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26 Best Chicken Thigh Recipes

Tender, juicy, flavorful chicken is way easier to make than you might think! This collection of the 26 Best Chicken Thigh Recipes will show you all kinds of ways to make it. From down-home chicken in gravy, to succulent Asian glazed goodness, you’ll find it all here!

white ceramic Pot with cooked chicken cacciatore


 

All of the Ways to Cook Chicken, in One Place!

Chicken is always a staple on my weekly menu rotation, including chicken thighs. Whether boneless or bone-in, you can count on this affordable cut to stay tender and juicy, with less effort than ultra-lean chicken breast, and more versatility than drumsticks.

That’s why I’m eager to share this collection of easy, bold, and healthy chicken recipes. Each one is made with ingredients you can feel good about (and pronounce), and they’re guaranteed to turn out perfectly, even for less experienced cooks. Oh, and if you’ve ever thought that chicken was boring… well, be prepared for some surprises! These mouthwatering favorites are anything but that.

collage with nine images of chicken thighs recipes roundup menu

What Cooking Method Is Best for Chicken Thighs?

While some cuts of meat need a specific cooking style to shine, chicken thighs can be cooked in almost any way you can think of, and still turn out amazing. Whether you want to grill, bake, simmer, slow cook, pressure cook, or air fry, chicken thighs will work! This super unfussy ingredient is truly a busy cook’s best friend.

26 of the Best Chicken Thigh Recipes

Okay, let’s take a look at the recipes! If you see something that you like, be sure to click the link to check it out in more detail. You’ll find helpful tips and ingredient substitutions, and photo tutorials as well. Let’s do this! 💪

grilled chicken thighs and pineapples served on a white round plate

Beer Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs

Grilled chicken thighs are marinated in beer, onions, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup resulting in incredibly delicious, juicy, and tender chicken.
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overhead shot of salt and pepper chicken in a white bowl with two chopsticks resting on top of the bowl.

Salt and Pepper Chicken

Sweet, spice, and flavored with fragrant Chinese five spice, this classic Salt and Pepper Chicken recipe is an easy takeout-style meal you can make at home!
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Overhead shot of Grilled Chicken Thighs with Brown Sugar Glaze arranged on a serving platter, with grilled asparagus placed next to the chicken thighs.

Grilled Chicken Thighs

Give this grilled chicken thighs recipe a try for an easy meal that turns out perfectly juicy and flavorful! The savory, sweet brown sugar glaze is what makes the chicken amazing!
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Cajun Chicken over Cauliflower Rice in a bowl.

Cajun Chicken Cauliflower Rice Bowls with Mangoes and Avocado

Sticky, cajun-flavored chicken served over cauliflower rice with sweet mangoes, buttery avocado, and a creamy Lime Dressing that brings it all together.
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chicken korma served alongside some rice and topped with chopped cilantro.

Chicken Korma Recipe

Rich and flavorful Chicken Korma is an all-time favorite chicken curry recipe that’s easy to make at home.
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Pot with easy homemade chicken cacciatore in it.

Chicken Cacciatore

This is the quickest and easiest Chicken Cacciatore recipe around! Full of all of the flavor you love, cooked in one pot, and on your table in less than an hour.
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wooden spoon stirring through bourbon chicken while cooking in a stainless steel skillet.

Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Everyone loves this sweet and savory Bourbon Chicken tossed in a delicious sauce made with apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and bourbon.
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chicken thighs in crock pot with artichokes and sun dried tomatoes

Crock Pot Chicken Thighs with Artichokes and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Boneless chicken thighs cooked in the crock pot with artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes.
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Close up-photo of Instant Pot Sticky Chicken Thighs garnished with sesame seeds and cilantro.

Instant Pot Sticky Chicken Thighs

Tender, deliciously juicy, fall-off-the-bone Instant Pot Sticky Chicken Thighs prepared with a sweet and savory sticky sauce.
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Juicy Stove Top Chicken Thighs - Perfectly golden, tender, and juicy skinless and boneless chicken thighs prepared on the stove top. These delicious pan seared chicken thighs make for a wonderful meal that’s surprisingly easy, and the pan sauce is amazing!

Juicy Stovetop Chicken Thighs

Perfectly golden, tender, and juicy skinless, boneless chicken thighs prepared on the stove top.
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cooked chicken thighs in an air fryer

Boneless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

These juicy marinated Air Fryer Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. They're smothered with a sweet Asian glaze and then topped with crunchy sesame seeds and green onions.
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Instant Pot Butter Chicken Low Carb and Keto

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Tender, yogurt-marinated chicken cooked in the most delicious and creamy tomato sauce.
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slices of chicken thighs on a bed of lettuce with halved cherry tomatoes, corn kernels, and cotija cheese

Grilled Mexican Corn Chicken Salad

If you're a fan of Elote or traditional esquites, you will love this tangy, spicy chicken and corn salad.
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Overhead image of cooked chicken in a braiser with chopped carrots, pearl onions, and mushrooms.

Quick and Easy Coq Au Vin

Quick and easy Coq Au Vin featuring tender chicken thighs cooked with wine, mushrooms, and bacon. It’s a rustic classic, made easy and quick but still loaded with authentic French flavor.
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five chicken thighs cooking in a baking dish with rice and bok choy.

Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs with Rice

Soy sauce, honey, and the spicy punch of chili-garlic combine to make the sticky glaze in these succulent Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs with Rice. It’s a one-skillet meal with unforgettable flavor!
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Close up overhead view of lemon garlic chicken thighs garnished with lemon slices, next to asparagus on a baking pan.

Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs

Juicy lemon garlic chicken thighs and asparagus is an easy sheet pan dinner smothered with garlicky lemon butter. Ready in 30 minutes!
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Spicy, Sweet and Sticky Chicken Thighs - An easy and quick one skillet meal including sticky, tender and delicious chicken thighs rubbed with a homemade spice rub and brushed with an amazingly sweet honey sauce.

Spicy, Sweet and Sticky Chicken Thighs

Spicy, Sweet and Sticky Chicken Thighs – An easy and quick one skillet meal including sticky, tender and delicious chicken thighs rubbed with a homemade spice rub and brushed with an amazingly sweet honey sauce.
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close up overhead shot of instant pot chicken pho in a bowl

Instant Pot Chicken Pho

An easy take on the classic Vietnamese noodle soup, this Instant Pot Chicken Pho recipe features fragrant spiced broth, tender rice noodles, and juicy shredded chicken.
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Honey Sriracha Chicken with Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Flavor-loaded, sweet and spicy honey sriracha chicken served with a delicious side of cauliflower rice. 

Honey Sriracha Chicken Recipe with Cauliflower Rice

Honey sriracha chicken is sweet, spicy, and tangy – it's a flavor explosion with every bite! This easy, juicy chicken thighs recipe is perfect with a side of fluffy cauliflower rice.
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Maple Mustard Chicken and potatoes in a skillet.

One Pan Maple Mustard Chicken and Potatoes

Easy and absolutely amazing one pan dinner with chicken thighs and potatoes cooked in a delicious maple syrup and mustard dressing.
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side shot of Jambalaya in a slow cooker studded with shrimp and garnished with green onions

Slow Cooker Jambalaya Recipe

This easy slow cooker jambalaya is an authentic Cajun classic featuring chicken, shrimp, and andouille sausage simmered in a spicy, tomato-based sauce with rice.
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spooning garlic sauce over pan seared chicken thighs.

Garlic Sauce Chicken Thighs

Pan-seared chicken thighs prepared with an incredible wine and garlic sauce.
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Broiled Chicken Thighs ready to serve

Broiled Chicken Thighs

These broiled chicken thighs are sweet, savory, and cooked to a juicy and tender perfection – it's one of our favorite quick and easy dinners!
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close up shot of cooked boneless chicken thighs topped with baby spinach, cream sauce, cauliflower, and bacon

Creamy Chicken and Cauliflower

This Creamy Chicken and Cauliflower recipe features diced bacon, fresh cauliflower, and baby spinach tossed in a creamy Parmesan sauce.
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chicken thighs served in a white plate with honey mustard sauce

Instant Pot Honey Mustard Chicken

Incredibly easy, sweet, and tangy Honey Mustard Chicken cooked in the Instant Pot! This Instant Pot recipe is a healthy meal with minimal cleanup and ready in under 30 minutes.
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Lemongrass Grilled Chicken - Spicy and SO delicious lemongrass-marinated chicken grilled to a juicy and tender perfection!

Lemongrass Grilled Chicken

Spicy and SO delicious lemongrass-marinated chicken grilled to a juicy and tender perfection!
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Storing and Reheating

While each recipe will have its own specific guidelines, in general, leftover chicken thighs store easily. Just cool them down, place them in airtight containers or food storage bags, and refrigerate for around 3 – 4 days.

Reheating is simple, too. Chicken thighs are much harder to dry out than other cuts of meat, so you can usually reheat them in a covered skillet, or in a 350°F oven until completely warmed through. Keep in mind that bone-in chicken will take longer to heat than boneless.

Do Chicken Thighs Freeze Well?

For the most part, yes! While some creamy sauces and tender veggies can turn watery in the freezer, you can usually take the chicken meat itself and freeze it for 3 months or so. For the best results, cool the chicken thighs down and then take the meat off of the bones. Pack it into airtight containers or freezer bags, mark with the date, and use within 3 months.

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