Chicken thighs are a classic in cooking, and there are many ways to cook them. Here are several ways to cook chicken thighs, along with some tasty chicken thighs recipe ideas.

1. Chicken thighs recipes; cooking ways

1.1 Cooking chicken thighs in the oven

Baking takes the longest time, but it's also the one that makes crispy chicken thighs. To do this, you have to preheat your oven at 180 ° C, place the chicken thighs in a dish and bake for 50 minutes. It is important to baste the thighs occasionally with the cooking juices. Baking chicken thighs in the oven is often very popular.

1.2 Cooking chicken thighs in a pan

For nice pan-frying chicken thighs, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pan. Place the chicken thighs, pour a few centiliters of white wine, cover the pan, and cook over low heat for 30 minutes. Just before the end of cooking, remove the lid so that the excess liquid evaporates.

1.3 Cooking chicken thighs on the barbecue

To enjoy tender and tasty barbecue chicken thighs, everything depends on the marinade and the cooking. Start by preparing your marinade using olive oil, salt, pepper, Cajun, garlic powder, turmeric, lemon, and salty soy sauce. Mix in a large bowl and dip your chicken thighs in it. Cover the container with cling film and refrigerate for at least 2 to 3 hours. Grill the chicken thighs, turning them every 4 minutes. Remember to brush them with the marinade each time you turn them over. Cooking will take approximately 16 minutes, depending on the strength of your fire.

1.4 What is the cooking time for chicken thighs?

For perfectly browned chicken thighs after cooking, we recommend to brown them in a knob of butter or a spray of olive oil in a pan for a minute to give them a nice golden color. Then bake them for 40-50 minutes, basting them regularly with their cooking juices.

1.5 The trick to make sure the chicken thighs are cooked properly?

It is important to know when the chicken thighs are well cooked because, overcooked, they become dry and lose their softness.

To find out your cooking, prick the fat off the thigh with the tip of a knife. If the juice that escapes is translucent and has no red streaks, then the thighs are ready to eat. If the flesh is still a little red or pink, then you should prolong your cooking.

And if you have a cooking thermometer, you should know that the temperature must be at least 71 ° C.

In general, the right cooking temp for chicken thighs is when they reach 185 to 190° F

Related: The secret recipes of roasted chicken

2. Chicken thighs recipes

2.1 Chicken thighs recipes; Roasted chicken thighs with onion

Ingredients:

  • 4 onions, peeled and cut into wedges
  • 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil
  • 4 skinned chicken thighs
  • 8 unpeeled garlic cloves
  • 45 ml (3 tbsp.) Chopped cilantro
  • 1 lime, for juice
  • 10 ml (2 tsp.) Black pepper, crushed
  • 30 ml (2 tbsp.) Honey

Preparation:

Put the grill at the oven center. Preheat the oven to 200 ° C.

In a large dish over medium-high heat, brown the onions in 2 tbsp (30 ml) of the oil. Reserve.

In a large baking dish, join the chicken thighs with the onions and the rest of the ingredients except the honey. Salt. Brush the thighs with the honey.

Bake for 1 hour or until the chicken meat peels easily from the bone, basting the thighs with the cooking juices halfway through cooking. Serve with the pineapple and pepper ketchup and a green vegetable, like spinach.

2.2 Chicken thighs recipes; Italian baked chicken thighs

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup low fat ricotta
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 tsp. Italian herbs
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cup marinara sauce
  • 3/4 cup grated mozzarella
  • 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 375 ° F. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, Italian herbs, and 1/8 tsp. of salt; Reserve.

Season the chicken with garlic powder and a pinch of salt.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; sear the chicken for a few minutes on each side. Place the chicken pieces so that they are stuck as well as possible. Stuff with the ricotta mixture. Spread marinara sauce over the chicken and around it.

Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken's flesh is no longer pink at all, about 25 minutes. When you insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part, it should read at least 165 ° F (74 ° C).

Sprinkle with mozzarella and continue cooking for a few minutes, the time to melt it. Garnish with parsley and serve.

2.3 Chicken thighs recipes; Dutch oven teriyaki chicken

Ingredients:

  • 4 Large chicken thighs
  • 3 Medium-sized sweet potatoes
  • 100 ml Teriyaki Marinade
  • 2tbsp Rapeseed oil
  • 2 red onions
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 yellow pepper
  • 200g Broccoli flowers

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 220 ° C (th.6-7). In a gratin dish, drizzle the chicken thighs and sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3 cm pieces with the Teriyaki marinade and oil. Cook for 30 min.

After 30 min, add the red onions cut into rings and the peppers, seeded and cut into pieces, mix well so that the ingredients are well absorbed in the sauce.

Return to the oven for 15-20 minutes, then add the broccoli flowers and continue for 10-12 minutes before serving.

3. Nutritional composition for 100 grams of chicken thighs

Nutritionally, chicken thighs have benefits for someone who wants to lose weight. Indeed, 100 grams of chicken thighs with its skin contains only 6 grams of fat. Like energy intake, this fat content decreases without the skin: 100 grams of skinless chicken thighs provide only 4.96 grams of fat. The other benefit of chicken thigh is its high protein content: 26.4 grams per 100 grams. It is, therefore, a high protein food that is suitable for many diets. In terms of lipids, chicken thighs have a low percentage: 6.2 grams per 100 grams. This low fat content combined with the high protein rate makes chicken thighs a good muscle building food.

Chicken thighs are also a source of phosphorus, selenium, zinc, and B vitamins. However, they are completely devoid of fiber, which gives them a weak satiating power.

4. Can you lose weight eating chicken thighs?

In addition to being lean meat, the chicken thigh is rich in complete protein. If you combine sport with your diet, this food will allow you to fill up with essential nutrients. To cut down on fat, you have the option of selecting the thigh of a free-range chicken or removing the skin. Plus, chicken thighs easily accommodate herbs, spices, vegetables, and starches. It is, therefore, a meat that you can eat to lose weight.

The low fat content and high protein content of chicken thigh make it more beneficial for bodybuilding, sports, and diet. Serve your chicken thighs with a little starch and a large portion of vegetables, and your meals will be complete.

Originally published on Live Positively.