Flavorful Chicken Thigh Recipes for All Occasions (2024)

01 of 24

Chicken Biryani

This fragrant and beautiful chicken biryani combines a spiced yogurt marinade, saffron-scented basmati rice, and fried onions for a dish with layers of flavor. There are many styles of biryani, and this recipe is versatile enough to make with different proteins. We love chicken thighs for their rich flavor and affordability.

02 of 24

Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Thighs

Thetastes of Greeceadd welcome savory, salty, cheesy flavors to this simple and inexpensive dish that's elegant enough to serve for company, but makes a great weeknight meal.Stuffed chicken thighsare ready in an hour start to finish and are a fantastic way to enjoy chicken.

03 of 24

Chicken Thighs With Orange Sauce

Tender chicken thighs in a mouth-watering orange saucemake a fabulous everyday weeknight dinner. Chicken thighs are baked and glazed with a flavorful, simple, complex-tasting orange sauce that includes brown sugar and aromatic herbs. You could also serve this dish as a great, inexpensive meal for company, alongside some rice pilaf, a tossed green salad, and perhaps some white wine. Who says you can't eat like a king or queen on a budget?

04 of 24

Instant Pot Chicken, Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya

Jambalaya is a tasty dish ofLouisianaorigin in which meat, vegetables, and rice mingle in happy harmony. This flavorfulInstant Pot jambalayarecipe combines three types of protein - chicken, sausage, and shrimp - for a filling and tummy-warming winter meal. With rice, tomatoes, vegetables, and Cajun seasonings, this great family dinner will fill your kitchen with down-home Southern aromas.

05 of 24

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

What could be a more welcoming sight on a cold winter night than a steaming bowl of warmchicken and dumplings? Chicken thighs are used in this homey recipe that tastes just like something your grandmother would make. Fluffy, cloud-like dumplings nestle with tender chicken chunks in a delicious, comforting herbedbroth.

06 of 24

Chicken Thighs With Mushroom and Wine Sauce

Can you serve chicken thighs whenentertaining? Absolutely, you can! Inexpensive chicken thighs get the snazzy treatment in thisdelectable, aromatic, rich-tasting dish. Tender, sautéed chicken thighs are slathered in a creamy, satisfying sauce made from a little white wine, broth, garlic, cream, and mushrooms. It's so easy to prepare and makes a wonderful meal for company or a romantic dinner at home.

07 of 24

Poached Chicken Thighs in Coconut Curry

Do you loveThai foodbut find it expensive? Here's a super easy and budget-friendly recipe that recreates the authentic flavors of Thai take-out food at home, with just a few ingredients. Store-bought red curry paste is the secret to this dish, which is ready in just 30 minutes, but tastes like it took all day to prepare.Chicken thighs are poached in coconut milk with curry paste, diced sweet potatoes, and fresh cilantro for a delicious dish you'll be proud to serve.

08 of 24

Nashville Hot Chicken

Is there any better way to consume chicken than to crunch down on the crackling of a crispy chicken thigh? We think not. Born in Nashville, Tennessee,this Nashville fried chicken recipeis inspired by Prince's Hot Chicken, a now-legendary institution that first served up the deep-fried, spicy bird in the '70s. Nashville hot chicken is characterized by its spicy, deep-red glaze, traditionally made with cayenne pepper. It's almost always served on top of white bread—plain white bread, the cheaper and sweeter the better—with some pickles on top.

09 of 24

Chicken Manicotti

Your family will think you spent all day in the kitchen when you serve up this super-easy pasta casserole recipe that's ready for the ovenin 30 minutes. To make this classicChicken Manicottidish, tender, boneless skinless chicken thighs are baked in a casserole dish with manicotti pasta shells, store-bought spaghetti sauce, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings until the whole thing is hot, bubbling and ready to eat.

10 of 24

Crockpot Portugese Chicken

Chicken and sausage taste fantastic together, so it's no surprise that they're the stars of this classic Portuguese dish that makes a warming, satisfying winter meal. Set it and forget it - the whole thing comes together in your slow cooker, so you don't have to do a thing once it's cooking away.Spicy chorizo sausage and chicken thighs are slow-cooked in your crockpot with tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and olives, for a festive and flavorful dish that is easily made with foods you'd easily find at any grocery store. Rich, fragrant, and flavorful, this recipe is perfect served over hot rice for entertaining.

11 of 24

Chicken Stroganoff

In this budget-friendly recipe with chicken thighs, classic beef stroganoff is transformed into chicken stroganoff. Chicken thighs are enveloped in a rich, smooth, savory homemade sauce made with mushrooms, broth, herbs, white wine, and cream. Serve it overegg noodlesor your favorite long pasta noodles for an elegant, filling dish that's wonderfully warming and comforting on a cold winter's night.

12 of 24

Lemon Chicken Scaloppini

Chicken scaloppini is often made using chicken breasts, but this version uses flavorful and budget-friendly chicken thighs for a meatier flavor. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are pounded thin and cooked in a fragrant lemon tarragon sauce in this elegant recipe that'sgreat for entertaining. Serve it over hot cooked pasta or rice.

13 of 24

Chicken Marbella

This storied dishis adapted fromThe Silver Palate Cookbook, first published in 1982. Although that name might not ring a bell for younger generations, it was a standout cookbook in its time, and chicken marbella was its standout dish. This one-pan meal featured a whole skin-on chicken marinated in a brine of vinegar, olives, capers, and prunes, and then baked in the same dish, but ours uses chicken thighs. This recipe is a little sweet, a little salty, and perfectly balanced thanks to an acidic tang. Great withSpanish riceormashed potatoes.

14 of 24

Halal-Style Chicken

Halal carts are popular spots for buying fast food on the streets of New York, and for good reason. The heaping plates of food served on these carts follow the rules of Ismalic traditions pertaining to the slaughter and consumption of animal products (except pork). Our version tries to emulate their complex and robust flavors and uses marinated chicken, rice, salad, and a special sauce to make a complete meal. Using chicken thighs makes it an economical choice while keeping the meat moist and flavorful. Our recipe is ready in just over 30 minutes.

15 of 24

Roasted Chicken Thighs With Brussels Sprouts and Pears

Thisone-pan roasted chicken and vegetable dinneris pretty and delicious enough for entertaining guests, but easy enough for a weeknight meal. Bone-in chicken thighs are seared to golden perfection, then lightly brushed withhoney-mustard sauceand finished in the oven. The Brussels sprouts, bacon and pear combination that accompany them make a fabulous side dish. Everything is cooked together in one large skillet or sheet pan in about one hour.

16 of 24

Crispy Skin Chicken Thighs

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, these chicken thighs are seared in a large, heavyoven-safe skilleton the stovetop to crisp up the skin, then moved into the oven to finish baking to perfection. Makes a fabulous everyday meal, and you just need salt, pepper, and oil, in addition to the thighs.

17 of 24

Classic Brunswick Stew With Pork and Chicken

Brunswick stewis a traditional dish that's popular in the Southern United States. This Brunswick stew recipe is made with cooked pork shoulder or leftover pulled pork, along with shredded, cooked chicken thighs and vegetables. Flavored with store-bought barbecue sauce and a kick of cayenne pepper, this is a rib-sticking stew is filling, moist, and great to feed a crowd.

18 of 24

Oven Barbecued Chicken Thighs

Flavorful and inexpensivechicken thighs are baked with a homemade barbecue saucefor a delicious everyday meal. Store-bought grill seasoning flavors the chicken thighs, which are then seared and lastly baked to perfection, covered in a sweet and savory homemade barbecue sauce. For a quick version for busy weeknights, use your favorite store-bought sauce.

19 of 24

Crockpot Pulled Chicken

Pulled porklovers, here's how to get that savory, sticky, sweet barbecue flavor in an inexpensive recipe that uses chicken thighs in place of the usual pork. An easy homemade barbecue sauce makes this easy slow-cooked, shredded crockpot chicken moist, tasty and juicy. Thispulled chickenis a fantastic alternative to more traditional barbecue dishes, and it is just as delicious. Includes tips for tweaking the sauce to suit your own tastes, from spicy to sweet.

20 of 24

Chicken in Black Bean Sauce

Tender chicken thighs lend flavor to this delicious stir-frymade with pungent fermented black beans. You can prepare the vegetables ahead of time, while the chicken is marinating, and just toss into the pan when you're ready to stir-fry. Makes a great-tasting and inexpensive dinner served over hot cooked rice.

21 of 24

Slow-Cooker Tex-Mex Chicken Thighs

This chicken thigh recipe is a great choice when you're looking for an easy and tasty slow cooker recipe. Boneless chicken thighs are affordable and easy to prepare, and ourTex Mex version mixes corn, black beans, and green chiles, for a delicious dish served over Mexican style rice, with a simple salad on the side.

22 of 24

Sweet and Spicy Crockpot Chicken

Inspired by the classic take-out dish, this easy recipe forsweet and spicy chickencombines two store-bought sauces - sweet and sour, and barbecue - with tender chicken thigh meat in a flavorful five-ingredient recipe. Served over hot cooked rice, this easy-to-make recipe needs very little preparation and practically no supervision while it cooks.

23 of 24

Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs

This simple, fragrant, and wonderful recipe forhoney mustard chicken thighsis ready in less than 30 minutes. The chicken is cut into strips and simmered in a rich, tangy honey mustard sauce along with carrots, onions, and garlic. Addyour favorite vegetablesto the mix and make this dish your own. It's great as a family dinner on busy weeknights served atop cooked couscous, brown rice, or pasta.

24 of 24

Grilled Marinated Ginger Chicken

Grated freshgingeradds an extra kick to the flavorful marinade that's used to prepare this delicious grilled chicken. The marinade does double duty as a basting sauce while the chicken thighs are grilling to keep them moist and juicy. This all-season recipe can be cooked on the grill in summer or using the oven's broiler when there is not outside cooking.