Chicken / How to cook chicken thigh / leg

Chicken thigh / leg is possibly the most eaten cut of chicken. The chicken leg or thigh is a large cut and comes with a built in handle. Usually a fairly inexpensive cut, which makes it excellent for cooking for parties. Chicken thigh is high in protein and low in fat, making chicken a nearly perfect food. Also see list of simple marinades to make simple chicken, simply delicious.

Common ways to cook chicken thigh / leg

There are two techniques that come to mind when cooking chicken thigh and leg, grilling and baking. Both are equally as easy and with simple preparation can be a tasty meal for a group of people.

Grilling, the oldest preparation for chicken thigh and leg, is probably the most common. This ancient technique along with chicken 'on the bone' makes for a more personal dinning experience.

Grilling chicken thigh / leg

Obtaining a grilling temperature between 230° and 250°F, is optimal. To achieve this stack charcoal in a pile in the center of grill. Douse with lighter fluid and let it soak in. Light and leave it alone until gray ash has covered all visible charcoal. Spread out charcoal into an even layer. When it has an even layer of ash, approximately 1/2 the depth of a charcoal briquette you are ready to grill. Place the grill at 4 or 5 inches above coals.

Slowly cook chicken until internal temperature is approximately 170 degrees. If you are going to use a barbecue sauce now is the time. Baste with BBQ sauce and allow to grill for a couple minutes to glaze chicken before removing. As a rule we only use BBQ sauce after the chicken is cooked so the sauce does not burn and give the chicken a bitter taste. Let sit a couple of minutes before serving. 

Baking chicken thigh / leg, recipe

Baking chicken thigh can feed a lot of people in a reasonable short amount of time. Below is the basic recipe for baked chicken thigh although your imagination is the only thing that will limit your possibilities.

• 6 chicken thigh / leg
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

Drizzle olive oil onto baking sheet. Rub chicken with some salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet and cook in oven for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown.

Chicken breast recipes / marinades

Chicken can be flavored in many ways. Most should be applied before cooking chicken thigh with the exception of sauce. We always suggest Knox's Dry Rub but you will find other simple preparations below.

Knox's Dry Rub Marinade

• 2 Tablespoons Knox's dry rub
• 1 cup orange juice
• Juice of a lime

Lemon Yogurt

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• zest and juice of 2 lemons
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• salt to taste

Mix together lemon zest, juice, cilantro and salt. Place chicken and marinade in zip lock bag and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before cooking.

Habanero and chive

• 1 stick of butter - soft
• 1 Habanero pepper, minced
• 1 bunch of chives - chopped small
• 1 teaspoon salt

Mix habanero, chives and salt into soft butter. Place chicken thigh and marinade in zip lock bag to marinade in refrigerator OR baste on chicken while cooking.

Roasted chili rub

• 4 roasted ancho peppers - ground into a powder
• 1 dry chipotle - roasted and ground into a powder
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt

Mix everything together and rub into chicken. This can also be whipped into soft butter and used as a baste while grilling chicken thigh.