Pernil-Style Roasted Chicken Thighs Recipe (2024)

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Michelle

Lovely and easy recipe. Added a little lime and orange zest to the Cilantro and it really made the flavor pop out.

cannedyou

I followed recipe quantities but using only 4 thighs and found it to be the right amount of seasoning and liquid in the pan; so for 8 thighs, I would use more juice, etc than suggested. I also used more onion and they were delicious with rice. Took other suggestion of adding orange and lime zest to the cilantro, great suggestion.

tnwilli

Tasty. Made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cooked for 15-20 minutes; marinated the chicken with onions for a couple of hours in oil mixture; will double the juices, garlic, and onions and marinate longer next time; served with brown rice and black beans

Leslie

I reduced the oil in half and poured the oil mixture over the chicken and onions in a bowl to marinate for an hour. Terrific.

Richard

As you said, the photo shows the chicken on a sheet pan. It does not imply that is how you serve it. I don't think a photo of shredded chicken would reveal as much about the dish as this photo does.And of course you don't have to debone and shred the chicken if you don't want to.

Afi

It's Puerto Rican as well.

Molly

Muy sabroso. Served alongside pink rice & beans with capers & green olives, avocado and a healthy dose of Hector Lavoe. Just right for a Wisconsin snowstorm when you're dreaming of PR.

cathy

Double the sauce for 4 thighs..

Jeff

Loved this! I think next time I'd debone the chicken before cooking. The meat near the bones was still too hot to touch after 10 minutes. Working quickly to avoid getting burned (and get dinner on the table) I wound up leaving a few bits of cartilage in the chopped chicken mixture. I'm sure there's some flavor drawn out of the bones during cooking but it wasn't worth the hassle.

corynne

I let the chicken marinade for 1-2 hours. I added sliced garlic and a sliced jalapeño to the oil and citrus. I also pat the chicken very dry and seasoned with Goya adobo as well as salt and pepper then placed in bag w marinade. It turned out very delish with a 35 minute roast at 450!

Jon Bernardo

Double the onions and the sauce components. For oregano, use 1TBSP dried.

elizabeth

Added zest as well and cooked atop steamed sushi rice for an added sticky rice twist. SO good!!

Keith

The recipe calls for cilantro besides what you need for garnish but never says where it belongs (I assumed in the oil). We served it over rice and some lime and sauzon seasoning amped up the flavor quite a bit. It took it from good to very good.

RCook2009

I cooked exactly according to recipe and it was very tasty. Next time I will double the marinade for 8 thighs but still was tasty. I served with rice, beans and a chopped salad. Family ate every bit!

Maria S.

Off the charts delicious! I had to omit the cilantro and substitute parsley. I used smaller amount of dried oregano instead of fresh. Threw some cubed potatoes onto the sheet pan to soak up the juices alongside the onion. Served with salad and bread. This will go into regular rotation.

Ruas

This recipe is perfection! Easy, quick, delicious!

Peter

This was tasty, but way overcooked and there was no sauce left. Next time, I'll use more juice and cook for less time.

Cibele

I made it exactly like the recipe suggests and it turned out scrumptious! My husband, who is hard to please, had one comment: "Did you keep this recipe?"

Harry

So the skin gets tossed with the bones?

Cibele

No! Please, do not toss the skin with the bones. The skin becomes crunchy and is delicious...

helen

This dish was blander than expected - the chicken didn’t soak up the sauce and the cook time should definitely be more like 35 mins. Adding capers tied it together but I probably wouldn’t make it again

Amanda Beresford

Juicy chicken and a nice if somewhat elusive flavour, but the recipe quantities don't give enough juice since it mainly burned onto the pan. 40 minutes wasn't long enough to crisp the chicken and cook it through, hence the burned juices. Next time, I will try more citrus, onion, and adding zest as some readers suggest. I agree that marinating for an hour or so beforehand would help to intensify the flavour.

Genie

Not as wonderful as all that. Just ok. Too sweet and dry with amounts in the recipe. I’d add some red pepper (as I did) to jazz it up. I think it also needs more juice and oil to keep it moist.

Phein64

Chicken was excellent. I threw in a pair of B/S breasts for the spouse, who won't eat thighs. Next time, I would probably cook at 375 or 400 for the 40 minutes. At 425, it was at 175 degrees in 30 minutes, which is great for the thighs, not so great for the breasts.

Frankie

Would this recipe work as well if you left the thighs whole rather than chopping the chicken?

Sherrypi

This is a spectacular recipe. I’ve made it several times and it’s always delicious. The only changes I have made is substituting boneless skinless thighs, Meyer lemon for the orange juice, and I marinate it several hours or overnight. Goes with everything.

ken

Is cilantro used i the marinade or just as a garnish? To me recipe was not precise

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Pernil-Style Roasted Chicken Thighs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do chicken thighs get more tender the longer you cook them? ›

Yes! Dark meat becomes more tender the longer it cooks because it has more connective tissue than white meat. The connective tissues break down the hotter the internal temperature becomes which renders the chicken thighs juicy, moist, and tender.

How do you cook chicken thighs so they don't dry out? ›

The key is to cook the chicken thighs in a 400 degree F oven for 50 minutes. This will allow for the skin to get crispy and the meat to be juicy. If you are not sure the chicken is ready, just poke it wit a knife. If the juices run clear it's done.

Is it better to bake chicken thighs at 350 or 400? ›

Is it better to bake chicken thighs at 350 or 400? It is recommended to bake chicken thighs at 400ºF. This medium-high heat ensures the juiciest results! Chicken thighs should be roasted in the oven at 400ºF for 40-45 minutes, then broiled for 2 more minutes to get juicy meat and crispy skin!

At what temp are chicken thighs most tender? ›

Are chicken thighs done at 165? While chicken leg and thigh meat are still safe at 165 degrees F, it is recommended to cook it to an internal temperature of about 170-175 degrees F to improve the flavor and tenderness.

What is the best temperature to cook chicken thighs? ›

In our basic meal prep boneless chicken thighs recipe, they take about 25 to 30 minutes baked at 425 degrees F. You'll know the chicken thighs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Why aren't my chicken thighs crispy? ›

Start the chicken in a COLD pan and cook over medium heat. Starting it in a cold pan will allow the fat to slowly render out and the skin will be super crispy and golden. If you started in a warm / hot pan, the fat won't completely render out of the skin.

What makes chicken thighs tough? ›

Because dark meat contains more tendons, chicken thighs are a tough cut, but because they contain more fat than white meat, they become tender and juicy when cooked properly. They also boast more flavor than white meat.

Should I flip chicken thighs when baking? ›

Sprinkle with sea salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Bake chicken thighs. Place the chicken skin side down on a baking sheet (or in a baking dish), and bake. Flip and continue baking, until the inside is cooked through and the skin is crispy and golden brown.

Should I cover my chicken thighs when baking? ›

We don't cover our skin-on chicken thighs because we want that skin to get nice and crispy! To achieve this just follow these 4 simple steps! Place your chicken on top of a metal rack set inside a large rimmed baking sheet.

What's the difference between roasting and baking chicken thighs? ›

Key Differences Between Roasting & Baking

Roasting involves cooking foods that already have a set structure before the cooking process begins, like most meats and vegetables. During the baking process, ingredients that lack structure early on meld, merge, or solidify.

Should chicken thighs be room temperature before baking? ›

Prep the Thighs

This ensures that the skin will cook up to a nice crisp. Then season as desired. Make sure to let the thighs sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before adding them to a hot pan. This helps ensure the outside of the chicken isn't done before the inside.

Can you overcook chicken thighs in the oven? ›

Since they have a higher fat content and retain moisture during cooking, it's more difficult to overcook chicken thighs than it is to overcook chicken breasts. Particularly if you buy bone-in chicken thighs, they mostly just fall off of the bone if you leave them in the oven too long!

How long to keep chicken thighs in oven at 400? ›

Keep in mind that boneless skinless chicken thighs will require about less time.
  1. Chicken Thighs at 350°F – 50-55 minutes.
  2. Chicken Thighs at 375°F – 45-50 minutes.
  3. Chicken Thighs at 400°F – 40-45 minutes.
  4. Chicken Thighs at 425°F – 35-40 minutes (preferred method)
Jan 10, 2024

How long should chicken thighs be cooked? ›

How Long to Bake Chicken Thighs
  1. Chicken Thighs at 350°F – 50-55 minutes.
  2. Chicken Thighs at 375°F – 45-50 minutes.
  3. Chicken Thighs at 400°F – 40-45 minutes.
  4. Chicken Thighs at 425°F – 35-40 minutes (preferred method)
Jan 10, 2024

Does cooking chicken longer make it tougher? ›

In addition, chicken breast has less fat and can become dry (chewy or rubbery) if cooked for too long.

How do you soften chicken thighs? ›

Moist Heat Cooking: Consider simmering the tough chicken in a liquid-based recipe, such as a stew, soup, or curry. Moist heat cooking methods can help break down the fibers in the meat, making it more tender.

Does chicken get tougher or more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Unfortunately, most cooking methods produce extremely dry meat when the chicken is cooked long enough to become tender. Boiling a chicken produces very moist, tender and flavorful meat that can easily be removed from the bone for eating alone or using in salads, pasta dishes and stuffing.

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