Our creamy chicken thigh recipes are quick and easy guides to one-pan or one-skillet dishes that make fantastic options for serving midweek suppers. Packed with rich, creamy, and nutritious ingredients, these crispy skinned and tender chicken thighs served in a mouthwateringly creamy sauce are perfect for a quick dinner when paired with veggies and/or rice.
How Do These Creamy Chicken Thighs Taste Like?
Our creamy chicken thigh recipes feature a rich, buttery sauce that pairs wonderfully with a juicy tender fried or grilled chicken and a mix of fresh vegetables.
Among all types of chicken cuts, we favor chicken thighs the most in creamy dishes. The reason is simple: when compared to other cuts, thigh meat is fattier, more flavorful, and more tender. Using chicken thighs also means a shorter cooking time on the stove.
Additionally, it's simple to prepare chicken thighs without having to worry too much about the meat becoming dry. They’re so flexible and go well with just about every cream sauce, spice mix, and vegetables. You can cook the chicken thighs directly on the stovetop or baked in the oven until all sides are beautifully golden.
The creamy gravy is obviously the star in today's dishes. Sautéed minced shallots and garlic are common ingredients in creamy sauces, as they infuse the dish with more depth, complexity, and aroma. The sauce will also get a flavor boost from heavy cream, chicken broth, mustard, fresh herbs, white wine, vinegar, hot spices, etc.
In our recipes, we have carefully tested to make sure the creamy sauce that complements the crispy juicy chicken thighs is a balanced combination of flavors, colors, and textures. We also make sure that in most cases, evaporated milk, reduced-fat cream, or half-and-half cream can be used as an alternative if you're watching your daily calories or fat intake. Let's unpack them later when we carry on to the recipe part!
Collection of Creamy Chicken Thighs Recipes
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Chicken Alfredo Recipe
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Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Recipe
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Creamy Chicken Thigh Recipe
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Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe
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Chicken Risotto Recipe
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Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara Recipe
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Chicken Florentine Soup Recipe
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Ground Chicken Pasta Recipe
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Chicken Fricassee Recipe
What Is The Best Method For Cooking Creamy Chicken Thighs?
1. Searing Chicken in the Skillet:
To sear chicken thighs on a pan, first, wash and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. Next, fry the garlic in butter until fragrant, then brown the chicken thighs for 7 minutes on each side or until the skin is deeply golden and crispy.
Depending on the size of your pan, sear the thighs in batches of two or three, with a maximum of three filets at a time. Give each thigh some room so that they may sear to a gorgeous golden brown color, sealing in moisture and giving your chicken the juicy flavor you desire.
Also, you’ll need a decent quality pan to prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom. To get the skin crispy, be sure to sear them on medium-high heat; any lower and the skin would absorb too much oil before the oil is hot enough to crisp up the outer layer.
2. Baking in the Oven:
Baked chicken thighs require no fancy ingredients to yield a restaurant-tasty result. Also, you can season them in a variety of ways, so don't worry if you are missing one or two ingredients.
For consistent cooking, make sure the chicken thighs are about the same size, and bring them to room temperature before baking. Normally, bone-in chicken thighs take around 40 to 45 minutes to cook through with crispy skin, and the thickest part should read 165 degrees F for food safety.
For now, we'll walk you through the main steps for baking chicken thighs in the oven.
First, preheat the oven while preparing the ingredients. Pat the chicken dry with a kitchen towel before being marinated with a seasoning mix. The chicken thighs should be pat dry in order to have the excess moisture removed, otherwise, the skin won't be able to crisp up.
Next, arrange the marinated chicken in a baking dish in a single layer. Bake them in the oven, set the time and temperature to the instructions in your recipe.
While the chicken is cooking, prepare the creamy sauce. After removing the chicken from the oven, bast them with the meat juice from baking and the creamy sauce. Garnish as you wish, and serve hot, voila!
What Should I Serve With Creamy Chicken Thighs?
- A bed of carb: One of the greatest ways to enjoy chicken thighs is to serve them over a bed of carb that can absorb the creamy sauce like a charm. Some of the best options are cooked rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or even low carb Keto substitutes like mashed cauliflower or zucchini noodles.
- Roasted vegetables: Roasting veggies makes them universally palatable in almost every kind of meal, especially those with grilled meats and creamy dishes as the main courses. Naturally, root vegetables like potatoes, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and carrots are tried-and-true roasting candidates. However, the options are also expanded on a wide range, which includes crunchy ones like zucchini, onions, bell peppers, and cabbage. If you’re unsure whether a certain vegetable can be roasted, now is the chance to experiment your ideas.
- Green salads: Delicious and simple green salads are always listed among the easiest and extremely adaptable side dishes to make. They go well with almost any main dish, no matter if you’re having grilled meat, burger, or pizza. Don't know where to start? Take a look at our collection of the basic yet irresistible salad recipes to pick out your favorites!