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.

How do chefs get chicken so tender? ›

Low and slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or smoking are most effective when trying to create tender, succulent chicken.

Do you have to flip chicken thighs in the oven? ›

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. (See my tips below on doneness.)

Do you cook chicken thighs skin side up or down first? ›

Cook the Thighs, Respectfully

Start by generously seasoning the meat with salt and searing the outside of the thigh (yes, the skin) in a cast-iron skillet with some oil. Start skin side down. Don't overcrowd the pan, and cook in batches if needed or you'll end up with soggy thighs.

Is 425 too high for 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.

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.

How do you bake Rachael Ray chicken thighs? ›

Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and allow to come to room temperature (about 20 minutes). Spray with the EVOO cooking spray and season with salt and pepper. Bake until the skin is golden brown and crispy, 25 to 30 minutes, and a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165 °F.

Should you flip chicken thighs halfway through cooking? ›

Generally, chicken thighs should be cooked at medium temperature (350-375 degrees F) for about 12-15 minutes total, flipping them half-way through.

Can you overcook chicken thighs in the oven? ›

The sweet spot for chicken thighs is between 175 and 195 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a little higher than the 165 degrees recommended for white meat. If dark meat is cooked to more than 210 degrees Fahrenheit it will start to dry out and get stringy.

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 do you know when baked chicken thighs are done? ›

The key is temperature, not color. If you have a meat thermometer, aim for 165-170°F (74-77°C), keeping in mind that meat will continue cooking for 5-10°F (3-6°C) once it's pulled and allowed to rest for 5 minutes.

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

In addition, chicken breast has less fat and can become dry (chewy or rubbery) if cooked for too long. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

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 cooking chicken longer make it softer? ›

Close-up of a woman slicing raw chicken breast meat on a cutting board. Chicken becomes more tender the longer it cooks. Unfortunately, most cooking methods produce extremely dry meat when the chicken is cooked long enough to become tender.

Does cooking chicken too long make it tough? ›

Overcooking leads to dry, tough, sawdusty meat with nearly no flavor. High doneness temperature for food safety. Salmonella is the food safety enemy in chicken that dies only at higher temperatures. But cooking chicken breast to an instant thermal-kill doneness temperature will cause it to dry out excessively.

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