36 AIP Chicken Thigh Recipes Your Family Will Devour
Sometimes it can be slightly difficult to find ingredients that are suitable for your AIP diet, especially if you’re trying to stick to your budget. I love chicken thighs; they’re inexpensive, available everywhere, and so easy to cook!
There are so many ways to prepare chicken thighs – I do love them just cooked in the oven with a bit of salt, but I also enjoy trying these variations. There sure are many! Here are my 3 favorites:
- Soups
When we’re talking about chicken perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is soup. I can’t think of a more comforting meal when I’m feeling a bit under the weather, or when the weather is chilly and I need something that will keep me warm. - Exotic Flavors
Lately, I’ve tried more exotic recipes, like Lebanese chicken or grilled chicken thighs with pineapple-mint salsa. I can highly recommend both! - Easy-to-make Family Meals
I’ve included several slow cooker and instant pot recipes to make your next AIP chicken dinner super easy. How about some Italian chicken in the instant pot? Or teriyaki chicken in the slow cooker? If you prefer cooking your meals in the oven, I recommend the chicken and mushroom casserole.
Here’s a great example of how you can cook crispy and tender chicken thighs without much effort! Click Here to Watch The Video (please note you should omit the black pepper and chili pepper to make this recipe AIP-friendly)
Here are just a few of the AIP Chicken Thigh Recipes we’ve included:
If you click or tap any of the links above, it will instantly take you to the recipe below. Or download the entire list by clicking on the green button below.
Baked Chicken Thighs
AIP Lemon Thyme Chicken
– Healing Autoimmune
Ingredients: olive oil, chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks), thyme sprigs, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, garlic, lemon.
Lemon and thyme make a classic combination of flavors often associated with fish dishes, but it really brings these chicken pieces to life, with a tangy citrus hit to complement the herb. It can often be difficult to get picky eaters to follow a healthy diet, but these go down so well that even kids enjoy these for lunch or on a picnic. This makes a great AIP lunch served with a green salad.
3-Ingredient Crispy Keto Chicken Thighs
– Keto Summit
Ingredients: chicken thighs (with the skin on), olive oil or avocado oil, salt.
Spring is almost here so all thoughts can turn to eating chicken thighs, barbecued meat and all things summery! As you know, most coatings for chicken involve some form of breadcrumbs, which are not Keto or AIP-friendly, so using this low carb recipe could be the answer! It simply uses the skin on the thighs as a crispy coating that you can enjoy with a fresh, green salad for a delicious lunch.
Keto Chicken Mushroom Casserole
– Keto Summit
Ingredients: avocado oil, chicken thighs (with skin on), onion, garlic, fresh rosemary, white button mushrooms, kale, salt, freshly ground black pepper (omit).
This casserole does not have the creamy sauce you might expect, but it is packed with flavor and can be described as keto comfort food! This is also a budget-friendly recipe as it uses chicken thighs which are very tasty but can be sourced much cheaper than breast meat. Thigh meat is also tastier as it is close to the bone. If you are not a fan of rosemary you could try using thyme or tarragon instead.
Keto Lemon Chicken
– Keto Summit
Ingredients: olive oil, chicken thighs or drumsticks (with the skin on), thyme, lemon juice, salt, freshly ground black pepper (omit), garlic, lemon.
This recipe gives you chicken that is absolutely loaded with flavor! The lemon and thyme go so well together, and the chicken tastes just as good hot or cold, making this keto treat perfect for lunch or to take on a family picnic. It is gluten and nut free recipe so it is safe for kids’ lunchboxes for school too. If you want to serve this as a main, just pile it onto some cauliflower rice or roasted vegetables.
Sheet Pan Spiced Roast Chicken, Cauliflower & Grapes
– Meatified
Photo Credit: Rach from Meatified
Ingredients: cauliflower, red or black grapes, avocado oil or olive oil, granulated garlic, dried cilantro leaves, ground ginger, ground turmeric, ground cinnamon, salt, boneless skinless chicken thighs, fresh mint leaves, lemon wedges.
This AIP-compliant recipe is for roast chicken that is a meal in itself and all cooked on one pan. You end up with tender chicken, cauliflower that has slight charring on the edges and little pops of juice from the grapes, giving this dish a great combination of flavor and texture. Because you are using chicken thighs, this is also a budget-friendly meal that can easily be increased to feed a larger family.
Low Carb Baked Chicken and Cauliflower Rice
– I Breathe I’m Hungry
Photo Credit: Mellissa from I Breathe I’m Hungry
Ingredients: cauliflower, parsley, green olives, lemon zest, lemon juice, chicken stock, black pepper (omit), kosher salt, garlic powder, olive oil, chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, or breasts), onion powder, paprika (omit).
Baked chicken and rice is a classic meal that most of us had growing up, and there is no reason why you should give up eating it just because of the ketogenic diet. Like all baked chicken dishes, this one works best with either drumsticks or thighs as the meat closest to the bone has a more intense flavor. The lemon juice and zest add freshness to the flavor but they don’t overpower the flavor of the meat.
Crackling Creole Crispy Chicken Thighs
– Wicked Stuffed
Photo Credit: Amanda from Wicked Stuffed
Ingredients: coconut oil, paprika (omit), onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried basil, dried rosemary, dried parsley, cayenne pepper (omit), chicken thighs, yellow onion, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice.
The secret to creole recipes is the combination of flavors you get from the herbs and spices used, so don’t be scared to play around with the amounts till you get the taste you like. These spiced and crispy thighs are absolutely delicious, family friendly and make a great low carb meal, or you can serve these as party food. To make this recipe compliant with AIP diets, simply omit the pepper and paprika.
Herbed Chicken and Mushrooms
– Peace, Love and Low Carb
Photo Credit: Kyndra from Peace Love and Low Carb
Ingredients: skin-on chicken thighs, sea salt, black pepper (omit), dried oregano, dried thyme, dried rosemary, olive oil, cremini mushrooms, garlic, chicken stock, Dijon mustard (omit), fresh parsley.
This Keto-friendly, low carb recipe uses chicken thighs instead of breast meat and this makes the dish cheaper, tastier and totally delicious. The crispy skin is so good, especially once it is rubbed with the herbs and seasonings and baked in the oven. If you find the mushroom sauce is a bit thin, simply boil it to reduce it a bit and this will also intensify the flavor, or you could add in some thickener of choice.
Baked Cinnamon Chicken – Low Carb Chicken Thighs with Mint & Coconut
– Ketogasm
Photo Credit: Tasha from Ketogasm
Ingredients: chicken thighs, ground cinnamon, mint leaves fresh, dried basil, sea salt, coconut milk, chicken broth.
If you have never tried chicken with cinnamon, I recommend you try these amazing keto chicken thighs! The cinnamon gives the meat a wonderful depth of flavor and is paired with mint and basil to give you the right level of aromatics too. If you need to cut the carbohydrates, even more, you can use skinless chicken thighs, but you will definitely miss out on the crispy outside!
Pesto Chicken and Spaghetti Squash
– Empowered Sustenance
Photo Credit: Empowered Sustenance
Ingredients: spaghetti squash, boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, coconut oil, basil, arugula, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic clove, sea salt.
The pesto used in this recipe is totally nut free, making this a lovely family meal to serve if there is anyone with nut allergies. The pesto is the star of the meal with all the flavors of the herbs and the aromatics from the fresh basil and garlic. Serve this over chicken thighs for a budget-friendly meal, or use chicken breast if you would rather. If you don’t like arugula, spinach makes a great alternative.
AIP Paleo Mediterranean Chicken
– The Health Nut Mama
Photo Credit: The Health Nut Mama
Ingredients: organic chicken thighs, extra virgin olive oil, onion, garlic, kalamata olives, capers, artichokes, oregano, fresh spinach, sea salt.
With all the flavor you expect from Mediterranean cuisine, this would be a great family meal or an impressive one-pot dinner for friends. This recipe is compliant with paleo and AIP eating plans, but it is so tasty that even non-paleo people will love it! To make this even more filling or to feed a few more, you can serve it with broccoli or asparagus, or why not toss them in and keep it all in one pot?
Chimichicken: Chimichurri Marinated Chicken
– The Curious Coconut
Photo Credit: The Curious Coconut
Ingredients: fresh flat-leaf parsley, fresh cilantro, fresh oregano leaves, garlic, salt, extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar (or coconut vinegar), lime juice, chicken thighs, sweet potatoes, onion.
This is one of those recipes you will wish you had found years ago because it gives you all the authentic flavor but it fits with loads of eating plans including keto and paleo! With all the herbs and vinegar, you can have a really traditional chimichurri taste to use as a marinade for chicken or turkey, and the leftover marinade can be thinned with olive oil and used to dress a steak for the following day.
Crockpot & Pressure Cooker Chicken Thighs
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Soup
– Low Carb Yum
Photo Credit: Lisa from Low Carb Yum
Ingredients: celery stalks, radishes, onion, fresh rosemary, fresh basil, garlic, salt, ground black pepper (omit), chicken bone broth, chicken thighs, bay leaves, fresh parsley.
Chicken soup can be the answer to so many meals – cold? Chicken soup. Been unwell? Chicken soup. Got a big family to feed? Chicken soup. This is a really tasty but quick and easy low carb recipe that you can cook at the weekend to last for lunches through the week, or as a delicious family meal. This is quite a cheap dish to make too, so it’s perfect for hungry students!
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken with Tarragon and Kale
– Healing Family Eats
Photo Credit: Healing Family Eats
Ingredients: chicken thighs, lard, leek, garlic, pumpkin purée, dried tarragon, leftover chicken juice or bone broth, lacinato kale, sea salt.
This is a wallet-friendly AIP recipe that uses chicken thighs instead of breast meat. The thighs can be cheaper but are tastier because the meat is closer to the bone. Tarragon is an herb that is often paired with chicken, giving it a slight aniseed flavor and in this dish, it helps to complement the earthy tone from the kale. You can serve this on its own or with cauliflower rice for a heartier meal.
Shredded Chicken and Mango Curry
– Adventures in Partaking
Photo Credit: Adventures in Partaking
Ingredients: coconut oil, cinnamon stick, curry leaves, cloves, red onion, ginger, garlic granules, pink salt, turmeric powder, shredded coconut, mangoes, coconut milk, water or broth, frozen cauliflower, chicken (breasts or thighs), apple cider vinegar, fish sauce.
If you don’t tolerate dairy but love creamy sauces, you are going to love this curry! It is rich and creamy, full of flavor but not spicy, with the sweetness of the mango and the texture from the coconut. This curry tastes like an authentic korma, but it is AIP friendly and goes down well with youngsters too! You can serve this with cauliflower rice, but I find it filling enough just on its own.
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Island Salsa
– Cavegirl Cuisine
Photo Credit: Michelle from Cavegirl Cuisine
Ingredients: pineapple, mango, fresh lime juice, lime zest, Roma tomato (omit), red onion, avocado, fresh cilantro, fresh mint leaves, salt, chicken thighs, ground black pepper (omit), water.
If you are finding your chicken dishes a bit bland and boring, why not try this rainbow on a plate! This dish looks amazing and tastes even better, with all the fruits and herbs complementing the chicken. This is a low carb dish that fits with paleo eaters and if you omit the tomato and pepper, it even fits with the AIP too! So next time you are having chicken, brighten your day with this lovely dish!
Crock Pot Chicken Soup
– Cook Eat Paleo
Photo Credit: Lisa from Cook Eat Paleo
Ingredients: onion, celery stalks, carrots, apple cider vinegar, herbs de Provence or several sprigs fresh herbs, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, sea salt, fresh ground pepper (omit), filtered water.
Here is a great soup recipe that can be a cheap but hearty meal at any time. This paleo chicken soup is full of taste and is a great way to get kids to eat veggies (especially if you cut them small)! If you want to make the liquid even tastier you can use chicken broth instead of water, and remember that soup freezes really well so you can batch cook this and freeze it in portions for later.
Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken
– The Coconut Mama
Photo Credit: Tiffany from The Coconut Mama
Ingredients: boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, coconut aminos, honey, garlic, ginger, sea salt.
You may have thought that teriyaki would be off the menu now that you are eating paleo, as it normally uses loads of sugar for the sticky sweetness, but with this sugar and gluten-free recipe you get the traditional sweet sauce but without the added nasties. Remember that fresh ginger can be kept in your freezer, then you simply cut off what you need and return it so there is no waste!
Instant Pot Chicken Cabbage Soup
– I Heart Umami
Ingredients: chicken thighs, coarse sea salt, ground black pepper (omit), garlic powder, onion powder, garlic, shallots, fresh ginger, napa cabbage, fresh shiitake, avocado oil, chicken stock, coconut aminos, toasted sesame oil (omit), scallion.
Inspired by Asian flavors, this chicken soup is so wholesome, hearty and tasty that it will fill even the hungriest people! It has chicken, mushrooms, cabbage, and the classic pair – garlic and ginger, so this is great for sore throats and colds too. This is a really helpful recipe as there are stovetop directions too, ideal if you don’t have an Instant Pot, and the soup is perfect for keto and paleo diets.
Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) Summer Italian Chicken
– Nom Nom Paleo
Ingredients: boneless skinless chicken thighs, Kosher salt, avocado oil, onion, carrots, cremini mushrooms, garlic cloves, tomato paste (omit), cherry tomatoes (omit), pitted green olives, freshly cracked black pepper (omit), fresh basil leaves, fresh Italian parsley.
This delicious chicken soup takes its Italian influence from the tomatoes and olives, and they give that flavor of summer associated with the Mediterranean, but if you have problems with them, just miss them out, since the soup is tasty enough without them, and that makes this an AIP friendly recipe too. Simply scatter some parsley over the top for a colorful plateful to enjoy any time.
Other Chicken Thigh Recipes
Easy Coconut Chicken
– A Girl Worth Saving
Photo Credit: Kelly from A Girl Worth Saving
Ingredients: coconut oil, garlic, apple cider vinegar, boneless skinless chicken thighs, black pepper (omit), sea salt, water, coconut milk.
If ever there was the perfect keto meal it must be this one! The coconut chicken uses coconut oil which has been shown to burn body fat really easily, so this dish can help maintain the correct state of ketosis. As well as being healthy, this dish is rich and flavorful and has a tangy flavor from the cider vinegar and it really brings out the flavor of the thigh meat.
Grilled Chicken Thighs with Pineapple-Mint Salsa
– Autoimmune Wellness
Photo Credit: Autoimmune Wellness
Ingredients: sea salt, ginger powder, garlic powder, chicken thighs, pineapple, radishes, cucumber, avocado, green onions, fresh mint leaves, garlic, lemon juice.
When you are following the autoimmune protocol, you will find that chicken thighs can feature regularly. They are quite cheap – perfect for students or larger families – but they have a much more intense flavor because the meat is closer to the bone. To set off the meat, the pineapple salsa is bright and zingy with creamy notes from the avocado and this would be a lovely family meal for a summer lunch!
AIP Chicken n’ Gravy
– Grazed & Enthused
Photo Credit: Grazed & Enthused
Ingredients: boneless skinless chicken thighs, white sweet potato, uncured bacon, fresh herbs (mix of thyme, rosemary, and sage), salt, warm broth or water.
Sometimes all you need is some AIP comfort food to see you through a difficult day or if the weather is depressing! Chicken thighs, bacon and gravy all fall into this category, so serve them together for the ultimate comforting plateful! Never had white gravy? Try it and you will see why so many people love it! This recipe suggests using thyme or rosemary, but if you want to jazz up the flavor you can use tarragon instead.
Chicken with Mushrooms and Tarragon
– Autoimmune Wellness
Photo Credit: Autoimmune Wellness
Ingredients: coconut oil, chicken thighs, red shallots, brown mushrooms, garlic, chicken bone broth, coconut milk, sea salt, tarragon, parsley.
Here is another helpful comfort food recipe that will warm you on the coldest days! With meaty thighs and mushrooms and the slight sweetness from the red onion to offset the aniseed flavor from the tarragon, this dish is AIP and paleo friendly, but is just as popular with non-paleo people too. If you prefer the skin on the thighs to be crispy, just set the dish under the broiler for a few minutes before serving.
Crispy Lebanese Chicken
– Grazed & Enthused
Photo Credit: Grazed & Enthused
Ingredients: chicken thigh, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, sea salt, dried oregano flakes, ground cinnamon, ground turmeric powder.
This ketogenic recipe is for chicken with the traditional flavors of Lebanese cuisine – garlic, lemon and herbs like oregano. I think the flavors in this dish give it a taste of Spring, but it would be perfect for dinner at any time of year. This dish is great served over cauliflower rice or with a side of roasted vegetables. Remember to save the bones from the chicken thighs as you can use them to make bone broth.
Pan Fried Chicken Thighs
– The Health Nut Mama
Photo Credit: The Health Nut Mama
Ingredients: chicken thighs, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, bacon fat or extra virgin olive oil.
Here is one of those helpful recipes for people who are starting out on the cookery route or are not confident in the kitchen. This dish is simple, but the flavors are delicious! With low carbs and no gluten or dairy, this is a really healthy way to feed the family for an easy lunch, served with salad greens or a few other veggies, but I like to serve a plate of these with some salsa or AIP dip.
Garlic & Herb Chicken Nuggets
– Grazed & Enthused
Photo Credit: Grazed & Enthused
Ingredients: boneless skinless chicken thigh, dried oregano, dried basil, granulated garlic, sea salt (or garlic salt), coconut flour, coconut oil.
If you have ever looked at the ingredients in store-bought chicken nuggets, you were probably shocked and decided to ban them from the house like I did. Luckily, we have some wonderful recipes like this one for a healthier alternative that even the kiddies will love! These delicious low carb nuggets are flavored with garlic and herbs and make a great lunchtime dish or as finger foods for a party.
Chicken with Cider Vinegar Cream and Caramelized Apples
– Healing Family Eats
Photo Credit: Healing Family Eats
Ingredients: lard or coconut oil, chicken thighs, shallots, garlic, apple cider vinegar, bone broth (chicken), thyme sprigs, coconut cream, sea salt, apple.
This tasty recipe has its roots in French cuisine and is a lovely mix of textures and flavors, but the thing that makes it shine is the tang from the apple cider vinegar and the fact that you get a cream sauce without dairy! Sometimes recipes just don’t replicate the taste of the real thing, but this really works! It’s great to find recipes that give you authentic tastes but in a healthy option like this AIP one.
AIP Easy Lemon Chicken
– Adventures in Partaking
Photo Credit: Adventures in Partaking
Ingredients: chicken breasts or boneless thighs, sea salt, olive oil, lemons, broccoli, lemon juice, dried oregano, honey, olive oil.
You know those days when you just don’t have the time or energy to cook much? Then try this quick and easy hearty meal and you can have dinner ready in twenty minutes. With the flavors from the chicken, lemon and herbs you can have a really tasty meal the whole family will love. If you don’t have oregano you can just sub in a different one like rosemary or thyme. What could be better than quick and AIP!
Cinnamon Lime Middle Eastern Chicken
– Beauty and the Foodie
Photo Credit: Stacey from Beauty and the Foodie
Ingredients: chicken thighs, chicken broth, coconut oil, onion, garlic cloves, fresh lime juice, carrots, celery ribs, artichoke hearts, coriander (omit), sea salt, ground cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, pepper (omit), nutmeg (omit).
When you think of the Middle East, flavors like cinnamon come to mind, so this keto recipe gives an authentic flavor to the chicken, but keeping things healthy, grain free and low carb. With a lovely burst of citrus from the lime, the sauce is bright enough to lift even the blandest cuts of chicken, but using thighs makes the flavor more intense and raises the fat level in the dish.
Creamy Paleo Chicken Soup with Mushrooms and Kale
– Paleo Running Momma
Ingredients: boneless skinless chicken thighs, refined coconut oil, leeks, garlic, button mushrooms, kale, arrowroot starch, chicken bone broth, coconut milk, nutritional yeast, brown mustard (omit), fresh sage leaves, fresh rosemary, salt, pepper (omit).
There can be nothing so satisfying on a cold day than a big bowl of creamy chicken soup, so this wonderful recipe fits right in! The ‘creamy’ sauce gives that silky texture we need, making this a great healthy alternative for picky eaters. You can vary the recipe by adding different veggies, or by using cooked chicken left over from another meal, or scatter over some crumbled crispy bacon for extra protein.
Syrian Lime Chicken Skillet
– Beauty and the Foodie
Photo Credit: Stacey from Beauty and the Foodie
Ingredients: lime juice, sea salt, coriander (omit), ground cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black pepper (omit), skinless chicken thighs, avocado oil or olive oil, onion, garlic, chicken broth, carrot, zucchini, celery ribs, artichoke hearts, unsweetened dried cranberries.
Lately, we have been learning about the benefits of introducing turmeric into your diet, and here is a lovely dish that can help with this. The chicken is gently spiced and served in a colorful combination of ingredients to give you a bowl full of flavor for lunch. This meal is really low in carbs and gluten-free, but so tasty and packed with goodness. To make this AIP friendly, just omit the coriander and pepper.
Filipino Chicken Adobo
– Olive & Mango
Ingredients: skin-on boneless chicken thighs, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, dried bay leaves, ground black pepper (omit), sea salt, coconut oil, eggs (omit).
This adobo recipe by Jenny Castaneda is a very personal recipe as most families have their own version, so why not you? Just start with this recipe and adjust the seasonings to suit your palate, then you have a new go-to recipe for lunch or dinner. This tasty chicken dish is quite cheap to make so it is ideal for large families or students. Not keen on chicken? This adobo also works with pork or seafood!
5 Ingredient Monday: Seared Chicken Thighs over Cauliflower Puree
– PaleOMG
Ingredients: cauliflower, coconut oil, chicken thighs, button mushrooms, yellow onion, garlic powder, salt, pepper (omit).
If you are a busy paleo person or not too keen on cooking, it can be a great idea to save up some recipes that are quick and only use a few ingredients – that way you are not put off by the prep, but can still cook healthy meals from scratch! Chicken thighs on cauliflower puree is the perfect paleo meal to satisfy hungry people, or you can ‘rice’ the cauli for a bit of a change.
Coconut Ginger Mushroom Chicken
– PaleOMG
Ingredients: chicken thighs, coconut milk, ginger, shiitake mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, garlic cloves, sweet onion, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper (omit), fat of choice.
In my opinion, chicken and mushrooms were made for each other, so the more paleo dishes involving these two, the better! With the added flavors of garlic and ginger, you get a satisfying Asian-style meal that will feed the whole family. You can serve this on its own or pair it with some broccoli for an even more satisfying meal. This recipe is dairy, nut and gluten-free.
Sous Vide Crispy Chicken Thighs
– Nom Nom Paleo
Ingredients: skin-on boneless chicken thighs, Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper (omit), your favorite seasoning, duck fat, lard.
One of the best things about cooking meat sous vide is that you are keeping all the goodness in the meat, as it is sealed in the bag! This is a great way to prep chicken for later, as you can sous vide ahead of time, then simply crisp up the skin and reheat as you need them. Perfect for paleo parties when you don’t want to be away from your guests for too long!
