27 Quick and Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes for Weeknight Dinners

published Apr 11, 2023

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pollo ai pepperoni in cast iron skillet — Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Ben Weiner
Pollo ai Peperoni Recipe (Cacciatora Southern-Style Chicken Stew with Peppers)

Quick and easy weeknight dinners are an absolute must in my meal plan. And on nights when chicken is on the menu, I turn to a pack of meaty chicken thighs more than anything else. When it comes to narrowing down the best chicken recipes, thighs have a permanent spot at the top of my list – they’re inexpensive, packed with flavor, and don’t dry out quite as easily as lean chicken breasts. Plus, with a roster of recipes ranging from sheet pan suppers to chicken skillet dinners, I know that with little time and effort I can turn chicken thighs into a seriously flavorful dinner.

Here are more than 27 quick chicken thigh recipes to keep on repeat.

Recipes with Boneless Chicken Thighs

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a true weeknight wonder. From their budget-friendly price tag to their quick cooking time, what’s not to love? And there’s really nothing they can’t do when it comes to dinner. Pick up a pack for a sheet pan supper, skillet dinner, stir-fry, or even a pot of chili.

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Teriyaki Chicken Bowl

Rice, steamed broccoli, and carrots turn sweet and savory teriyaki chicken into a complete meal.

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Sheet Pan Pineapple Chicken

This Paleo-friendly dinner is a riff on Huli Huli chicken, a classic Hawaiian barbecue staple featuring a sweet and savory sauce made with pineapple juice, ketchup, and soy sauce.

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Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Ranch-enthusiasts will love this cheesy, flavor-packed casserole.

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Pollo ai Peperoni (Cacciatora Southern-Style Chicken Stew with Peppers)

Super-tender chicken and sweet bell peppers are cooked in a tangy white wine sauce in this light summer dinner.

5 / 14

Oven-Roasted Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs

This is foolproof method for tender, juicy chicken thighs that belongs in your weeknight dinner roster.

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Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs

While the ingredient list for this sauce is short, don’t let it fool you — it certainly doesn’t skimp on flavor.

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Instant Pot Weeknight Chicken and Rice Burrito Bowls

Filled with chicken, rice, black beans, corn, and salsa, these burrito bowls come together quickly with an Instant Pot.

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Honey & Chili Chicken Thighs with Creamy Cilantro Sauce

Just wait til you taste the sauce on these meaty thighs.

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Dill Pickle Chicken

Spicy and tangy pickle juice is the one-ingredient brine that makes the most tender and delicious chicken you will eat all summer.

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Orange Chicken and Kale Stir-Fry

This keep and easy stir-fry is one to keep on repeat.

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Chorizo Chicken Chili

This 30-minute chili, featuring the flavorful power couple of chorizo and chicken, is what you make on Wednesday when you hit a wall on what to make for dinner.

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Baked Chicken with Artichokes, Cinnamon, and Preserved Lemons

This one-pan dinner will also make your kitchen smell amazing.

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Chicken Curry in a Hurry

Michell Tam of Nom Nom Paleo makes her chicken curry in a hurry with a velvety coconut milk base, seared chicken thighs, and a spicy kick of curry paste.

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Lemongrass Grilled Chicken

This versatile grilled lemongrass chicken can be used in sandwiches, on noodle bowls, or just about any other time you crave chicken.

Recipe with Bone-In Chicken Thighs

Pick up a pack of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and you can be certain you’re in for something totally fantastic for dinner. Best of all, it won’t take a lot of time or effort to pull together a satisfying meal. Whether you start with a screaming-hot skillet or opt for a simple sheet pan supper, an irresistible crispy-skinned chicken dinner isn’t far off.

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Grilled Chicken Thighs

Thanks to a soy-lime marinade flacked with punchy bits of garlic and ginger (that does double duty as a glaze at the end of cooking!), each piece of crispy-edged, juicy chicken is packed with a ton of flavor.

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Herby Lemony Chicken Thighs with Potatoes

Lemon adds acidity, brightness, and freshness to this easy skillet meal.

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One-Skillet Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes

Crispy chicken thighs and tender potatoes join forces in this lemony, oregano-rich skillet dinner.

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Roasted Chicken Thighs with Fennel & Lemon

The simple method of roasting fennel wedges alongside chicken thighs allows the vegetable to absorb the rich juices from the meat while they caramelize on the sheet pan, making them incredibly addictive.

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Pan-Seared Crispy Chicken Thighs with Blistered Tomatoes and Basil

With just five ingredients and about 30 minutes on the clock, you can be feasting on crispy-skinned, tender chicken piled high with beautiful tomatoes and herbs.

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Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs

Skillet-cooked chicken thighs are seasoned simply with fresh lemon and thyme for a quick and easy dinner that's totally classic.

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Balsamic & Mustard Glazed Chicken Thighs and Figs

Fresh figs make this skillet dinner feel especially fancy.

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Skillet Creamy French Mustard Chicken

Chicken thighs braise quickly in a sauce made with two kinds of mustard and just a touch of cream.

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Sheet Pan Chicken Souvlaki

Crispy chicken thighs are flavored with lemon and herbs, then partnered with red potatoes and sweet bell peppers for dinner ready in 30 minutes.

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Sheet Pan Chicken with Red Potatoes and Sage

Meet one of our favorite sheet pan supper combos - chicken thighs, little red potatoes, and herbs.

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Arnold Palmer Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs

The flavors of the drink — bitter, sweet, and sour — are a perfect match for roasted chicken thighs.

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Grilled Chicken Thighs with Chimichurri

Tossing the thighs with some of the sauce before it’s grilled ensures that the flavorful sauce will soak into every corner of the chicken.

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One-Skillet Chicken Thighs with Pearl Couscous and Eggplant

This one-skillet dish features crispy chicken thighs, pearl couscous, and eggplant simmered in a flavorful tomato base. A complete dinner with minimal dishes to wash? Yes, please!

This post was originally published on Kitchn. Read it there: 27 Quick Chicken Thigh Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners