With these braised chicken thighs recipes, you’ll find comfort food meal ideas that the whole family will love. Who says braising chicken thighs is difficult? Braising is simply and gently cooking a cheaper cut of meat in a liquid until it transforms into a tender, fall off the bone masterpiece.
A good cook knows that fat means flavor. Simply put, chicken thighs have more fat than chicken breasts which makes them a perfect candidate for a long slow simmer in your favorite flavored liquid.
Braising chicken thighs are cheaper than breasts and nearly impossible to over-cook them. They are extremely forgiving when it comes to cook times, making them the perfect recipe for even a beginner cook.
Below you’ll find a line-up of braised chicken thighs recipes to add to your meal plan rotation. There’s something for everyone, from traditional to exotic, recipes that the whole family will love.
Cast Iron Skillet Rosemary Braised Chicken Thighs With White Wine
A stove-top to oven one pot meal that loaded with luscious savory flavors in a rich white wine sauce. Easy and quick and delicious dinner recipe.
Check out this recipe
Coconut Milk Braised Chicken Thighs with Harissa and Lime
Super tender, juicy chicken thighs slow-cooked in creamy coconut milk, harissa paste, brown sugar, lime juice, and a touch of fish sauce. Serve over rice, top with fresh cilantro and lime wedges for a comforting, nourishing meal thats ready in under an hour!
Dijon Braised Chicken Thighs
These Braised Chicken Thighs are comfort food at its best. Crispy chicken thighs braised in a Dijon sauce with potatoes. I could eat this every day.
Braised Chicken Thighs with Carrots and Potatoes
This recipe for braised chicken with carrots and potatoes combines seared chicken thighs and tender vegetables in a single dish that makes for an easy and healthy dinner.
Braised Chicken Thighs Stovetop – Tangerine Chicken with Star Anise
A seared chicken thigh recipe that’s simmered in an exciting broth of tangerine, Sriracha and star anise. And tips on searing chicken thighs to insure an easy one pot braised chicken dinner.
Check out this recipe
So How Do You Braise?
How do you braise? It’s simple. Braising is a two step process where, in this case, bone in, skin on chicken is first seared crispy in a neutral oil and then simmered in a flavorful liquid such as broth or wine.
Braising means to partially cover the meat with cooking liquid. If you cover the meat entirely, you’re stewing not braising.
Once the meat is seared, the low and slow cooking process is pretty much hands off, filling your kitchen with an intoxicating aroma that will find you craving dinner all afternoon.
Some of the most commonly braised meat recipes you’ll find will include cuts of meat like chicken thighs, chicken legs, pork shoulder roast (Boston Butt), like used for this Carne Adovada. Beef short ribs and lamb shoulder and also commonly braised.
The end result is super tender, flavorful meat with a very desirable crispy crust. Sounds perfect doesn’t it? It is.
Let’s Talk Pans
Braised chicken thighs recipes are some of the most rewarding and easier meals you can prepare. There’s no need to be intimidated by braising, after all, one of America’s best known is old fashioned Sunday Pot Roast.
And more than likely you have all the equipment you need. A heavy pot such as a Dutch oven or cast iron skillet will work beautifully. And even your slow-cooker works like a charm.
The secret is to get a good sear on the meat before seasoning, saucing and cooking.
When it comes to chicken, thighs are always a great choice. That dark meat is super flavorful and super tender once braised.It’s the best part of the chicken in my humble opinion.
Cast Iron Skillet Chicken thighs with Lemon, Potatoes and Olives
Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Thighs with lemon, seared crispy, then finished in the oven with potatoes and olives. The result is chicken thighs and potatoes that are tender and juicy on the inside and bursting with beautiful fresh lemony flavor.
Check out this recipe
Easy Skillet Dijon Chicken
Easy Skillet Dijon Chicken gets dinner on the table in 40 minutes that comes with a slow cooked taste. Chicken thighs are cooked with shallots, rosemary, white wine and Dijon mustard that makes a dairy-free, creamy sauce/gravy. A really good one pan dinner.
Chicken Marengo
A beautiful over the top braised chicken recipe that’s perfect for entertaining for your next dinner party. Hearty and with a sauce that’s full of amazing flavors.
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Chicken Cacciatore
This Chicken Cacciatore, or Hunter-style chicken, is a delicious and healthy one-pot meal, with golden braised chicken thighs with mushrooms, sweet bell peppers, tomatoes, and green olives.
Braised Chicken Thighs with Potatoes, Mushrooms and Dried Cherries
Braised Chicken Thighs are made extra delicious with Porcini Mushrooms and Dried Cherries. Adding potatoes makes this a one-pot comfort food meal that your family will devour.
What Pan Is Best For Braising?
The key to a successful braised chicken thighs recipe is to make sure you have a good quality skillet that is a champion at conducting even heat. Such as a cast iron skillet or a French steel pan. You can also use a good quality Dutch Oven to make to make Dutch oven chicken thighs for a one pan chicken recipe.
All are great choices because they’re suited to go from stove-top to oven without missing a beat. Braised chicken can be finished stove-top or in the oven for an easy one pan dinner.
Pro tip: Always pat chicken dry with a paper towel before adding to the hot oil to sear. Removing moisture will yield a quicker and crispier sear.
As I learned in Culinary School, don’t use a non-stick pan for anything much other than cooking eggs, or delicate fish. Non-stick pans simply won’t heat up hot enough to produce a good sear. They won’t give you the crispiness or browning that want to achieve that Maillard Reaction.
… More braised Chicken Thigh Recipes
The Best Coq au Vin
Slowly braised chicken cooks in a rich red wine sauce with a bundle of fresh herbs, bacon, pearl onions and mushrooms to make this fall-off-the-bone tender, flavorful coq au vin.
Crispy Braised Chicken Thighs in Tomatillo Wine Sauce
Flavorful fork-tender, juicy chicken thighs resting in a tangy Mexican green sauce. A delicious and easy one-pot chicken dinner.A meal that will remind you of one from your favorite Mexican restaurants.
Check out this recipe
Braised Chicken Thighs with Leeks
Braised chicken thighs with leeks inlemon garlic butter sauce,that is. Hello, favorite skillet chicken recipes!
Classic Chicken Cacciatore
This recipe for chicken cacciatore is a classic dish made with braised chicken and an assortment of vegetables, all cooked together in a flavorful tomato sauce. It’s an easy dinner that the whole family will love!
Braised Chicken Thighs with Cheez-it Mac and Cheese
This is one of the best things I've made in a long time, and a guaranteed cure to….anything. Promise.
What Oil Should I Use For Braising Chicken Thighs?
Not only is using the right pan important in insuring a crispy outer layer on any meat, so is using the right kind of oil.
An oil with a high smoking point such as safflower oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, or peanut oil. All of these are refined oils, which means they’ll get hotter, and they are neutral in flavor. They’re better suited at cooking at higher temperatures, which will insure a crispy fried chicken thigh.
If you don’t get the skin of that chicken crispy enough, it will become flabby when simmered in that braising liquid. Not a good textural experience.
Pro-tip: Hot pan, cold oil. Always heat your pan before adding cold oil. Then wait until the oil is shimmering before adding your meat to sear. Hot oil will yield a quicker and crispier sear.
If you’re looking to learn all about smoking points and cooking with different oils, take a look at this article. Lots of good information. And important to learn if you’re serious about your cooking skills.
….And Even More Recipes
Cajun Braised Chicken Thighs
TheseCajun Braised Chicken Thighs, are tender, moist, and juicy chicken thighs,with a zesty chicken gravy, that make a hearty, rustic, spicy comfort food meal, especially when served over rice or mashed potatoes.
Lemon Sage Braised Chicken Thighs
Perfectly browned and moist, this chicken dish is bursting with bright lemon, earthy sage and butter.
Braised Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms
Juicy chicken thighs and mushrooms in a savory white wine sauce make for a delicious recipe that will be on rotation all year long! Just sear and bake everything together in the oven and dinner’s ready!
Chipotle Braised Chicken Thighs with Creamy Tequila Sauce
Chicken Thighs braised with tomato, onion and chipotle meets a spicy creamy tequila sauce for a very special dinner entree.
Check out this recipe
One Pan Braised Chicken Thighs with White Beans and Cabbage
One pan braised chicken with white beans, cabbage, mushrooms and bacon is the ultimate winter dinner made with chicken thighs.
And if you’re looking for even more chicken recipes, don’t miss my Chicken Category. You’ll find lots of great chicken recipes for dinner. Including the most popular on my site for Chicken Barbacoa.
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.
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Lea Ann Brown
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
