This straightforward Skillet Rooster Thighs recipe provides you tremendous moist and juicy rooster in underneath half-hour! We predict rooster thighs are significantly underrated. Bone-in with pores and skin provides you wonderful taste and that good, crispy pores and skin. With a contact of lemon for added freshness and tang, this 30-minute meal is simply what it is advisable to shake up your weekly dinner routine.
Love this recipe? Strive our straightforward, Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
Why Our Recipe
- Rooster thighs are juicy each time with probably the most stunning, crispy pores and skin.
- Completely cooked on the stovetop and prepared in underneath half-hour.
- Simply repurpose leftovers for soups, salads, and tacos.

For those who’ve been following this weblog for some time then you understand that we’ve got a keenness for rooster thighs. They’re simply so dang scrumptious and versatile, we are able to’t get sufficient of them! They’re a go-to reduce for straightforward meals on busy weeknights, or when cooking for a crowd. We all know it may be scary to enterprise away from the boneless skinless rooster you might be used to, however we promise that after you style that crispy pores and skin, and the moist and tender meat, you’ll fall in love.
Ingredient Notes


- Rooster Thighs: Bone-in, skin-on rooster thighs are good for this recipe. You need to use boneless skinless, however you gained’t get that scrumptious crispy pores and skin.
- Lemon: Sliced and used for garnish, including a contemporary pop of shade and tang.
- Herbs and Spices: Our mix of paprika, garlic and onion powder, dried oregano and basil, and black pepper provides a savory depth of taste to this rooster.
- Butter: Helps to crisp up the rooster pores and skin. Divide it into 8 items so every thigh will get its personal little pat of butter.
Rooster Cuts
We desire this recipe with bone-in rooster thighs with pores and skin. You’ll be able to at all times use this identical technique with totally different cuts of rooster like boneless skinless thighs or rooster breasts however for probably the most taste, you need to use bone-in and skin-on.
Cooking time for various cuts of rooster can differ relying on measurement and thickness. For those who’re cooking with rooster breasts, we suggest utilizing a meat tenderizer to even out the thickness. All the time prepare dinner rooster to an inner temperature of 165 °F. Nevertheless, we desire to let rooster thighs prepare dinner till 172°F for optimum taste and juiciness.
Bone-in and Crispy Pores and skin
Rooster thighs have a good quantity of meat on them, and a superb crispy rooster pores and skin is to die for. The trick to getting crispy pores and skin is guaranteeing it doesn’t sit in any moisture and has direct warmth to crisp it up. With rooster thighs, the darkish meat stays juicy whereas the pores and skin crisps, so it will take loads to your meat to dry out. The bone additionally helps convey out the rooster’s flavors whereas retaining it moist.
To realize completely crispy rooster pores and skin, pat the rooster thighs dry with paper towels to take away any extra moisture earlier than seasoning and cooking. Organize the thighs in a single layer in your baking dish, guaranteeing they aren’t touching to permit warmth to flow into evenly. Inserting a small pat of butter on every thigh provides taste and aids in crisping the pores and skin.


Make it a Meal
Steamed Rice: A easy aspect of steamed rice is a superb solution to benefit from the flavorful juices from the rooster. Rice is a superb possibility as a result of it absorbs all of the scrumptious drippings. You need to use plain white rice or brown rice relying in your desire.
Potatoes: We love this crispy rooster paired with easy, roasted potatoes or served on high of fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes.
Greens: Add some inexperienced with some roasted broccoli or Brussel sprouts. You’ll be able to at all times make issues straightforward with our frozen veggies hacks. The entire level of this dinner is to maintain issues easy!
Storage and Reheating Directions
Refrigerate any leftover rooster thighs in an hermetic container. They’ll keep good for as much as 3 days.
Reheat within the microwave by inserting a rooster thigh on a microwave-safe plate and canopy with a microwave-safe lid or one other plate. Warmth on medium energy for 1 minute then examine the rooster. Microwave in extra 30-second increments as wanted till heated by. This technique is fast however might not maintain the pores and skin as crispy.
Reheat in an air fryer by inserting rooster thighs in a single layer within the air fryer basket and warmth at 350 levels Fahrenheit for 5-7 minutes, or till warmed by and the pores and skin is crispy.