I can't get enough of fried chicken thighs. I love the flavor that dark meat has over white, which makes me happy; however, you could use breasts instead if thigh pieces have more fat – which they do! For a quick 30-minute supper dish to make when we're low on time and ingredients in our pantry? We go with cumin and rosemary for some delicious cooking spices.
Whether you enjoy your meat white or dark, this fantastic chicken recipe is perfect for any night of the week.
One of the most popular cuts for grilling, broiling, and frying is a chicken thigh. The dark meat has its unique flavor to make your meal stand out from traditional white meats like breasts or wings.
Although best on the grill with salt and spices rubbed into skin before cooking, this cut can also be marinated in solid flavors such as soy sauce or ginger-sesame oil mixture for an authentic Asian dish that will have everyone asking. About the recipe!
What Are Chicken Thighs?
Chicken thighs are a favorite cut of dark meat poultry with chefs and home cooks alike, thanks to their flavor and tenderness. Because dark meat contains more tendons, chicken thighs are a tough cut, but they contain more fat than white meat. They become tender and juicy when cooked properly. They also boast more flavor than white meat.
Chicken thighs are sold bone-in and a skin-on, bone-in and skinless, and boneless and skinless. All three preparations can be cooked straight from the package. Boneless thighs cost a bit more, but they are still considerably cheaper than breasts.
Storing chicken thighs in your refrigerator or freezer will not only keep the fresh chicken longer but also allow the chicken to defrost quickly. It is better to freeze chicken thighs than chicken breasts if you have a small family because chicken breasts take longer to cook. To store chicken, wrap the meat tightly with plastic wrap and place it inside an airtight Ziploc bag. This will prevent the chicken from absorbing other food smells in your refrigerator.
Chicken thighs are available fresh, frozen, or deli-cooked. Fresh chicken is cut into smaller pieces and sold in bins at some grocery stores; if so, place chicken in the coldest part of your refrigerator to keep chicken chilled. Cook chicken thighs right after you purchase chicken; chicken is safe to eat for 3-4 days if it is handled properly.
How Many Calories in Chicken Thighs?
Chicken thighs are a popular option for lean protein, as it packs a considerable amount into a single serving without a lot of fat. But you may wonder exactly how many calories are in that chicken thighs on your plate. A 100-gram serving provides 209 calories, 26 grams of protein, and 10.9 grams of fat. Thus, 53% of the calories come from protein, while 47% come from fat.
If chicken thighs are sautéed or grilled with minimal oil instead of fried in copious amounts of butter or oil to make chicken strips, then chicken thighs are relatively low in fat. Chicken thighs are also high enough in protein that it is a good option for anyone who wants to maintain their weight while getting the nutrients they need.
Cumin and Rosemary Chicken Thighs
- Time to Prepare: 15 minutes
- Time to Cook: 15 minutes
- Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 16 medium boneless skinless chicken thighs olive oil.
- 1 cup sea salt.
- 1 cup ground cumin.
- 2 tbsp ground pepper.
- 3 tbsp ground rosemary.
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees F.
- Combine sea salt, cumin, pepper, and rosemary to make a scrub.
- Apply a thin layer of olive oil to the chicken by brushing or spraying the chicken.
- Put the rubbing mixture in a plastic bag and place the chicken thighs in the bag one at a time, shaking the bag well to coat the chicken feathers.
- When all chicken is coated, air fry (single layer) for 15 minutes at 320°F, turning every 5 minutes. You may need to cook multiple batches depending on the size of your air fryer to preserve a single layer for even cooking.
