Our Top 23 Chicken Thigh Recipes
In our humble opinion, the thighs are the best part of your chicken. Truthfully, it’s just a fact of life and we’re trying to be polite to the wings and breast meat. (Sorry about it.) Juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor, there are so many amazing recipes that feature this prime cut of meat. Considering how many fantastic dishes there are that highlight everything great about chicken thighs, we had a hard time choosing our favorites! But here they are. Check out our top 23 favorite chicken thigh recipes of all time.
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Dry Rub Chicken
Fans of spicy jerk chicken will love this dry rub chicken and its layers upon layers of kickin’ flavor.
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Cilantro Lime Chicken
If you’re obsessed with all things Crockpot, this is the thigh recipe for you. This cilantro lime chicken, especially in your slow cooker, is bursting with spicy, sharp flavor and practically falling off the bone.
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Honey Garlic Chicken
How does the flavor combination of honey, garlic, chili flakes and soy sauce sound? Maybe a little strange, but this adventurous flavor combo will surprisingly rock your world.
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Tikka Masala
Love all things Indian food? Then you’re going to go crazy for this slow cooker tikka masala. Using juicy chicken thighs for this recipe adds so much flavor to this (already flavorful) dish.
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Pan-Roasted Chicken and Chickpeas
Chicken thighs aren’t always best in the Crockpot; roasting them on the stove top works well, too! Throw some chickpeas into the bottom of your pan and you’ve got a crispy, flavorful snack to eat with your delicious chicken.
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Mozzarella and Ham-Stuffed Chicken
You had us at “mozzarella.” Just imagine, indulgent mozzarella and glazed ham stuffed inside of perfectly roasted chicken thighs. That flavor is out of control.
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Greek Olive Chicken
Few foods are as delicious as Greek food. So these braised chicken thighs that have been smothered in olive oil, garlic, and full Greek olives make for one of the most delicious chicken recipes we’ve ever whipped up.
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Garlic Herb Spatchock Chicken
What is spatchock, you ask? It’s a technique where you butterfly your bird, allowing the most flavor possible to soak into the meat. And with garlic herb seasoning, there’s a whole lot of flavor to be absorbed.
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Chicken Parmesan Bake
Who doesn’t love chicken Parm? We love this take on a comfort food favorite, using juicy chicken thighs to create a chicken Parmesan casserole. This is a perfect quick dish to whip up on a busy weekday night.
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Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables
There’s nothing better than delicious takeout Chinese food. Unless, of course, you’re making one of your favorite Chinese dishes right at home. Use chopped up chicken thighs to replicate some teriyaki and vegetables, sauteed in a delicious soy sauce mixture.
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Buffalo Chicken Bites
Now, although this recipe doesn’t require the chicken used to be thighs, it is definitely recommended to get the most flavor out of the bites. What are these bites? Just doughy pieces of heaven stuffed with buffalo chicken and cream cheese. They’re making us hungry just thinking about them.
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Balsamic Chicken
Another great slow cooker dish, this balsamic chicken is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy your thighs.
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Bourbon Street Chicken
The perfect meal for pretending it’s Fat Tuesday every day of the week! This bourbon chicken is a New Orleans classic which you can make in your slow cooker! Bursting with sweet and sour flavor, this is one of the best way to use chicken thighs, in our opinion.
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Sweet Garlic Chicken
If you loved the idea of honey garlic chicken, this thighs recipe take that idea to the next level. Now adding in a layer of sweet brown sugar, this recipe becomes the perfect balance of sweet and sour.
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Kale and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken
Kale has a bit of a bad rap for being, well, less-than-pleasant tasting. But in this recipe, bitter kale and succulent goat cheese are stuffed into juicy chicken thighs, turning the tables on our preconceived notions.
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Old Bay Aioli Chicken
Anything with aioli on top and we’re THERE. For example these roasted chicken thighs on top of roasted carrots wouldn’t be nearly as mouthwatering if they were covered in a layer of spicy aioli sauce. Yum.
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Chicken Thighs and Rice with Broccoli Pesto
Unfamiliar with broccoli pesto? Well, let’s just say it’s a healthy and spicy way to upgrade your regularly seared chicken and rice. Plus, it’s easy to make, which is simply the cherry on top.
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Crispy Chicken and Wild Mushrooms
This classic combo gets upgraded with a crispy exterior (this is the perfect crunch that you’ve been waiting for) and a perfect sprinkling of thyme on top. Not to mention the amazing wild mushrooms hiding underneath.
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Honey Lime Chicken
If sweet and sour is your game, this tangy honey lime chicken will be your homage to chicken thighs.
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Maple Chicken and Carrots
We’ve seen a lot of honey doing the sweetening around here, so this maple chicken and carrots is a great alternative! Sweet as can be and paired perfectly with carrots, this is one divine dish.
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Sicilian Chicken
Let’s just say, the Sicilians know how to do it right. Perfectly browned and seasoned chicken and served in the most amazing cream sauce your chicken thighs have ever known.
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Lemon Chicken
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention this classic dish! Light and bursting with airy flavor, plenty of lemon juice and some fresh sliced lemon are the way to make this chicken dish pop. Sometimes less really is more.
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One Pan Harvest Chicken
This meal has it all: flavor, health, and the fact that it’s all made on one sheet. Delicious meal, fewer carbs, AND minimal clean up? This chicken thigh recipe takes the cake, in our book.
Do you love these chicken thigh recipes? Did we miss a favorite of yours? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.