Chicken thighs are my new favorite cut of chicken. They cook up so tender, and are really tasty and versatile. One of my favorite chicken thigh recipes is this oven roasted balsamic chicken thigh recipe. So juicy, tangy (thanks balsamic!), and cooked to perfection, I really can’t say enough about the way this roasted chicken will change your dinners for the better!
Here’s How You Make It
Why This Recipe Works
Chicken thighs — Of course, I realize this roasted chicken recipe specifically calls for chicken thighs but it truly is what makes this preparation really stand out. In a pinch, you could use chicken breasts, but the dark meat of the chicken thighs goes so well with the tangy sweetness of the balsamic glaze. Mushrooms — I know not everyone loves mushrooms but hear me out: You need to make mushrooms with this oven roasted chicken thigh recipe. Those soft, meaty baby bella mushrooms soak up all the baked chicken thigh juices as well as the balsamic glaze and just taste so out-of-this-world delicious! So easy — This chicken thigh recipe isn’t only tasty but it’s also so easy! It only takes 30 minutes total to get this balsamic chicken dish on your plate and that includes making the balsamic glaze too! Simple ingredients — Chicken thighs are sold at every meat department in just about every grocery store (and they’re very budget-friendly, too), and the rest of the ingredients are super simple to come by too. In fact, you may already have most of the ingredients in your pantry or fridge right now.
Ideas for Customizing this Recipe
If you don’t have or can’t find baby bella mushrooms, you can substitute any mushrooms you like or skip them. If you’re using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut them in half lengthwise first to ensure even cooking. This balsamic chicken goes great over white or brown rice or egg noodles. If you want a non-grain alternative to serve alongside this chicken thigh recipe, try cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash. If you prefer a less sweet balsamic glaze, you can cut the brown sugar to ¼ cup and the honey to 1 tablespoon.
Expert Tips
It’s important to use a good quality balsamic vinegar! You can really taste the difference, trust me. A shortcut to making a balsamic glaze is to purchase one pe-made in a bottle. You can find it with the vinegars if your grocery store has it. I have found a great-tasting one at Aldi. You can also speed up this recipe by purchasing pre-sliced mushrooms, minced garlic in a jar, and pre-trimmed chicken thighs. If you’d like to skip the step of pre-browning the chicken, you can bake the chicken then broil for the last couple of minutes (watch closely so it doesn’t burn). Store any leftover baked chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze any leftovers for up to 3 months.
More Chicken Thigh Recipes
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