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Home » Entrées » Chicken Recipes » Broiled Chicken Thighs

Broiled Chicken Thighs

October 14, 2018 by victor 24 Comments

Top down view of nicely browned broiled chicken thighs on a baking sheet.

Boneless and skinless chicken thighs are best when cooked quickly over high heat. That’s the reason why broiled chicken thighs are such a treat. It’s really is a shame that they are so underrated. Beautifully caramelized, with bits of charred meat, they taste almost like grilled chicken thighs. And they are incredibly juicy inside, which is the direct result of quick high heat cooking.

Benefits of broiling chicken thighs

But the benefits of broiling don’t stop with great, grilled-like taste. Another one is time saving. All it takes to broil chicken thighs is 7 minutes.  Yes, a great meal in under 10 minutes is hard to beat. You can even skip preheating the broiler.

After having done some experimenting, I found that the best way to broil chicken thighs is on the top rack, about 3-4 inches from the heating element. This close proximity to the heating element gives the best grill-like heat which results in the best caramelization. The thighs will be ready to eat in about 5 minutes. But don’t pull them out just yet, give them a couple more minutes under the broiler. You will be rewarded with a better crispiness, even some charring that many of us like. I also find that chicken thighs taste better when cooked a little higher than the 165F internal temperature.

Close up view of a juicy, crispy broiled chicken thigh.

Do you need to flip chicken thighs when broiling them?

Another great thing about broiling chicken thighs is that you don’t need to flip them. You can, of course. I used to do it, but then changed my broiling method to no flipping. I realized that it’s better to have one really browned and caramelized side than two inadequately browned ones.  You may be tempted to get a nice, rich caramelization on both sides, but you will be risking drying the meat out. Trust me and broil the thighs for 7 minutes on one side, without flipping, and you will have the most delicious broiled chicken thighs you’ve ever tasted.

Two juicy, moist broiled chicken thigh pieces on a fork.

Oh, and did I mention juicy?

Looking for more great skinless, boneless chicken thigh recipes? Check these out:

  • Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipe (Family Favorite)
  • Baked Maple Chicken Thighs
  • Thai Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs
Broiled Chicken Thighs, taste like grilled, tasty and juicy, ready in under 10 minutes. | ifoodblogger.com

Broiled Chicken Thighs

5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: broiled chicken thighs, healthy chicken
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6 chicken thighs
Calories: 158kcal
Author: Victor

Ingredients

  • 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp granulated garlic (or powdered garlic)
  • 1 tsp granulated onion (or powdered onion)
  • 1 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
  • cayenne pepper (optional, to taste)

Instructions

  • Position the top rack about 3 - 4 inches from the heating element. Set the oven to high broil and let it preheat.
  • Line a baking tray with foil.
  • Place chicken thighs in a large bowl. Add the oil, and the seasoning and mix well. Transfer the thighs to the baking tray and spread around, such that all thighs will be directly under the heating element.
  • Broil the thighs for about 7, until nicely browned and the internal temperature reads 165F plus. 
    Tip: the broiling time may vary depending on the oven and the power of the heating element, proximity to the heating element, etc. Pay close attention to the chicken at all times as it will only need minutes to cook.

Nutrition

Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 488mg | Potassium: 282mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.9mg

Looking for more great broiling recipes? Check these out:

  • Heavenly Broiled Chicken Breast
  • Broiled Pork Chops
  • Succulent Broiled Steak
  • Perfectly Broiled Salmon
  • Perfectly Broiled Chicken Wings
  • Broiled Steelhead Trout
  • Broiled Asparagus
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    Recipe Rating




     

  1. Christian

    January 31, 2023 at 7:45 pm

    I am sick and tired of this shake & bake
    And it’s way too cold to cook out side on a charcoal… I’m going to give me a recipe of whirl
    I’ll let you know how it turns out… Thank you for your recipe… Much appreciated

    Reply
    • victor

      February 06, 2023 at 12:21 pm

      Hope you like it, do let me know how it turns out. For indoor cooking, I love my air fryer. Broiler is good, air fryer is even better. Happy cooking!

      Reply
  2. Joan

    December 04, 2022 at 5:10 pm

    As I usually do the first time making a recipe, I made these according to the directions this evening. I did have to broil them 12 minutes, however, because I have an old oven that loses heat. They are delicious! I’ll definitely keep making them – juicy, nice mild flavor and easy.

    Reply
    • victor

      December 15, 2022 at 10:54 am

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Susan Thornburg

    August 25, 2022 at 9:39 pm

    I totally agree about cooking times…I spread the thighs out flat and let them rest on the foil lined tray for about 20 mins or so to get room temperature. I did not use the seasonings but instead used a thin coat of our favorite bbq sauce which is Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Sauce With Sriracha. Only because my husband is obsessed with it. Will try your seasonings next time for sure!…But you’re right!…Broiling is absolutely the way to go!… I set the rack on the second position from the top burners since it was bbq sauce and didn’t want it to burn…At 25 mins. it was perfect!…but letting the chicken come to room temp is the key before broiling…Thank you…I never used my broiler for this…always the grill…Love your technique❤️

    Reply
    • victor

      September 01, 2022 at 6:12 am

      Good to hear it, Susan. ENjoy! Please, try my other recipes here and on Taste of Artisan.

      Reply
  4. Julie

    April 15, 2022 at 7:42 pm

    Do you spread the thighs out so they are thin? The thighs I get are usually sort of rolled up.

    Reply
    • victor

      April 21, 2022 at 9:51 am

      Yes, I spread them out as thin as possible.

      Reply
  5. Beverly

    March 14, 2022 at 2:27 pm

    My chicken thighs came out good but not crispy. Very juicy. What did I do wrong

    Reply
    • victor

      March 14, 2022 at 3:25 pm

      Try closer to the heating element. If the chicken meat had water/broth injected, some vendors do that nonsense, it could lead to poor browning. You can also try broiling on a cooling rack with a baking tray underneath to catch the drippings otherwise the meat will be broiling in a pool of water which will prevent browning. Some ovens don’t have a strong heating element, my new gas oven’s broiling is not as strong as my old electric oven’s.

      Reply
  6. carl

    April 11, 2021 at 5:24 pm

    Well, don’t know how you broil thighs in 7 minute. Mine were still bleeding after 21minutes

    Reply
    • victor

      April 11, 2021 at 10:16 pm

      Broiling is like grilling, very quick. If your thighs were bleeding after 21 minutes there may be something off with your stove or you broiled them too far away from the broiler. Or the thighs were ginormous. Sometimes a little experimenting is needed.

      Reply
    • jazz11

      September 05, 2022 at 7:05 pm

      I often see that when people try to cook still frozen meat. Also as mentioned above broiling is usually you moving the oven rack to the top level of your oven so the meat is getting direct heat.

      Reply
  7. Joan

    March 17, 2021 at 4:47 pm

    Nice flavor, including the cayenne, and seriously juicy! Fast and simple for an easy weeknight meal.

    Reply
  8. Lurch

    February 28, 2021 at 8:34 pm

    What temperature do you broil at?

    Reply
    • victor

      March 05, 2021 at 9:08 pm

      I broil on high. I only have hi/lo setting on the broiler, no specific temperature.

      Reply
  9. Sharmin

    February 15, 2021 at 12:58 am

    Thank you very much for the method. I used this broiling technique to broil chicken thighs to make Thai chicken-saytay, and it worked out perfectly! Soft and juicy and the charred effect was excellent. Thai people grill boneless chicken thighs threaded in skewers. I am not Thai, but love Thai food. I wanted to make Thai satay for a quick dinner at home. I decided to broil, I just wasn’t sure how long to broil for, hence the search, which landed me here. Thank you very much.

    Reply
    • victor

      February 21, 2021 at 7:53 pm

      You are very welcome.

      Reply
  10. Gabriel

    January 09, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    How would you alter this recipe for bone-in thighs with skin on?

    Reply
    • victor

      January 10, 2021 at 10:49 am

      I would do the same way. It may take a touch longer to cook but essentially no difference. I broil chicken wings (skin on obviously) and they cook and brown very well.

      Reply
  11. Dee-Dee

    January 19, 2020 at 6:27 pm

    Perhaps i don’t get it, I have no idea how a tablespoon of olive oil with seasonings is going to coat six whole chicken thighs. Ended up having to add more olive oil halfway through.

    Reply
    • victor

      January 20, 2020 at 7:10 am

      You drizzle the olive oil over the chicken thighs then rub with your hands. This creates a nice thin layer. No need to add more but either way it will be fine.

      Reply
  12. Philip

    December 23, 2018 at 10:12 am

    Such as simple and delicious recipe. I served the thighs with steamed vegetables and they were delicious!!!

    Reply
  13. Sven

    December 22, 2018 at 10:13 am

    My broiled chicken thighs turned out amazing and liked how they were crispy on the outside and very juicy on the inside. Great recipe!

    Reply

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Hi, I am Victor and welcome to my blog dedicated to simple and delicious everyday food... Read more...
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