Chicken thighs to the rescue
This cut of meat should be your new go-to staple
Let’s make a deal: No more dry, tough, bland chicken breasts for dinner. Instead, it’s time to embrace moist, flavorful dark meat chicken thighs.
Chicken thighs, readily available at most grocery stores with skin-on and bone-in, are an excellent value. The bones and skin lock in moisture and flavor, making chicken thighs a particularly delicious piece of meat.
Use these convenient cuts in the oven, on the grill, in stews or in braises. You can also cook a bunch in advance to have delicious cooked chicken on hand for salads, sandwiches and quick meals.
If bone-in, skin-on meat isn’t your thing, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a great option and might be the easiest protein to cook. Because of chicken thighs’ inherent moistness and rich flavor, they are nearly impossible to overcook. Pair the meat with bold flavors, spicy sauces or sweet barbecue. Chicken thighs are incredibly versatile, as these four very different recipes prove.
First, there is a basic roasted chicken thigh. Seasoned simply with salt and pepper, they are a great base for meal prepping.
You can also add whatever seasonings you prefer or have on hand; garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning or lemon pepper all work wonderfully for a basic bone-in thigh.
Next, a sticky sesame-baked chicken will make you skip takeout or frozen dinners. Seriously, this recipe packs so much flavor into the chicken and the broccoli that it has become part of our weekly recipe rotation. The sesame sauce can be made up to a week in advance, really reducing preparation time. Purchase tomato paste in tubes for easy measuring and storage. Check the international section of most large supermarkets for Black bean garlic sauce. If you can’t find it, don’t stress; substitute hoisin sauce, sambal oelek or more tomato paste and sriracha.
Supper club-inspired chicken with artichokes and cream makes a luxurious (yet easy) weekday meal. Fresh thyme and grated lemon rind blend with cream and reduced wine for an elegant sauce bold enough for chicken thighs.
If you’re still in a grilling mood, tucking chicken thighs into a foil pack yields moist results with no fuss. Season the chicken with a special blend of curry powder, cider vinegar and raisins. Adding potatoes to the pack makes it a great casual supper.