How to Make Crispy Chicken Thighs
There are many ways to prepare crispy, crackling chicken thighs. Luckily, chicken comes equipped with its own potentially crispy coating – the skin. And not only does cooking with the skin on give you a golden, crunchy exterior, it also helps seal in moisture and ensures a tender, flavourful interior.
Baking is a simple, foolproof way to get crispy chicken thighs. Simply season the chicken thighs and bake, skin-side up until the inside is cooked and the skin is golden brown. And adding vegetables to the baking sheet will turn it into a one-sheet meal, like this recipe for Sheet Pan Roast Chicken Thighs with Fennel & Potatoes.
The skillet is another useful tool, and can be used to sear the chicken and then transferred to the oven to continue cooking. This gives the exterior of the chicken a caramelized crunch and cooks the interior to perfection, like this recipe for Bacon Garlic Skillet Chicken. Barbecuing is another excellent way to attain a crispy piece of chicken, and delivers a smoky flavour, like these Barbecued Chicken Thighs au Vin.
Alternatively, you can try adding your own crispy coating. Batter, bread crumbs, crushed nuts or crackers all make excellent coatings that will yield a crispy, craggy crust full of texture. Fried chicken is a classic example – chicken is battered with layers of flour and egg and then fried to golden perfection. But you don’t have to deep fry your chicken to get these kinds of results. Baking or pan frying works just as well, like with this Crispy Curried Chicken. Marinades can also be used, especially when they contain sugar, which caramelizes when cooked at high temperatures. This recipe for Spicy Honey Brushed Chicken Thighs uses a honey-based marinade and oven-sears the chicken before lowering the temperature. This creates a sweet, crispy coating.
Whichever method you choose, crispy chicken thighs are just a few simple steps away.
