63 Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes To Liven Up Your Weeknight (2024)

All it takes is a few basic ingredients (that you most likely already have on hand) to transform chicken thighs into an herby, garlicky dream. The best part? Your sides and main dish will both be ready in under an hour, making this an ideal last-minute, filling dinner. We paired this one-pan meal with roasted zucchini and asparagus, but you can can switch it up with whatever is in season that you have on hand.

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We’ve made a lot of great sheet-pan dinners, but this za’atar chicken recipe is a new favorite. Bone-in chicken thighs, baby potatoes, broccoli, and red onion are all tossed in a simple olive oil, lemon juice, and za’atar marinade, then roasted to crispy, schmaltzy perfection. And just to kick it up another notch, we’re drizzling it all in a creamy tahini sauce to finish it off.

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We might seem gnocchi-crazed here at Delish, but can you blame us? In this simple one-pot supper, the gnocchi is cooked in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce and paired with chicken thighs. What more could you want?

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Every culture has its own uniquely delicious BBQ sauce, but Chinese char siu sauce is one of our favorites. Classically used to marinate pork belly for steamed buns, this sticky-sweet, umami-packed sauce is absolutely irresistible, no matter what you pour it over. Here, we’re using it to marinate grilled chicken thighs, which we then sandwich inside soft buns and top with pickled veg, fresh chiles, and herbs.

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Yakitori (Japanese for "grilled chicken") is one of the oldest and most popular traditional Japanese dishes. Though you'll often find it served from flat tops by street vendors, it's easy to make at home on your grill. Most yakitori places will offer two options: salt (shio) or yakitori sauce (tare). Tare is made of just four ingredients, soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. You can add ginger and other ingredients, but we kept things minimal for authentic flavor.

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Nothing beats a street taco—super-juicy, tender meat in a quick grab-and-go format. What makes a taco a street taco? Besides being sold by a vendor right on the sidewalk, one of the main differences is the size of the tortilla. Street tacos are typically prepared by doubling up two smaller corn tortillas, making them easier to eat on the side of the street, in the car, anywhere!

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Known as Tom Kha Ghai, this coconut soup is one we're always craving. The creamy coconut paired with ginger and lime gives this soup its unique and delicious flavor. This Thai soup is also traditionally topped with a chili oil to give it some heat—if you're not a spice fan, don't worry, the creamy coconut milk helps mellow it out.

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A creamy, rich pasta sauce with fresh lemon and tangy feta, plus juicy chicken thighs all come together in one pot for a very simple but satisfying meal. It’s the even easier version of everyone’s favorite baked feta pasta. Basically, this dish is everything we want a pasta dinner to be.

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Calling all mall rats and people who just love delicious, easy chicken recipes! This bourbon chicken is the mall food court dish of our dreams. If you were hanging out in malls in the '90s, you've likely been chased down in the food court to sample this delectable, perfectly sauced chicken thigh recipe on a toothpick. Now as an adult, you can make this dish at home in the convenience of the Instant Pot any time you like.

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In the world of powerhouse pantry staples, harissa is a flavor bomb. We’re no strangers to its magic here at Delish—we've already stirred it into clams and aioli, and used it to spice up turkey breast and meatballs—and now we’re tapping it again for this easy, throw-together marinade for grilled chicken thighs. Not gonna lie, this chicken dinner is a surefire winner.

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Tandoori chicken is a tender, flavor-bombed chicken dish that’s a staple in Indian cuisine. Though traditionally the chicken is grilled in a clay tandoor grill (hence the name), it’s possible to make it at home in your oven. The real standout in this timeless recipe is the use of a masala-yogurt marinade that coats the chicken throughout the cooking process, making it exceedingly juicy and extra flavorful.

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Get these spicy coconut chicken thighs on the grill, you won’t regret it. They're insanely tender thanks to a tasty duo of coconut milk and tenderizing pineapple juice in the marinade. The marinade is easy to prepare: Just chop the ginger and garlic and stir the rest together; the thighs can be marinated for as little as 20 minutes or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.

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After a long day, this dish is oh so comforting, not in the least because it all comes together in one pot. Just don’t skip the Italian side dishes! We love this served on its own with crusty bread for dipping, or garlic bread if you're feeling fancy.

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Having easy, one-pan dinners in your back pocket is the key to looking like a hero come mealtime, especially on busy days. This dish is the perfect example: Chicken, orzo, spinach, and feta come together into a complete meal that’s quick enough for a weeknight, but beautiful enough to serve to friends at a dinner party. It’s easy and delicious and, best of all, won’t load up your sink with a ton of dishes.

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This chicken dinner uses deeply flavored chicken thighs, simmered in an ultra-silky and aromatic sauce of tomatoes, cream, and cashews. The cashews lend a buttery nuttiness and great texture to the sauce in this recipe, but blanched almonds would also work well. For the ultimate weeknight dinner, spoon this dish over steamed rice or serve with warm naan.

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Japanese chicken karaage is basically fried chicken, but with a twist (the meat is seasoned, then coated with flour). The word karaage (pronounced kah-raa-geh) refers to the Japanese method of frying, and these double-fried bites couldn't be more deliciously crispy!

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This quick and easy one-pan dish is the perfect weeknight staple. It’s a little bit spicy without being crazy hot. The rice reminds us of the perfect filling for a burrito, where it’s cheesy and creamy. The green chiles add a slight pickled flavor to the dish, making it bright and kind of tangy. It’s a great meal when you're feeling lazy but craving something cozy and flavorful.

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Most chicken Dijon recipes call for breast meat, but skin-on bone-in dark meat is always the better option for a saucy dish like this one; the chances of overcooking the meat are much lower. In the vein of chicken scallopini and our fan fave , this dish is an ultra-creamy affair with simple seasoning, best if served over cooked rice, angel hair pasta, or crusty sourdough bread so that you have something to soak up every last bit of deliciousness.

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Fried chicken has never been easier than with our super-simple recipe, ready in under 30 mins! You may never get take-out again.

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Freshen up a classic dish, lemon chicken and potatoes, by spooning the most flavorful olive, almond, and parsley sauce over top. Prepared from the pan drippings, the sauce is so simple to make without getting out an extra pot. The best part? This entire recipe is made in just one dish, making dinner (and cleanup) easier than ever.

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