24 Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes That Are on the Keto Diet
Let’s just be honest: Chicken thighs are way more tender, flavorful and succulent than breasts. So if you’re already on the high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet, why not embrace the dark side? Switch it up for dinner (or lunch) with these 24 flavorful, keto-friendly chicken thigh recipes.
RELATED: 30 One-Pot Ketogenic Recipes (Because You Love Food but Hate Cleaning)
One-Pan Roast Chicken with Carrots
It doesn’t get easier than this: Toss some pretty rainbow carrots with aromatics and bone-in chicken thighs, and you’ve got dinner in half an hour.
Easy Chicken Tikka Masala
Using thighs instead of breasts ensures that this chicken stays juicy. Just swap out the basmati rice for something keto-friendly (like cauliflower rice.)
Meal-Prep Honey Sesame Chicken with Broccolini
Honey isn’t *technically* keto, so go ahead and skip it. With the sesame, soy and ginger, you won’t even miss it.
Easy Tandoori Chicken with Vegetables
You don’t need a tandoor oven to make this Indian-inspired recipe. With a spicy, gingery yogurt marinade, it’ll taste just as good as the real deal.
Nashville Un-Fried Hot Chicken
The skin’s so crispy, you’ll think it’s deep-fried. (Just don’t tell your buddies from Nashville it’s baked.)
Balsamic Cranberry Roast Chicken
The genius method behind this beautifully browned bird has you flip the chicken halfway through roasting. That means no standing over the stove trying to get crispy skin.
Sheet Pan Za’atar Chicken Thighs
One bite of this tahini- and za’atar-coated chicken, and you’ll be storing the recipe in your back pocket for dinners to come.
RELATED: Keto Sheet-Pan Chicken and Rainbow Veggies
One-Pan Creamy Chicken Fricassee with Sage
If you need a friendly reminder that the keto diet is pro-bacon, this classic Italian dish is it.
Skillet Moroccan Chicken
We’re not sure what we love most about this meal: Is it the spice-rubbed chicken, the salty feta or the bright tomatoes?
Crispy Chicken Thighs in a Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Cream sauces can be heavy, but this one’s surprisingly light. The secret? Greek yogurt, which adds lightness and tang.
One-Pan Lemon Sage Baked Chicken and Olives
This lemony, Dijon marinade is tangy and herbaceous, with just enough heat. Basically, it’s like sunshine in a sauce.
Pan-Roasted Greek Chicken Thighs
Check out these crackly tops and juicy interiors. Sorry, chicken breasts, we have to break up.
Nourishing Asian Chicken Soup
No noodles? No problem. This slurpable soup, courtesy of Coterie member Monique Volz, is heavy on the veggies and toppings but low on carbs.
Parmesan-Ranch Chicken Thighs
We’ve yet to meet a person who doesn’t like ranch, hence this inventive dish. Serve it with a tangy slaw and don’t expect leftovers. (It’s that good.)
Crispy Lemon Chicken Thighs
For nights when you can’t even think about cooking, reach for Coterie member Gaby Dalkin’s 30-minute skillet. It’s a breeze to make but still flavorful and satisfying.
RELATED: 40 Ketogenic Dinner Recipes You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Basil and Spinach
Any meal that involves a sprinkling of fresh basil is bound to be a good one. (The creamy garlic sauce doesn’t hurt, either.)
Lemon Ginger Chicken Thighs
Soaking the chicken in lemon juice for just a few minutes is an easy way to get a ton of flavor into this dish.
Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Spinach and Goat Cheese
Consider this a reminder that one of the best parts of going keto is all that cheese. (Thanks, Coterie member Heidi Larsen.)
Creamy Pesto Parmesan Chicken
Imagine if alfredo and pesto had a very delicious baby. Yum, right? Add chicken, and you’ve got this dish. (Psst: It’s ready in 30 minutes flat.)
Easy Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken Thighs
The secret to making tasty chicken thighs in the oven? Brush them with a mixture of garlic powder, paprika and ghee.
RELATED: 10 Ketogenic Dinner Recipes the Whole Family Will Eat
Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Crispy, tender chicken meets spicy, buttery tomato cream sauce. We almost forgot we were on a diet.
One-Pot Braised Kale with Crispy Chicken
Kale is always a good idea, but when it’s cooked until meltingly tender with butter and shallots, it might be the best idea ever.
Grilled Chicken Shawarma
To keep it keto, skip the pita and serve this Middle Eastern chicken over an Israeli salad. You won’t even miss the bread.
Moroccan Chicken
Because they don’t dry out as fast as chicken breasts, thighs are a great choice for an oven roast. Bonus points if that roast has an aromatic sauce and tons of briny olives.
