Juicy balsamic chicken thighs are easy to make. This recipe tastes great and is perfect for dinner.
Easy Balsamic Chicken Thighs Recipe
Balsamic chicken thighs are a tasty and simple meal. You can make this recipe easily on busy weeknights. The chicken thighs get flavor from balsamic vinegar. Then, you bake or cook them in a pan. They come out juicy and tender. A rich balsamic sauce covers them.
Why This Recipe is Good
It’s a great recipe because it is simple. Only a few items are needed. Also, it tastes delicious. Chicken thighs stay juicy when cooked this way. The balsamic sauce gives the chicken a sweet and tangy taste. The flavor is just right. Plus, the recipe is easy to change, which makes it even better. You can use chicken with bones or without.
What You Need
Here are the items you need for this recipe:
Main Items
- Chicken Thighs: For the best taste, use chicken thighs with skin and bones. Though, chicken with no bones and no skin also works. Note that chicken with bones takes longer to cook.
- Balsamic Vinegar: This is the key item. Balsamic gives the tangy taste. Be sure to use good balsamic vinegar. Cheaper balsamic will not taste as rich.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil helps the chicken stay moist. And it adds a rich taste. Extra virgin olive oil is a good choice here.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic gives a strong smell and flavor. When fresh garlic isn’t available, garlic powder can be used.
- Soy Sauce: It gives a savory taste to the sauce. Using low sodium is best. For a food with no gluten, try tamari.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a bit of sweetness. It helps the sour taste of the balsamic. Instead of sugar, you can use honey.
- Dried Herbs: An Italian mix or herbs like thyme and oregano will make it taste even better. Or, use fresh herbs, too!
Other Items
- A pan for baking or cooking
- A bowl for mixing
- Measuring cups and spoons
- A whisk
- Tongs
How to Make It
Follow these easy steps to make good balsamic chicken thighs:
Making the Sauce
- First, get a bowl. Next, mix together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, and herbs.
- Make sure to mix well.
Getting the Chicken Ready
- Put the chicken in a bag or a bowl.
- Then, pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Next, make sure all the chicken is covered.
- Let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes, at least. For a better taste, let it sit longer, even overnight. The longer it sits, the better the chicken will taste.
Cooking the Chicken
Baking
- Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Put the chicken in a pan.
- Pour the rest of the sauce over the chicken.
- Bake it for 30-40 minutes. Make sure to bake until the chicken is done. Use a food thermometer to check.
- For the last few minutes, cook on high heat. This helps make the skin crispy. But, be careful it does not burn.
Cooking in a Pan
- Heat some oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Make sure to use a pan that can go in the oven.
- Take the chicken out of the sauce. Throw the sauce away. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
- Put the chicken skin-side down in the pan with care.
- Cook it for 5-7 minutes until the skin is brown. Be sure not to move the chicken around.
- Turn the chicken and cook it for 5-7 minutes. Cook until the chicken is done. Check with a food thermometer.
- If the chicken is not done, put the pan in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes. This cooks it all the way through.
Tips for Good Chicken
Here are some tips for perfect balsamic chicken thighs:
Good Balsamic
Use good balsamic vinegar. This makes a big difference in taste. Good vinegar is worth the money.
Do Not Crowd the Pan
If cooking in a pan, do not put too much chicken in there. Instead, cook the chicken in groups. Too much chicken lowers the heat, which keeps the skin from getting crispy.
Use a Thermometer
Always use a food thermometer. Check to make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through. It needs to be 165°F (74°C).
Time to Let it Sit
Let the chicken sit in the sauce for at least 30 minutes. Letting it sit longer makes it taste even better.
Crispy Skin Tip
If you want crispy skin, pat the chicken dry before cooking. Use medium-high heat when cooking, too. Do not move the chicken while it cooks.
Adjusting the Sweetness
Some people like food sweet, some like it less so. For a less sweet dish, use less brown sugar or honey. Add salt to help the sweetness, if needed.
Adding Acidity
A little sourness can add more taste.
What to Eat With It
Balsamic chicken thighs are good with:
- Cooked plants
- Mashed potatoes
- Quinoa
- Rice
- A salad
- Polenta
- Couscous
Good With
- Balsamic chicken thighs work well for dinner. You can make them ahead of time, too.
- They are also easy to take to work for lunch. They are great cold in salads as well.
- These thighs taste good with many side dishes. They are easy to eat with many things, in fact.
Things to Think About
- First, be aware that good balsamic vinegar matters a lot.
- Also, note that time to let it sit matters.
- Finally, remember that how you cook it changes the taste.
Other Ways to Make It
Here are some other ways to make balsamic chicken thighs:
Add Plants
Add plants to the pan. Cook them with the chicken. Good plants include mushrooms, peppers, and zucchini.
With Tomatoes
Add tomatoes to the sauce for a burst of fresh taste. Small tomatoes work well in this dish.
With Honey
If you add honey to the sauce, it makes it more sweet. And it makes it taste even better, too.
Make it Hot
For some heat, add red pepper flakes to the sauce. The flakes make the chicken hot.
With Lemon
A bit of lemon in the sauce makes it taste fresh.
Mushrooms
Adding mushrooms while cooking the chicken makes a great addition.
More Herbs
More herbs in the sauce will provide more flavor. For example, basil and parsley work well.
How to Keep It
You can keep balsamic chicken thighs in a closed box in the fridge. They’ll be good for up to 3 days.
How to Heat It
Just heat the thighs in the oven, pan, or microwave. Add a little water to keep them moist, as well. Heat until warm and ready to enjoy.
Good for You
Balsamic chicken thighs can be a healthy choice!
Good Food
Chicken thighs are good food. Food helps your body!
Fewer Calories
This recipe has fewer calories than fried chicken, if baked.
Good from Balsamic
Plus, balsamic vinegar may be good for you. Some say it may help your stomach.
Good Fats
Also, chicken thighs have fats. Fats are good for you.
No Bad Stuff
The best part is making balsamic chicken thighs at home lets you keep out the bad stuff.
Things You Like
Make balsamic chicken thighs how you like them! For example, if you do not eat meat, use something else.
No Gluten
Those who don’t eat gluten can rejoice: they can still have this dish. Just use tamari instead of soy sauce.
Picking the Right Items
Pick chicken that is fresh. Check the date on the packaging.
Picking Balsamic
What makes a good balsamic vinegar? Make sure it has no bad stuff.
Picking Herbs
You can use herbs that are dry or fresh when making this recipe.
Picking Sweetener
When it comes to a sweetener, either brown sugar or honey work well.
More About the Items
Let’s look closer at the items needed in this dish:
Why Put Chicken in Sauce
Putting chicken in sauce is important. It makes it taste better and softer the meat.
Why Use Balsamic
Balsamic vinegar is good because it tastes complex and flavorful.
Cooking with Herbs
Putting herbs in your dish is key to a flavorful dish. Fresh herbs taste better, but dried also work.
Food in Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs give you a good source of food that your body needs.
Tips for Careful People
Careful people can pick the best items.
Picking Good Chicken
Find chicken that is raised well.
Good Boxes
Think about the boxes the items come in when shopping.
Make it Again
When possible, use boxes that can be used again.
Good Rules
Follow good rules to pick good things.
Questions
Can chicken be put in balsamic?
Yes, chicken can be put in balsamic. It makes it taste great, giving it a complex flavor.
Is balsamic good for chicken?
Yes, balsamic vinegar is good for chicken. It gives it a taste that is both sweet and sour.
Can I use balsamic dressing?
While you can, keep in mind that balsamic dressing has bad stuff. With that in mind, it is best to make your own at home.
How long to put chicken in sauce?
It is recommended to put chicken in sauce for 30 minutes, at least. For best taste, leave it to soak longer, even overnight.
Make It Great
Here are some ways to make Balsamic Chicken Thighs even better:
Think About Name
A good name helps people know it and remember it.
Good Recipes
This is a good recipe. Be sure to enjoy!
Work With Others
Why not work with other cooks to make it even better?
Good Things to Eat With It
Pick out good things to eat with it. For example, try plants.
Say Thanks
You can say thanks with your food!
Helps Your Head
The chicken is said to help your head.
Helps Your Stomach
And garlic helps your stomach, too!
Make it Yours
Have fun and make the meal how you want.
In The End
Making balsamic chicken thighs at home is easy and great. Follow these steps and you will have a tasty meal. Enjoy the recipe! The meal is easy for any night of the week. As the cook, you can do lots of things! Perhaps, try cooking it with new side dishes to enjoy new combinations.