes Sang An For a healthy recipe that doesn’t skimp on taste, this is one of our top picks. It starts with two cans of cannellini beans and a pint of grape tomatoes, and then fresh herbs, spices, and skin-on chicken thighs join the fun. As the chicken roasts, it creates a luscious broth that flavors all of the other components of the dish. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 20 Orange Chicken Stir-Fry With Rice Noodles Victor Protasio This stir-fry tastes exactly like takeout since the "orange" part comes from orange marmalade, which adds the citrus flavor as well as a welcome bitter note to balance the sweet and salty elements. The dish also calls for veggies, such as snow peas and a red bell pepper, but feel free to swap in some of your faves instead. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 20 Spiced Chicken and Chickpea Soup Caitlin Bensel In just 35 minutes, this curry-spiced take on chicken noodle soup is ready to serve. This flavor-packed dinner is perfect for a cozy night in, as it includes coriander-turmeric seasoned chicken thighs, carrots, and canned chickpeas in a broth infused with garlic, lemon, and ginger. Serve with toasted naan for plenty of dipping! GET THE RECIPE 18 of 20 Slow Cooker Chicken Mole Chili Antonis Achilleos If you’re not familiar with a mole, it’s a catchall term for a Mexican sauce that contains fruit and spices, among other things. In this recipe, those ingredients include tomatoes, ground cumin, cinnamon, slivered almonds, and just a little bit of semisweet baking chocolate. While these ingredients may not sound like they go together, we promise they do! Chicken thighs add protein, and go ahead and top each bowl with creamy avocado, crunchy radishes, and a fresh squeeze of lime juice for even more flavor. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 20 Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps Caitlin Bensel This balanced meal, which is a stellar lunch or dinner option, is loaded with flavor and is ready in just 25 minutes. Here, a delicious coconut-peanut sauce is the star that brings the other ingredients together, including chicken thighs, rice vermicelli noodles, sliced cucumber, and lettuce to wrap everything in. If you don’t have rice noodles, feel free to use white rice instead. GET THE RECIPE 20 Cucumber Recipes That Go Far Beyond a Basic Salad 20 of 20 Slow Cooker Chicken Tostadas Caitlin Bensel In this recipe, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are cooked in a slow cooker with onions, tomatillo salsa, and poblano chiles. The result is ridiculously tender meat with a tangy taste, which is the perfect tostada topper. While the slow cooker is handling the chicken, all you need to do is make a quick pico de gallo and sprinkle some crumbled queso fresco on the finished product, which takes about 15 minutes. Easy enough, right? GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit