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Chicken thighs are rich in flavor and have a tender texture, which makes them one of the most beloved cuts of chicken for many. Chicken thighs can be transformed into a variety of mouthwatering dishes especially since they pair so perfectly with many other ingredients. In this post, I share five absolutely tasty chicken thigh recipes that will not only satisfy your cravings but also impress your family. These recipes include one-pot dishes, stir-frying, wet-frying, baking, and stewing, meaning that you get a variety of textures and flavors to pick from.
1. Chicken thighs with potatoes and onions
This one-pot dish which incorporates chicken thighs, potatoes, and yellow onions, stir-fried together is truly magical. This recipe entails searing slender pieces of boneless and skinless chicken thighs until browned, adding to that yellow onions and spices, shallow-frying potatoes on the side, and finally combining it all. Both the flavor and aroma of the dish are out of this world. The dish is easy to make and the ingredients are very simple and easy to assemble. The result is a well-balanced meal that you can enjoy for lunch or dinner. Watch this recipe video for clear instructions. When the blog post for this recipe is ready, I will post it here.
2. Chicken thighs and pasta
Maybe you love pasta more than you do potatoes. Or you love both. Either way, I got you covered. This is another one-pot dish with chicken thighs that is also very beginner-friendly. For this recipe, you’ll first boil your pasta and set it aside. Then, pan-fry the chicken thigh pieces until well done, season them, throw in some vegetables for crunch and veggie goodness, then add in the pasta to make it a wholesome dish. You’ll have yourself a flavorful and filling meal that you can pack for work lunch or serve for dinner. This meal is kid-friendly, inexpensive, and all the good stuff. It is a must-try recipe. Watch this recipe video and get cooking.
3. Wet-fry chicken thighs
This is another recipe that is easy to make and is absolutely yummy! This recipe simply entails cutting boneless and skinless chicken thighs into bite-size pieces, searing them on the skillet until browned, and then seasoning them for additional flavor. This dish is perfect for lunches, dinners, as well as parties of any kind. You can serve this dish with any side you love! Here’s the recipe video.
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4. Baked chicken thighs
Long and complicated recipes are good and all (as they seem more sophisticated), but sometimes, all we need is a quick and easy recipe that will get something on the table with minimal time and effort. Something tasty, though. Not haphazardly made food. Whole baked chicken thighs as I demonstrate in this recipe meet that need for a quick dish. With just a few steps, you’ll have deliciously juicy and crispy chicken on the table for dinner. No marinating is needed. Just rub each piece with a nice blend of ground spices, put it in the oven, and voila! The best part about this recipe, like many other baked dishes, is that it is hands-off for the most part, thus saving you time.
Seasoning whole chicken thighs
One thing to pay attention to in baking whole chicken thighs is the type of spices you use. You want a blend of flavor, aroma, as well as color. Paprika, for instance, is awesome for its deep red color while the poultry seasoning mix, which contains rosemary, thyme, and other herbs, is simply perfect for chicken as the name suggests. I also always make sure to add some onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper for that additional flavor and aroma. If you are into hot and spicy food, cayenne pepper will do you good. Here’s the recipe for this dish.
What to serve with baked chicken thighs
Serve these crispy and juicy baked chicken thighs with crunchy vegetables like oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, sautéed zucchini, or steamed carrots and broccoli, or with leafy greens like creamed spinach, sautéed spinach, kale, or cabbage, and of course, a starchy side like rice, chapati, ugali, or baked potatoes. the options are endless, and this blog offers a lot of them.
5. Chicken thigh stew
As you can see, there are a thousand and one ways to make chicken and this recipe right here is one of the most popular ones, thanks to the exquisite texture, the incredible look, and the unrivaled deliciousness of the resulting chicken stew. The stew pictured here combines chicken thighs and drumsticks, but you can absolutely use thighs alone. This recipe incorporates boiling, baking, and stewing for outstanding results. The best part about this recipe is that it is suitable for the whole family. Its thick sauce makes a perfect addition to toddler food like rice or mashed potatoes. Print the recipe here or watch the recipe video on YouTube.
As with baked chicken thighs, you can serve this stew with various vegetables from crunchy options to leafy greens, and a variety of starchy sides as well ranging from ugali to rice, chapati, pasta, potatoes, and so on.
6. Chicken thigh pilau
Pilau is a one-pot fragrant dish of rice, meat, and spices. This particular pilau recipe calls for boneless and skinless chicken thighs which are not only packed with flavor but are also quick to cook. Thus, you’ll have your delicious meal ready in no time at all. Watch the recipe video here or print the written recipe from this blog and you are all set. Finally, consider serving your chicken pilau with Kachumbari – a zesty tomato-onion salad that you’ll be so glad you tried.
7. Chicken thigh biryani
Closely similar to pilau, especially if you consider the spices used. However, biryani, as is typically made in East Africa, entails a separate thick meat sauce and a separate dish of brightly colored rice. Use whole chicken thighs to prepare the sauce for chicken biryani as I demonstrate in this recipe video, or print the recipe here. This dish is another of chicken thigh recipes that is packed with flavor and aroma. Simply put, you’ll love it.
Conclusion
That’s my quick list of chicken thigh recipes, which, in all, honesty, is just the tip of the iceberg. But hey, we have great variety in there! From the lovely-looking combination of chicken thighs with potatoes and onions to the hearty warmth of a chicken thigh stew, and seriously seasoned chicken pilau and biryani dishes, these recipes showcase the versatility of this humble yet flavorful cut. I hope you find the inspiration to make one (or better yet, several) of these delicious recipes an item on your lunch or dinner table!
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