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

Is it better to bake chicken thighs at 350 or 400? ›

I recommend baking the chicken thighs at 400 degrees for less time to ensure the chicken thighs stay nice and juicy, vs baking for longer at 350 degrees and running the risk of drying them out.

Is it better to cover chicken thighs when baking? ›

We don't cover our skin-on chicken thighs because we want that skin to get nice and crispy! To achieve this just follow these 4 simple steps! Place your chicken on top of a metal rack set inside a large rimmed baking sheet. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and use kitchen shears to trim off any excess fat.

What's the difference between roasting and baking chicken thighs? ›

A good guideline is that baking savory foods typically involves a lower temperature—375 degrees and below. whereas roasting refers to dishes cooked at 400 degrees and above. Can I make this recipe with boneless chicken thighs? Yes, you can use boneless chicken thighs for this recipe.

At what temperature are chicken thighs most tender? ›

For the ultimate juicy and tender chicken thigh experience, aim for an internal temp between 175 and 185 F. Any temperature higher than that can dry out or burn your meat, but the perfect 175° to 185° range will get you well above the minimum safe temperature and maximize the poultry's flavor potential.

How long does it take to cook chicken thighs at 400 degrees? ›

How Long to Bake Chicken Thighs
  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

Can you overcook chicken thighs in the oven? ›

Since they have a higher fat content and retain moisture during cooking, it's more difficult to overcook chicken thighs than it is to overcook chicken breasts. Particularly if you buy bone-in chicken thighs, they mostly just fall off of the bone if you leave them in the oven too long!

What cooking method is best for chicken thighs? ›

Chicken thighs are right at home on the grill; they retain their moistness throughout this high heat cooking method. Set up your grill with two zones — one for direct heat where you can sear and char and crisp up the exterior and the other zone for indirect (medium to medium-low) heat to allow thighs to finish cooking.

How do I make sure my chicken thighs are fully cooked? ›

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.

Why put foil over chicken in oven? ›

When chicken is covered while baking, it traps steam and moisture within the dish, resulting in juicier results. The covering helps prevent excessive evaporation and keeps the chicken moist throughout the cooking process. Preventing dryness. Chicken tends to dry out more quickly when exposed to direct heat.

Should I bake chicken thighs on top or bottom rack? ›

Chicken is best cooked on the middle rack. The bottom or lowest oven rack is best for roasting larger cuts of meat or whole turkeys. These thick cuts of meat can be cooked at higher temperatures at the bottom of the oven.

Should chicken thighs be cooked fast or slow? ›

Slow cooking allows more time for the meat to absorb flavours from seasonings and any other ingredients used, creating a more flavourful dish. Additionally, cooking chicken thighs slowly helps keep them tender and juicy, rather than dry and tough.

Why do chefs use chicken thighs? ›

Even skinless thighs will crisp and brown deeply, for a tender interior and salty-savory “crust.” Thighs have more heat-and-time tolerance than chicken breasts, so they can be simmered with a soup or stew without becoming tough or chewy.

How to tell if chicken thighs are done without a meat thermometer? ›

Poke the Meat

This method applies to chicken specifically. For properly cooked chicken, if you cut into it and the juices run clear, then the chicken is fully cooked. If the juices are red or have a pinkish color, your chicken may need to be cooked a bit longer.

Why are my baked chicken thighs tough? ›

It's easy to throw in an Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup or shred it in Healthy Chicken Enchiladas. Rubbery chicken is usually an indicator of overcooked chicken. The longer the chicken cooks, the more moisture it loses, and without moisture, the protein fibers become elastic, AKA rubbery.

How do you tenderize chicken thighs? ›

Pounding the chicken is one of the greatest do-it-yourself ways to tenderize chicken before cooking. This is because the pounding breaks the fibers in the chicken, allowing for faster cooking. Ensure you cover or wrap the chicken in plastic wrap or a sealable bag.

Should you bake chicken at 350 or 400? ›

Guidelines for Baking:
  1. For bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, consider baking at 350°F for a longer time (45-55 minutes), checking the internal temperature to ensure doneness.
  2. For boneless, skinless chicken thighs, you can bake at 400°F for a shorter time (25-35 minutes), again checking the internal temperature.
Dec 25, 2023

Is 400 too hot to cook chicken? ›

Delicious and Juicy Chicken: Oven Cooking at 400 degrees

Cooking chicken in the oven is a convenient way to prepare a delicious and healthy meal. By using an oven temperature of 400 degrees, you can achieve a perfect balance between a crispy, golden-brown exterior and a moist and succulent interior.

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