Food Cooking Tips & Techniques Grilling How to Debone Chicken Thighs in 5 Steps Trust us, it’s easier than you think. By Ariel Klein Ariel Klein Ariel Klein is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, technology, home, cooking, and gardening topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Well+Good, Travel+Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Food & Wine magazine. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on June 27, 2024 Close Photo: Vladimir Mironov/Getty Images Project Overview Total Time: 5 minutes Skill Level: Beginner It seems like the cost of groceries keeps going up, especially for high-quality produce, meat, and dairy. But when it comes to chicken, there’s a very simple way to get the most bang for your buck; buy a whole chicken or buy chicken parts with bones. Buying boneless chicken thighs is certainly convenient, but it’s going to cost you way more than just deboning them yourself. How to Save Money on Groceries in 9 Easy Ways So, how do you debone chicken thighs? This task may seem overwhelming, but the trick is to learn the proper technique and never cut through the bone. Once you’ve mastered that, you’ll be able to prepare your chicken thighs any way you wish. Whether you’re making crispy fried chicken, oven roasted chicken, or homemade chicken noodle soup, you’ll have endless options. Follow these simple tips and step-by-step instructions to learn how to debone chicken thighs like a pro! Always use a freshly sharpened knife to get clean cuts and avoid accidents. Use a sturdy cutting board that doesn’t slip and slide around. This will help you have a steady hand as you cut through the chicken. Keep the bones to make homemade chicken stock! Just store the bones in a freezer-safe plastic bag and label with the date. 26 No-Fail Chicken Dinner Ideas The Whole Family Will Love What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Cutting board Sharpened chef’s knife or boning knife Food-grade plastic gloves (optional) Materials Bone-in chicken thighs Instructions Put the Chicken Thighs on a Cutting Board Place the chicken thighs on a cutting board with the skin side down. Find the Bone Use either a chef’s knife or a boning knife to identify the bone that runs through the length of the thigh. Begin to move the meat away from the bone with your fingers. Slice to Remove the Bone Place your knife on an angle towards the bone, and slide down on both sides until the bone begins to come out. 24 Easy Chicken Breast Recipes to Make in Less Than 40 Minutes Grab the Bone and Remove It Use one of your hands to grab part of the bone, and use your other hand to carefully scrape the meat off the bone, so nothing goes to waste. Remove the bone once all of the meat is removed. Trim Excess Bone, Cartilage, and Fat Trim away any remaining bits of bone and cartilage. Finally, discard any excess skin or fat.