30 Best Chicken Thigh Recipes for the Tastiest Weeknight Meal
Winner, winner, chicken thighs for dinner!
Every item on this page was chosen by an editor from The Pioneer Woman. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
There's no shortage of chicken dinner recipes here at The Pioneer Woman. From hearty chicken casseroles to chicken pasta recipes, there's constantly new ideas to make chicken for dinner. And if you ask Ree Drummond, she'd confess that chicken thighs are one of the most flavorful ways to enjoy chicken. "If I had to choose a cut of chicken to eat the rest of my days," she says, "I would choose thighs every day of the week, and nine hundred times on Sunday!"
That's why you'll find all the best chicken thigh recipes right here, including an easy Instant Pot chicken thigh recipe, grilled chicken recipes, and plenty of healthy chicken recipes to satisfy all of your dinner party guests. There's barbecue-style chicken you can make right in your own oven (no grill required) and a honey balsamic baked chicken that'll have all your friends begging for the recipe. There's also dishes that work well at breakfast and brunch, too (namely, the best chicken and waffles recipe).
What's more, none of the tasty meals on this list won't break the bank or take up too much of your time (hello, 30-minute meals!). They rely mainly on simple ingredients straight from your pantry—things you already have at home or can use in other tried-and-true recipes. It's so easy to incorporate chicken thigh recipes into your family dinners. So, what are you waiting for? Let's get cooking!
Marry Me Chicken
The name says it all! This delicious dish is sure to win everyone over with its moist chicken slathered in a dream-worthy sauce made of heavy cream, parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes. It's a one-pan meal that only takes 30 minutes to serve up.
Get Ree's Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Juicy bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are what make this meal so special! Since the chicken cooks right alongside baby potatoes and carrots, you'll have an entire meal to devour at the end of the day—all with minimal effort.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe.
Chicken Stroganoff
This recipe takes a classic beef stroganoff recipe but swaps the red meat for tasty chicken thighs instead. The hearty, creamy mushroom sauce with chicken can be served over cooked egg noodles or even creamy mashed potatoes or cooked white rice.
Get Ree's Chicken Stroganoff recipe.
Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs with Snap Pea Salad
Get a head start on dinner by marinating the chicken for this dish the night before. The zingy marinade calls for lemon zest and juice, olive oil, parsley, basil, garlic, and salt and pepper, all whisked together. Serve the chicken with couscous and snap pea salad.
Get Ree's Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs with Snap Pea Salad recipe.
Chicken Cacciatore
This Italian dish is like a hearty stew that's made with bone-in chicken thighs. You can serve it up over noodles as long as you remember to spoon over all that delicious sauce!
Get Ree's Chicken Cacciatore recipe.
Bourbon Chicken
A sticky-sweet sauce made from bourbon, apple juice, and soy sauce gives this chicken recipe a ton of flavor. It's delicious on its own but it can also be served up over a bowl of rice.
Get the Bourbon Chicken recipe.
Chicken Florentine
Chicken Florentine feels like a special occasion dish thanks to it's lusciously creamy sauce, but it actually couldn't be easier! The whole thing can be on the table in less than an hour!
Get the Chicken Florentine recipe.
Smothered Chicken
Dredging the chicken thighs in flour before searing helps them get deeply browned and crispy. Oh, and did we mention it's fried in bacon drippings before being smothered in a creamy gravy? We're drooling, already!
Get the Smothered Chicken recipe.
Coconut Chicken Curry
Chicken curry is a beautifully bright and flavorful dish that's surprisingly easy to make. The warm spices and fragrant coconut milk make it an all-around crowd-pleaser.
Get the Coconut Chicken Curry recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
It only takes 30 minutes to get dinner on the table with this method for cooking chicken in your air fryer. Be sure to use bone-in, skin on chicken thighs to prevent the chicken from drying out.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe.
Chicken Fried Chicken
This fun twist on chicken fried steak uses boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead. The crunchy dish is best served with a good helping of gravy!
Get the Chicken Fried Chicken recipe.
Chicken Teriyaki
Skip the takeout and make your own chicken teriyaki instead. This 30-minute recipe is sticky, slightly sweet, and deeply savory.
Get the Chicken Teriyaki recipe.
Chicken and Veggie Fall Skillet
Fresh herbs (like rosemary, thyme, and sage), along with spices (like cumin, paprika, and chili powder) are the key to making this family dinner even more flavorful. There's also a slew of seasonal veggies, pomegranate seeds, and balsamic glaze for good measure.
Get Ree's Chicken and Veggie Fall Skillet recipe.
Instant Pot Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This cozy chicken soup is loaded with hearty chicken, wild rice, and veggies. Serve it up with a crusty loaf of bread for dunking and you'll warm right up.
Get Ree's Instant Pot Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup recipe.
Sheet-Pan Chicken with Lemons and Olives
These chicken thighs are seasoned with a spice mixture of paprika, cinnamon, turmeric before getting roasted in the oven with lemon slices and olives. Serve it over couscous and dinner is complete!
Cornbread Waffles with Spicy Chicken
There's no wrong way to eat waffles, but there's definitely a right way—topped with crispy chunks of fried chicken! This classic dish gets the true Southern treatment with a drizzle of spicy hot honey on top!
Get Ree's Cornbread Waffles with Spicy Chicken recipe.
Oven BBQ Chicken
Yes, you can really make fantastic barbecue-style chicken right in your own oven—no grill required.
Get Ree's Oven BBQ Chicken recipe.
Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs
After devouring this recipe, you might wonder why you ever bothered with any other part of the bird. These thighs are the absolute best.
Get Ree's Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs recipe.
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Grain Bowls
These bowls of shredded chicken thighs are loaded with color and flavor: Avocado, mango, jalapeño, sliced radishes, and a smattering of cilantro.
Get Ree's BBQ Chicken Grain Bowls recipe.
Peach Whiskey Barbecue Chicken
Here, fresh peaches and whiskey add intrigue, while olive oil and butter add tastiness.
Get Ree's Peach Whiskey Barbecue Chicken recipe.
Fuel Game Day with Chicken Parm Sliders
3-Ingredient Buffalo Dip Will Win Game Day
30 Chicken Dinners You Can Make in a Slow Cooker
The Best One-Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup
