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Dinner is served with these juicy, golden pan-fried chicken thighs! This easy, flavorful dish comes together in just 20 minutes. The key? High heat and our secret spice blend.

Pan Fried Chicken Thighs
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Need dinner in a hurry? Enter pan fried chicken thighs! It’s hard to find meal that comes together quickly with little fuss, but this one is an absolute game changer. All you need is a simple blend of spices and this comes together in just about 20 minutes!

This one is a huge hit at our house and perfect for when you need to get dinner on the table fast. Here are all the tricks to a simple dinner!

Ingredients in pan fried chicken thighs

This pan fried chicken thighs recipe has an incredibly short ingredient list, making it simple to whip up as a weeknight dinner. There’s nothing fancy, no sauce required, and they taste incredible! The key is our secret seasoning blend, which brings out the best in this cut of chicken. We like using both smoked paprika and paprika so the flavor isn’t overpowering: but smoked paprika is key to an irresistibly nuanced, savory flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • Kosher salt
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Smoked paprika
  • Paprika (standard variety)
  • Olive oil
Pan Fried Chicken Thighs

Boneless vs bone-in chicken thighs

Many chefs and experts will tell you that chicken thighs are the best cut of chicken, and we agree! A chicken breast is delicious when cooked well (like in chicken piccata), but thighs can be an even more flavorful experience. They’re fattier than breasts, which gives them a more intense, rich flavor than white meat. There are two ways to buy chicken thighs: boneless and bone-in.

  • This recipe is for boneless, skinless chicken thighs. This type of thigh cooks quicker and is easier to eat. We like it for pan frying because it makes for a fast dinner that’s easy for our entire family to eat (versus pulling meat off the bones, which can be tricky for the kids).
  • Bone-in, skin-on thighs have the best flavor. When you cook chicken with the bone in, the flavors inside the bone spread out onto the meat, leaving you with a meatier, richer flavor. We like using bone-in, skin-on thighs for our fan favorite Baked Chicken Thighs recipe (with amazing crispy skin!).

How long to pan fried chicken thighs

How long to pan fry chicken thighs depends on the size of the thighs and whether they are bone-in or boneless. At medium-high heat, pan fry boneless chicken thighs for 6 to 8 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Bone-in chicken thighs take a few minutes longer. Here’s how to pan fry chicken thighs:

  1. Season the chicken thighs per the recipe below.
  2. Add olive oil to large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Place the chicken thighs smooth side down and cook until golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and cook other side until cooked through, measured 165°F on a food thermometer, about 6 minutes.
  3. When the chicken is done, rest 5 minutes before serving for maximum juiciness. 
Pan Fried Chicken Thighs

Buy organic chicken if possible

When shopping for pan fried chicken thighs, keep in mind: the best chicken to buy is organic. This makes sure that it is the highest quality meat that was raised sustainably. It is also free of chemicals and additives so it’s the healthiest option for eating, and overall: it just tastes better!

Per the USDA, organic chicken must be raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors (like grazing on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not given antibiotics or hormones.

Quick sides to make it a meal

Want to turn this pan fried chicken thighs into a meal? Here are a few extremely quick side dish recipes that can turn them into dinner:

Dietary notes

This pan fried chicken thighs recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free.

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Pan Fried Chicken Thighs

Pan Fried Chicken Thighs
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Dinner is served with these juicy, golden pan-fried chicken thighs! This easy, flavorful dish comes together in just 20 minutes. The key? High heat and our secret spice blend.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Chicken
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds for boneless)
  • 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon paprika (standard variety)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Remove any excess fat on the chicken thighs and place them on a cutting board. Stir together the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Sprinkle the seasoning mix on all sides of the chicken thighs.
  2. Add the olive oil to large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Place the chicken thighs smooth side down and cook until golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and cook other side until cooked through, measured 165°F on a food thermometer, about 6 minutes.
  3. When the chicken is done, rest 5 minutes before serving for maximum juiciness. 

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More chicken recipes

This pan fried chicken thighs is one of our quickest, easiest chicken recipes that’s great for a weeknight meal! Here are a few more of our top chicken dinner ideas:

About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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3 Comments

  1. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!






    1. Melissa says:

      I just realized we only have smoked paprika right now. Would you recommend doubling it to make up for not having the standard? Or just omit?

      1. Alex Overhiser says:

        Just omit!