60+ Healthy Chicken Thigh Recipes (2024)

Can I interest you in over 60 healthy chicken thigh recipes?

We've rounded up the best juicy chicken thigh recipes that are made in the oven, on the stove, in the air fryer, on the grill, in the pressure cooker and slow cooked to perfection.

No matter your mood or the season, there is a thigh recipe you’re going to fall in love with!

Baked or Roasted Chicken Thighs
- Miso Jidori Chicken Thighs
- Cast Iron Chicken Thighs with Cherries
- Cornflake-Crusted Buttermilk Chicken
- Pollo Asada
Stove Top Chicken Thighs
- Chicken 65
- Lemongrass Chicken Thighs
- Greek Chicken Salad
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Vermicelli Bowl
- Juicy Herb Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Grilled Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Easy Harissa Chicken
- Sticky Gochujang Chicken
- Ultimate Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Slow Cooked and Instant Pot Chicken Thigh Recipes
- Butter Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
- Spicy Vindaloo Chicken
Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Smoked Chicken Thighs

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Baked or Roasted Chicken Thighs

Miso Jidori Chicken Thighs

Miso Jidori chicken thighsare juicy, tender, and dressed in a rich, umami-packed miso sauce.

These scrumptious thighs require minimal effort and make a flavorful main course or topping for ramen or a rice bowl.

Cast Iron Chicken Thighs with Cherries

Cast iron chicken thighs with cherries is the perfect one-pan dinner.

It's easy to make and perfectly balanced in flavor - and you’ll LOVE the extra crispy chicken skin!

A great dish to use fresh cherries at the height of the season!

Cornflake-Crusted Buttermilk Chicken

Can I interest you in the juiciest cornflake-crusted buttermilk chicken on earth?!

Chicken thighs are marinated in buttermilk, then coated in a spiced cornflake crust and oven-baked until super crispy.

You can drizzle with honey before serving, if you'd like.

Pollo Asada

Pollo Asado (orPollo Asada) is a sweet, tangy, and fragrant marinated chicken recipe bursting with warm Mexican spices.

Make it in the oven (or air fryer) for a meal-prep-friendly recipe to serve in many ways.

Try these other baked or roasted chicken thigh recipes

Stove Top Chicken Thighs

Chicken 65

Chicken 65is a delicious, flavor-packed spiced chicken recipe that and has just the right amount of heat.

Scoop it up with warm, chewy, butteryhomemade naanor soft chapatis, or alongside fluffy basmati rice.

Lemongrass Chicken Thighs

Seasoned with some of the defining flavors of Vietnamese cuisine—heady, citrusy, lemongrass, tons of fresh ginger, and fish sauce.

These succulent chicken thighs are a true treat.

Greek Chicken Salad

Greek Chicken Saladis a bright, light, and flavorful meal loaded with chicken seasoned with Mediterranean spices, crisp vegetables, juicy olives, and feta cheese.

Finished with ahomemade tzatziki dressing, it's a satisfying meal ready in a little over 30 minutes.

Try these other stove top chicken thigh recipes

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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

Crispy, juicy, and tender air-fried chicken with cumin and vinegar.

A simple, quick way to enjoy the best air fried chicken thighs!

Chicken Vermicelli Bowl

This vermicelli bowl is beautifully balanced with sweet and tangy flavors.

Don't let the list of ingredients intimidate you, they all tie together in a symphony for textures and flavors.

Juicy Herb Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

These incredibly easyair fryer chicken thighsare juicy and crispy with just the right amount of herbs and seasonings.

This easy recipe works perfectly for bone-in or boneless chicken and skin-on or skinless.

Try these other air fryer chicken thigh recipes

Grilled Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Easy Harissa Chicken

Chicken thighs marinate in a homemade harissa sauce, then hit the grill for a super quick, easy chicken dinner that packs a major, major smoky, spicy burst of flavor.

Sticky Gochujang Chicken

Juicy chicken thighs, marinated in a sticky, sweet and spicy sauce and grilled to perfection.

What’s not to love about this DELICIOUS gochujang chicken recipe? Serve with a crunchy slaw and soft flatbreads and you’ve got a winner of a dish.

Ultimate Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

A fresh and delicious grilled chicken Caesar salad with lots of flavor from cucumbers, avocado, tomatoes, parmesan, and grilled bread for croutons!

An easy homemade Caesar dressing elevates each bite.

Chicken thighs rather than chicken breasts are used in this recipe for maximum juiciness and flavor.

Try these other grilled chicken thigh recipes

Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs
Grilled Chicken Bulgogi
Grilled Chicken Salad
Cilantro and Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs
Persian Chicken Kabobs
Chimichurri Chicken Thighs

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Slow Cooked and Instant Pot Chicken Thigh Recipes

Butter Chicken

Today's recipe happens to be my take on butter chicken, which I will probably be eating for the next 4 meals and I'm overjoyed about it.

Some days are just meant for comfort food. And in my world, comfort food is a giant pot of spiced comfort food with perfectly cooked Jasmine rice.

It's packed with spices, which make the entire house smell INCREDIBLE.

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

These Instant Pot chicken thighs make a succulent, easy, and very flavorful dinner that will make everyone at the table happy.

You can make this recipe using frozen or fresh chicken thighs.

Spicy Vindaloo Chicken

This recipe is all about insanely delicious Instant Pot chicken vindaloo made with chicken thighs and toasted spices.

All the warm, smokey spices combine to create a silky smooth sauce packed full of flavor.

To top it off, spicy vindaloo is served with fluffy jasmine rice and warm naan bread to make it a complete meal.

Try these other slow cooked or Instant Pot chicken thigh recipes

Instant Pot Coconut Chicken
Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
Instant Pot Ancho Chicken Burrito Bowls
Instant Pot Peri Peri Chicken
Chicken Boulliabiasse
Mediterranean Chicken Casserole
Easy Chicken Cacciatore
Coq Au Vin Blanc

Smoked Chicken Thighs

These delicious smoked chicken thighs are marinated in a flavorful chicken rub, then slow cooked to tender, juicy perfection in the smoker.

This easy chicken recipe is perfect for Sunday dinner and weekly meal prep.

Try these other smoked chicken thigh recipes

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60+ Healthy Chicken Thigh Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Are chicken thighs healthy for weight loss? ›

The chicken breast is lean and has the most protein by weight, making it ideal for people who want to lose weight, maintain muscle mass and improve recovery. Fattier cuts like the thigh, drumstick and wings have more calories, which make them better for people wanting to build muscle or gain weight.

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How many pounds of chicken thighs do I need for 60 people? ›

As a rule of thumb, for a main course, plan on about 1/2 pound of boneless chicken thighs per person, or 3/4 to one pound of bone-in chicken thighs per person.

How healthy are skinless chicken thighs? ›

By not eating the skin, you can slash the fat content by nearly half to 6.8g per serving. In addition to a wonderful macro profile, chicken thighs are also an excellent source of essential micronutrients like iron and zinc in higher quantities than breasts.

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Which is healthier, chicken breast or thigh? ›

Which is healthier, chicken breasts or chicken thighs? Nutritionally speaking, boneless, skinless chicken breasts do have fewer calories and fat overall, says Jamie Allers, RD, a registered dietitian with Hartford HealthCare's Digestive Health Institute.

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Why are chicken thighs so high in calories? ›

Chicken thighs are fattier than the breasts and are also moister in comparison. ... Approximately, a 3-ounce skinless chicken breast can provide 140 calories, 3 grams of fat and 1 gram of saturated fat. On the other side, the same amount of chicken thighs will give you 3 times the amount of fat and 170 calories.

Why do chefs prefer chicken thighs? ›

While the breast is very low in fat, chicken thighs are higher in fat, and in cooking, fat equals flavor. It also means the thighs are more tender and less likely to dry out than chicken breasts—in other words, they are very easy to cook and very difficult to ruin.

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Do chicken thighs get more tender the longer you cook them? ›

Unlike chicken breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks actually become more tender the longer they cook. That's because of their makeup. Dark meat has an abundant amount of connective tissue, which dissolves into gelatin as the meat cooks, rendering it juicy and tender.

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Do bodybuilders eat chicken thighs? ›

Chicken thighs are an excellent choice to include in your muscle-building or fat-loss diet. I discovered them by accident, so you don't have to. You now know how great they are! The taste, fat content, low calories per serving, and high protein are 4 irresistible benefits you just can't pass up.

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Are chicken thighs healthy? ›

Ultimately, chicken thighs can be a healthy addition to your diet as long as they're prepared in a good-for-you way. If you are trying to limit your fat intake, prepare chicken thighs in ways that don't use much added oil, like grilling, baking or stir-frying. Also be mindful of the sodium that you add during cooking.

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Are 4 chicken thighs too much? ›

The average 4.5-ounce chicken thigh has about 3 ounces worth of meat, so two thighs per person is a good number. If you are serving smaller children or appetites, one thigh should be enough.

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What are fryer thighs? ›

Fryer Thighs. DARK MEAT: bone in top part of the chicken leg where it connects to body- thigh meat.

Are chicken thighs bad for cholesterol? ›

Chicken, by nature, has lower cholesterol and lower fat than most meats. Chicken breast contains the least cholesterol, followed by the thighs, wings, and legs. However, its cholesterol-raising effects depend on the part of the chicken you use and the method of preparation.

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Are grilled chicken thighs healthy? ›

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a healthy, flavorful, and quick protein option. Using skinless thighs helps to keep the chicken thigh calories low.

Is chicken healthier than beef? ›

Compared to beef, chicken is a better source of protein. As a result of its high-fat content, beef is a higher fat and higher calorie meat. Chicken has more vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B1, B3, and B5. However, beef is significantly higher in folate and vitamin B12.

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Is chicken breast or thighs better for weight loss? ›

According to Body Ecology, monounsaturated fat — the kind that's in chicken thighs — can help aid in weight loss, control and reduce pesky cholesterol numbers, and even lower your risk of heart disease and cancer.

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Which chicken is good for weight loss? ›

Generally speaking, skinless chicken breast is the leaner option and often the cut most widely suggested for weight loss. This is because dark meat like the thighs (as well as the wings and legs) is higher in fat than the breast.