27+ BEST Recipes that Use Chicken Thighs

While chicken breasts are commonly used in many recipes, we can’t forget about the other parts! These Chicken Thigh Recipes will have you thinking outside the box for your weeknight dinner.

Chicken Thigh Recipes

plate of crispy baked chicken thighs

Baked Chicken Thighs in Oven

Flavorful and crispy baked chicken thighs basted with a garlic lemon butter sauce. An easy chicken dinner in the oven.
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braised chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet

Braised Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs braised in a white wine Dijon sauce and caramelized shallots, crispy bacon and tomatoes.
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coverhead of sheet pan chicken thighs in the oven

Blackened Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs

I am all for saving time on meals, and one pan meals are the best. This EASY Blackened Sheet Pan Chicken Thigh recipe is about to be your new favorite!
overhead chicken and rice in cast iron

One Pot Chicken and Rice

With simple pantry ingredients and plenty of vegetables, this One Pot Chicken and Rice will easily become a family favorite!
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close up angled shot of honey garlic chicken in a bowl with rice

One Pan Honey Garlic Chicken

With a sticky sauce that is both sweet and savory, this Honey Garlic Chicken is sure to become a family favorite! Perfect for busy weeknights!
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chicken thighs in air fryer on plate

Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer

These simple, delicious Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer are glazed with a brown sugar balsamic sauce that adds amazing flavor and juiciness!
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close up of huli huli chicken

Grilled Huli Huli Chicken

Grilled Huli Huli Chicken marinates chicken thighs in a sweet, savory sauce that delivers tender, juicy meat after just 10 minutes of cooking! Prep it the night before for an easy dinner option the next day!
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honey garlic chicken in pan

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are a guaranteed family hit! Tender chicken thighs are cooked until browned and crispy, then drizzled with a sweet and salty sauce that ends up deliciously sticky in the pan.
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close up of chicken thigh on tray

Easy Roasted Chicken Thighs

Easy Roasted Chicken Thighs recipe for those busy evenings when dinner would just be far too much work and the whole family is pacing the kitchen for food!
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chicken thighs on baking tray

Cast Iron Chicken Thighs

This Cast Iron Chicken Thighs recipe makes perfect pan fried chicken thighs using just 3 simple ingredients. Season boneless chicken thighs with chili lime season and pan sear them!
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overhead shot of chicken thighs in slow cooker

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs with Potatoes & Carrots is an easy recipe that makes your entire dinner right in the crockpot! 
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overhead shot of smothered chicken in skillet

Smothered Chicken and Gravy

Southern Smothered Chicken and Gravy have tender chicken thighs and drumsticks that have been seasoned and then cooked in gravy with onions! Prep this recipe in just 10 minutes for a flavorful dinner that the whole family will devour!
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close up of baked chicken thigh

Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs with Bacon and Creamy Mustard Sauce

These bone-in chicken thighs are baked on a sheet pan with crispy bacon and sliced potatoes, and get topped off with a creamy mustard sauce that will have your tastebuds dancing!
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overhead shot of jerusalem chicken thighs

Jerusalem Herb Chicken Thighs

Jerusalem Herb Chicken Thighs is my go-to for an easy, healthy, flavorful chicken dinner! It’s easy to season, cook stovetop and garnish with fresh herbs!
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marinated grilled chicken thighs on plate

Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs

These Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs are perfect for summer meal prep. Make a light and flavorful chicken thigh marinade and grill until golden brown!
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slow cooker chicken thighs over potatoes in slow cooker

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken is a super easy, super comforting, super flavorful dinner! Because it’s made in the crockpot, there is very little hands-on time!
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angled shot of ginger soy chicken thighs

Lemon Ginger Chicken Thighs

These Lemon Chicken Thighs are slow roasted, tender, and bursting with flavor! Perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
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bang bang chicken over rice

Bang Bang Chicken

Are you obsessed with the Bang Bang Shrimp from Bonefish Grill? This Bang Bang Chicken has all the copycat spicy, creamy flavor of their most popular dish, but with a change in protein!
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sliced chicken thigh on plate

Marinated Smoked Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs have the best flavor and we are ramping that flavor up in the Traeger!
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knife cutting into lemon pepper chicken thighs

Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

Make juicy chicken thighs and tender baby potatoes in one pan with this Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs recipe. Just toss chicken and potatoes in a simple lemon pepper chicken marinade and bake!
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cream of mushroom chicken over pasta

Cream of Mushroom Chicken

This easy Cream of Mushroom Chicken is baked with sour cream and sherry, yielding tender and juicy chicken thighs in a creamy sauce!
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close up of chicken thighs in slow cooker

Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken

Slow cooker chicken recipes are great to have in your back pocket for those nights you know are going to be busy. Loaded with fresh garlic and sweetened by brown sugar, this Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken recipe is flavorful and family-friendly! 
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chicken thighs on sheet pan

Sheet Pan Tomato and Artichoke Chicken

This Sheet Pan Tomato and Artichoke Chicken recipe is a simple one pan chicken dinner that you can make in 30 minutes. Use basic ingredients to make a healthy and delicious low carb meal.
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chicken thigh on waffle

Chicken and Waffles

Have you ever had chicken and waffles? This brunch staple is crispy outside, tender inside and topped with a drizzle of irresistible sriracha honey!
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close up of chicken thighs on white plate

Air Fryer Sticky Chicken Thighs

Air fried Sticky Chicken makes a quick and easy dinner. Perfectly marinated and cooked to perfection, this keto chicken recipe will please your taste buds without any of the guilt!
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close up of chicken thighs and potatoes

One Skillet BBQ Chicken and Potatoes

How I love easy, one skillet bbq chicken and potatoes for a make ahead dinner. Roasted potatoes, tender caramelized onions with the chicken, it’s fantastic!
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tuscan garlic chicken with pasta

Copycat Tuscan Garlic Chicken Pasta

The Tuscan Garlic Chicken at Olive Garden was a favorite, and this copycat version is easy and a hit for any weeknight meal!
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While most would argue that chicken breast recipes are the most popular, I find myself becoming more and more partial to thighs.

Like most dark meat, they tend to yield juicier chicken. And there are so many ways to season them! Fresh lemon juice, sweet honey, spicy cayenne pepper and savory garlic cloves all pair well with this cut of chicken.

You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or even bone in if you prefer. Whether you make them on a baking sheet in a preheated oven or even instant pot chicken thighs, you will want to make one of these for dinner tonight.

Sides to serve with your favorite chicken thigh recipes

collage of chicken thigh recipes with text overlay for pinterest


 
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

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