Food and Recipes Party Food and Drink 45 Chicken Thigh Recipes to Make Weeknights Delicious and Easy By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 21, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis When it comes time to put a flavorful and budget-friendly dinner on the table, chicken thighs are always at the top of our ingredient list. There are so many different ways you can prepare them, from braising to grilling to slow-cooking. Whip out a single sheet pan for chicken thigh dinners like our Orange-Rosemary Roast Chicken or Chicken with Dressing. Use your favorite cast-iron cookware for our Cajun Chicken Cassoulet or our Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables. Of course, we dreamed up a few ways to cook chicken thighs in your handy Instant Pot, too. These chicken thigh recipes are easy, affordable, and healthy ways to get supper on the table for your family. We've rounded up our best recipes for enjoying chicken thighs, so you'll never run out of ideas for budget-friendly weeknight dinners. 01 of 45 Sheet Pan Chicken with Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken with Dressing Sheet pan suppers just got an upgrade with the addition of cornbread. We recommend this homemade cornbread recipe. 02 of 45 Braised Chicken Thighs with Slow-Cooked Marinara Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Braised Chicken Thighs with Slow-Cooked Marinara Let your slow cooker cook your chicken thighs and marinara sauce at the same time. 03 of 45 Roasted Chicken Thighs with Herb Butter Hector Sanchez Recipe: Roasted Chicken Thighs with Herb Butter Roasting chicken is a great weeknight technique because it's hands-free and hard to mess up. Let the cooked chicken stand for about 10 minutes before serving so the meat has time to relax and soak up any cooking juices. 04 of 45 Braised Chicken Thighs with Carrots and Lemons Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Braised Chicken Thighs with Carrots and Lemons If you've never tried braising before, this is a great recipe to help you learn. 05 of 45 Spiced Molasses BBQ Chicken Thighs Max Kelly Recipe: Spiced Molasses BBQ Chicken Thighs An easy homemade glaze elevates the flavor of these grilled chicken thighs. 06 of 45 Chicken Thighs and BBQ Beans Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey Recipe: Chicken Thighs and BBQ Beans Cooking the chicken in the same pan as the beans gives the dish extra flavor. 07 of 45 Chicken-and-Collards Pilau Greg Dupree Recipe: Chicken-and-Collards Pilau Lowcountry flavor all packed into one dish for easy cleanup. 08 of 45 Curried Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes Victor Protasio Recipe: Curried Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes Cooking chicken thighs low and slow will make them fall off the bone. 09 of 45 Honey-Apricot-Glazed Chicken Iain Bagwell Recipe: Honey-Apricot-Glazed Chicken Add a base of basmati rice to complement the honey glaze. You're going to love the sweet and savory flavor combination in our delicious Honey-Apricot-Glazed Chicken. 10 of 45 Cajun Chicken Cassoulet Iain Bagwell Recipe: Cajun Chicken Cassoulet You'll need just one dish—your favorite Dutch oven—to create this flavor-packed dish. 11 of 45 Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes Nicknamed "Anytime Chicken" this winner of a chicken dinner is our new favorite roasting-pan supper for weeknights or easy entertaining with friends. 12 of 45 Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto Photo: Greg Dupree Recipe: Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto This stovetop-to-oven method yields crisp, dark-golden skin and juicy, tender meat. 13 of 45 Faux Cassoulet PHoto: Alison Miksch Recipe: Faux Cassoulet For easy sides, grab a loaf of crusty bread, and toss a tangy vinaigrette with fresh pear slices, toasted pecans, escarole, and frisée or a mix of your favorite winter greens. 14 of 45 Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs With Carrots and Potatoes Jennifer Davick Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs With Carrots and Potatoes Substitute an extra 1/4 cup chicken broth in place of the wine, if you prefer. 15 of 45 Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Southern Living Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup There's nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of chicken tortilla soup, and your Instant Pot makes it easier than ever to enjoy. 16 of 45 Orange-Rosemary Roast Chicken Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Orange-Rosemary Roast Chicken This colorful sheet pan supper is full of sweet and savory flavors that blend beautifully. For the best texture and juiciest chicken, we recommend browning the chicken thighs in a skillet first before adding them to the sheet pan. 17 of 45 Chicken Tamales with Roasted Tomato-and-Dried Chile Sauce Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Chicken Tamales with Roasted Tomato-and-Dried Chile Sauce According to cookbook author Sandra A Gutierrez, it's about time you throw a tamale party. These rich, spicy tamales are worth it to make yourself. 18 of 45 White Chicken Chili Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: White Chicken Chili With this easy white chicken chili recipe, you simply pile everything in the slow cooker and press "on." 19 of 45 Grilled Chicken Thighs with Alabama White Sauce Southern Living Recipe: Grilled Chicken Thighs with Alabama White Sauce Alabama's famous white barbecue sauce is the perfect companion for crispy grilled chicken. 20 of 45 Instant Pot Lemon Chicken Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey Recipe: Instant Pot Lemon Chicken Brighten up boring weeknight dinners with this lemony recipe that makes the most of your Instant Pot. 21 of 45 Chicken Fajita Kebabs Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Chicken Fajita Kebabs These tasty kebabs need to marinate for a few hours, but once it's time to grill, they'll be on your plate in no time. 22 of 45 Grilled Chicken and Corn with Charred Scallion-Lime Butter Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Grilled Chicken and Corn with Charred Scallion-Lime Butter We love eating fresh summer corn as often as we can when it's in season, and this recipe lets it shine. The Scallion-Lime butter is delicious with the chicken and the corn. 23 of 45 Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey Recipe: Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey Up your weekend brunch game with homemade chicken biscuits and honey. 24 of 45 Green Chile-Chicken Stew Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Green Chile-Chicken Stew This flavorful stew is the ideal make-ahead supper to have handy in the freezer. 25 of 45 Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore Southern Living Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore Filling and oh-so-cozy, this Instant Pot pasta dinner will be a go-to for your family from the first time you make it. 26 of 45 Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Vegetables Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Vegetables This beautiful skillet supper got rave reviews from readers, and we know you'll agree. 27 of 45 Mojo Chicken Bowls Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Mojo Chicken Bowls This quick, healthy recipe features a riff on the classic Cuban mojo marinade that will convince you to never grill plain chicken thighs again. 28 of 45 One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice Honey-chile sauce, fresh ginger, and colorful vegetables bring this easy supper to life. 29 of 45 Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Feeling under the weather? This easy chicken noodle soup recipe gives you homemade flavor without giving up any extra energy. 30 of 45 Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken This versatile recipe can be served plenty of ways—in tacos, over rice, on nachos, or in enchiladas! 31 of 45 Chicken and Shrimp Skillet Rice Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Chicken and Shrimp Skillet Rice Fresh veggies, rice, and two proteins meet in a true one-dish dinner that will leave everyone satisfied. 32 of 45 Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes Oxmoor House Recipe: Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes This simple slow-cooker dinner is hearty and healthy. If you don't have wine to use, our Test Kitchen says to substitute ½ cup additional chicken broth. 33 of 45 Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings Since we don't always have the time for Grandma's chicken and dumplings recipe, we created this 40-minute recipe for busy cooks. 34 of 45 Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice This healthy, colorful meal is on the table in just 45 minutes for your family to enjoy. 35 of 45 Slow-Cooker Chicken Stew with Pumpkin and Wild Rice Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Stew with Pumpkin and Wild Rice This cozy stew includes our favorite fall flavors, straight from the slow cooker. 36 of 45 Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs with Brussels and Beans Southern Living Recipe: Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs with Brussels and Beans All you need for this simple, healthy dinner recipe is your trusty 9-x-13 baking dish and 10 minutes of hands-on time. 37 of 45 Instant Pot Fried Chicken Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Instant Pot Fried Chicken A bold spice rub stands in for traditional breading in this new, healthy version of fried chicken. 38 of 45 Lemon-Herb Chicken Kebabs Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Lemon-Herb Chicken Kebabs Juicy chicken thighs won't dry out on the grill, and these bright and lemony kebabs are the most delicious way to get your family their veggies. 39 of 45 Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Recipe: Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken You need just a few pantry staples to make your own barbecue glaze for this easy chicken recipe. 40 of 45 Grilled Chicken Tacos Wynn Myers; Prop Styling: Lauren Smith Ford Recipe: Grilled Chicken Tacos San Antonio Chef Johnny Hernandez shared this healthy chicken taco recipe with us, and you'll love its bright citrus marinade. 41 of 45 Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables This skillet dinner makes the most of tender chicken thighs and fresh spring veggies. 42 of 45 Chicken Thigh Marinade Jennifer Causey Recipe: Chicken Thigh Marinade Our secret to juicy grilled chicken thighs? Buttermilk, of course! 43 of 45 Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Jennifer Causey Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Thighs These tender chicken thighs will be the main attraction of many weeknight dinners to come. 44 of 45 Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Greg DuPree Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Instead of waiting at the stovetop all day, whip up classic jambalaya flavor on a weeknight with this recipe. 45 of 45 Grilled Creole Chicken & Okra Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Grilled Creole Chicken & Okra We love the extra kick hot sauce gives this Creole supper recipe from Southern food legend Virginia Willis. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit