Poultry Essentials Crispy Chicken Thighs Recipes

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: EASY CRISPY CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• Chef's Note: I made this recipe using a baking sheet, and sauté pan (as the photos indicate). The next time I do this, I will use an ovenproof pan, and make this a one-pan dish.
• Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
• Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 250f (120c).
• Take the two chicken thighs, brush both sides with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then place (skin side up) on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Place in the preheated oven for 45 - 50 minutes.
• Add the butter to a sauté pan, over medium-high heat.
• When the foaming subsides, add the chicken breasts, skin side down, and then using your fingers, or a spatula, press the chicken thighs into the pan.
• Flip when the skin is a nice golden brown, about 2 - 3 minutes, and allow the other side to cook for about 60 seconds.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• Slice, and serve with your favorite side. Enjoy.
• Chef's Note: To make this even easier, I used some leftover chicken-stock-infused white rice.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: CRISPY CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• If you are doing the optional brine, then add all the ingredients to the water, and whisk until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved. Add the chicken thighs, and place in the fridge for 3 - 4 hours. I like how the tamari flavors the chicken; however, if you are not too sure about it, just leave it out.
• The reason I do not include any salt in the spice mix, is because I am brining the thighs. If you choose not to brine, then add about a teaspoon of salt, or to taste.
• Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
• Combine all of the spice mixture ingredients into a small bowl, and reserve.
• Take the chicken (after the brine), and pat dry. Then place on a plate or small sheet pan, and sprinkle with the potato starch.
• Chef's Note: The purpose of the potato starch is to help dry out the skin. It will not impart any flavor of its own. You could use salt, or baking soda, but both of those methods make the chicken taste a bit too salty for my palate.
• I like to remove the bone from the thighs before baking. The only reason for this is the final presentation; plus, without the bone, it makes it easier for my guests to slice. If you leave the bone in, no worries.
• Stick them in the fridge, uncovered, for 2 - 3 hours.
• Remove from the fridge, place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, fitted with a wire rack (if you have one). They should be skin-side up.
• Lightly brush the skins with the olive oil.
• Sprinkle with the reserved spice mixture, then let sit on the counter for 20 minutes.
• Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 425f (220c).
• Add the chicken thighs to the oven, and bake for 15 minutes.
• Lower the heat to 400f (205c), and cook until the internal temperature of the thighs reaches 165f (75c), about an additional 15 minutes.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• One of my favorite ways to serve these is on a plate of homemade pasta, and a nice spicy tomato sauce. But, how you serve them, is totally up to you.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

CRISPY AND TENDER BAKED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
• Arrange chicken thighs on prepared baking sheet.
• Combine garlic salt, onion salt, oregano, thyme, paprika, and pepper together in a small container with a lid. Close the lid and shake container until spices are thoroughly mixed. Sprinkle spice mixture liberally over chicken thighs.
• Bake chicken in the preheated oven until skin is crispy, thighs are no longer pink at the bone, and the juices run clear, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).