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20 Healthy Chicken Thigh Recipes

When it comes to delicious and flavorful weeknight dinners, chicken thighs are my favorite. I prefer chicken thighs to breasts because they are versatile, juicy, economical, and hard to overcook.

Chicken Thigh Recipes

You can make healthy chicken thigh recipes from the comfort of your home. They are simple to make in a few minutes, and you don’t need fancy equipment.

Chicken thighs contain minerals, nutrients, and healthy fats. Besides, there are different ways you can cook mouthwatering chicken thighs. You can grill, braise or sear them to your liking.

What to make with chicken thighs? If you are stuck on what to make with chicken thighs, we’ve got you covered! Check out our low-calorie chicken thigh recipes you can prepare in your kitchen.

1. Healthy Chicken Casserole

The Healthy Chicken casserole is an amazing midweek meal you can make for your family. This recipe is a real dinner winner that takes less prep time and cooking time.
It is packed with full veggies to leave you full and satisfied. Moreover, you will love the crisp golden chicken and the classic flavors.
You can take the meal alone or pair it with rice or boiled potatoes.

This recipe is great if you love batch cooking, so you can freeze up to a month.

2. Honey-Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

If you love honey garlic flavors, the Honey-Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs is irresistible. This recipe makes a good dinner that your whole family will love.

It takes a short prep time, and you only need everyday ingredients. This meal has bold flavors, and it pairs well with noodles, rice, steamed or roasted vegetables sandwiches.

The tender and juicy chicken leaves kids and adults wanting till the last piece. This is one of the best chicken thigh meals for busy parents who need an easy-to-make chicken dinner.

3. Chicken Thigh Marinade

What is better than coming home to a yummy chicken thigh marinade? Making this recipe requires simple ingredients – soy sauce, garlic, spices, and honey.

After marinating, you can choose to grill or bake your chicken thighs. This marinade gives you flavored and spicy chicken.

The recipe is great if you need to prepare chicken thighs as your main dish but need something spicier.

The combination of spices makes the chicken thighs rich and spicy. The lime zest and juice in the marinade add freshness and an amazing citrus flavor.

4. Honey-Garlic Chicken Thighs

Are you short of chicken thigh recipes, and don’t know what to do with chicken thighs? You can enjoy the mouth-watering Honey-Garlic Chicken Thigh with some veggies.

This is a family-friendly meal that you can make over and over. The recipe is healthy, and it comes with side veggies cooked on the same pan as the chicken thighs.

The honey, soy, and garlic marinade serve as the sauce for the chicken and the vegetables. The recipe comes out delicious and flavorful. You can take it alone or serve it with rice.

5. Oven Baked Chicken and Rice

Is there anything tastier than the homemade Oven Baked Chicken and Rice? It is worth trying this recipe if you need a delicious dinner recipe with chicken thighs.

Preparing this simple recipe is in the oven, so you don’t need a stove. The rice in the recipe is mouth-watering. It comes out buttery, garlicky and tender without being mushy.

The secret tip to an amazing recipe is to bake the onion with garlic and butter briefly before adding the rice, chicken, and liquids. This makes a nice flavor base.

The rice absorbs the chicken juice as it cooks, and it is loaded with flavor. It tastes like rice made with homemade stock.

6. Healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

Are you looking for chicken thigh dinner ideas? If so, try the Healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe at home. It is a healthy and delicious meal for your family.

The combination of brown rice, chicken, and broccoli makes it a complete meal. The yogurt makes it lighter yet creamy.

Preparing the recipe takes less time and requires everyday ingredients.

This is one of the best chicken casserole recipes I make in my rotations. If you are a busy mother who needs one-pot chicken dishes, this is a go-to recipe.

7. Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs

Make 5-star delicacies from the comfort of your kitchen by trying various chicken thigh dinner recipes. The Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs with Potatoes can make a great addition to your dinner recipes.

This is one of the most flavorful and juiciest dinner ideas you can make in one pan. The chicken thighs cook well in the oven with the potatoes and mushrooms and are ready in less than an hour.

The garlic and butter, and lemon make this meal finger-licking good. The fact that it is a one-pan meal makes the seasoned mushrooms and potatoes taste heavenly!

8. Healthy BBQ Chicken Thighs

Do you need the best chicken thigh recipe for dinner or meal prep? Enjoy Healthy BBQ Chicken Thighs made with coconut sugar, spices, and BBQ sauce.

These chicken thighs taste so good that they will leave you drooling and wanting more. The recipe is easy to make at home, especially if you need a healthy and tasty BBQ chicken meal.

It takes a couple of minutes to prepare and cook and a few ingredients. You can store the leftovers in airtight containers for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

9. Chicken Thighs with Shallots & Spinach

Enjoy healthy boneless chicken thigh recipes at home by preparing the Chicken Thighs with Shallots & Spinach. This is a healthy weeknight meal that comes with a creamy side dish.

Not only does it look great but it also tastes better. The cook time is 20 minutes, hence ideal if you need quick dinner meals.

The chicken comes out moist and tender, and everyone in your family will love it. You can freeze this meal later in freezer containers before adding the sour cream.

10. Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs & Rice

When I need to cook on a budget, chicken thighs are my kitchen’s staple. The Garlic Butter Chicken Thigs and Rice is my favorite dinner recipe with chicken thighs.

This is a one-pot meal that includes the main dish and the side dish all in one pan. The recipe is easy to prepare, and it is packed with more flavor and texture.

The amazing buttery garlic flavor gives your rice a nice flavor, making it super tasty. It gets all the juices from the chicken, giving you the most flavorful rice you can take. Everyone, including picky eaters, will love this recipe.

11. Garlic Mushroom Chicken Thighs

If you love mushrooms and chicken, the Garlic Mushroom Chicken Thighs is good for you. It is easy and quick to make all in one skillet. Therefore, you won’t end up with more dishes to clean afterward.

This recipe is delicious, and it makes a good weeknight meal. It also makes a good dinner when you have minimal ingredients.

If you are busy and need quick dinners in 30 minutes, this recipe comes in handy.

You can serve this delicious and low-carb meal with mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, pasta, and rice. It is also a budget-friendly meal for your whole family.

12. Herb Roasted Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are meatier, easy to cook, and healthier. If you love making one-dish recipes for dinner, try the Herb Roasted Chicken Thighs With Potatoes.

This is a satisfying dinner full of flavor, and it is easy to make. The shallots and the herb vinaigrette give his meal a burst of flavor.

You can also use some lemon slices, olives, and oregano if you love the Greece approach.
While the chicken thighs are baking, they shower the potatoes with juices and fat to give a nice seasoning and sauce for your meal.

If there are leftovers, you can reheat them and enjoy them later.

13. One-Pan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

I love making one-pan meals for quick dinners and also spare myself a bunch of utensils to clean. One of my best dairy-free and a gluten-free meal is One-Pan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables.

This is a delicious and healthy meal you can make for your family anytime. It cooks quickly in the oven. Hence great is if you need a quick dinner fix. It only takes 15 minutes to have everything ready.

The juicy roasted chicken thighs and the colorful vegetables all cook in one pan. This meal is satisfying and a game-changer for your family dinners.

14. Gravy Baked Chicken

If time is not on your side, you can still make a quick dinner in just a few minutes. The Gravy Baked Chicken is an amazing recipe you can make for your last-minute dinners.

The thighs and the drumsticks are delicious enough to take on their own but they are also versatile enough to pair with a plethora of other dishes.

The baked thighs and drumsticks make their gravy. The flavor in the gravy is mouthwatering because it is flavored with delicious chicken juices.

15. Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

Teriyaki Chicken Thighs is one of the simplest chicken thigh recipes ever, and your whole family will love it. The tender and juicy chicken thighs are coated with thick teriyaki sauce, making it flavorful.

You can take the flavor to a whole new level by adding garlic. You can make this quick meal on the stovetop or bake it in the oven.

The chicken thighs turn out great all the time. Better than store-bought teriyaki! Prepare this recipe and say goodbye to Japanese takeouts.

16. Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes

This is another favorite one-pan dinner that combines sweet potatoes and chicken thighs for a healthy dinner. It cooks fast, and it is 100% delish.

Cooking in one pan makes a flavorful dish that your entire family will enjoy. This recipe is a savior for a busy weeknight, and it is also good for meal preps.

You can pair the roasted chicken and sweet potatoes with sliced apples, blue cheese, and a salad of mixed greens.

17. Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Broccoli

The Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Broccoli is a pleasing weeknight dinner you can make for your family. This is a healthy recipe that cooks fast.

The recipe uses real food ingredients easily available. The honey mustard sauce and the chipotle seasoning give this chicken thigh recipe the best flavor.

You can serve this recipe with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and mashed cauliflower for a nutritious dish.

18. Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are many people’s favorite because they are flavorful. However, not many people know how to cook them.

Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs is a simple recipe you can make with only a few ingredients. The oven-baked chicken thighs come out yummy, crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

It only takes a few minutes to prepare the chicken thighs, and they bake perfectly on the sheet pan.

19. Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs

You can never go wrong with the Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs recipe. They come out a little crispy, flavorful, and perfectly juicy.

This delicious recipe is easy to prepare in less time. It makes a quick weeknight dinner, or you can choose to meal prep the chicken thighs in advance for quick lunch.

Cilantro, lime, garlic, and spice make a perfect marinade and give the chicken thighs an amazing flavor.

20. Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts

Enjoy delicious one-pan cooking by trying the Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts. This is a healthy and quick chicken recipe you can make in the oven.

The combination of shallots and Brussel sprouts makes this recipe healthy and fulfilling. While the chicken thighs roast, they release garlicky drippings that flavor the shallots and Brussel sprouts.

The smoked paprika gives the recipe a nice smoky flavor. While you can use regular paprika, it will not give a smoky effect.

Chicken Thigh Recipes

20 Healthy Chicken Thigh Recipes

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 bone-in chicken thighs (about 3 pounds)
  • 1/2 c salsa
  • 1/4 c creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tbsps lemon juice
  • 2 tbsps reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
  • 2 tsps Thai chili sauce
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tsp minced fresh gingerroot
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 2 tbsps sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

  1. In a 3-quart slow cooker, place the chicken. Pour soy sauce, lemon juice, salsa, peanut butter, jalapeño, Thai chili sauce, ginger, and garlic over the chicken in a small bowl.
  2. Cook on low for 5-6 hours, or until chicken is tender. Green onions with sesame seeds go on top. If preferred, serve with rice.

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