Blackened Chicken Thighs with Chimichurri Sauce is one of the best Chicken Thigh Recipes that you'll ever come across. Just like Blackened Shrimp and Blackened Chicken, this Blackened Chicken Thigh with homemade chimichurri sauce tastes irreplaceably good.
Not into dark meat? Try Grilled Chimichurri Chicken instead.
What is Blackened Chicken?
So, basically, as might know the term blackened comes from Cajun Cuisines. The basic idea behind this recipe is to create a crispy outer coating on chicken/fish.
Before making Blackened Chicken, we make Blackened Seasoning or Blackened Spice Mix. Since it has become so popular these days, the ingredients vary from person to person. I like to keep it simple with Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Smoked Paprika, Dried Thyme, Ground Cumin, Brown Sugar, Salt, and pepper.
The interesting thing to note here is the use of brown sugar. As you might know, that as soon as the sugar hits the hot pan, it gets blackened. In this recipe, we are coating the chicken with the blackened seasoning and as soon as we keep the chicken (skin side down) in the hot pan, the chicken gets a brown and eventually black coating on its outside. That's why we call it blackened chicken.
Blackened Chicken Thigh with Chimichurri Sauce
I love cooking chicken thighs. My husband loves chicken thighs. We love chicken breasts but there is something so comforting about juicy chicken thighs. right?
In my home, I make this recipe quite often. In fact, to make it kid-friendly sometimes I serve this with creamy garlic butter sauce.
But, I like my blackened chicken with chimichurri sauce more. The spicy chimichurri with sweet and charred blackened chicken thighs tastes so good. As you bite in you get juicy chicken that doesn't get any better.
See More Chicken Thigh recipes:
Cajun Butter Crockpot Chicken Thighs and Rice
Crockpot Chicken Thigh Recipe with Asian Glaze
Jump to:
- What is Blackened Chicken?
- Blackened Chicken Thigh with Chimichurri Sauce
- Ingredients needed to make Blackened Chicken Thigh
- How to Make Blackened Chicken Thighs
- Variations
- Storage
- Serving Suggestions
- Top tip
- What is Blackening Seasoning Made of?
- Can Chicken Thighs be overcooked?
- Is blackened Chicken burnt?
- Blackened Chicken Thigh with Chimichurri Sauce
Ingredients needed to make Blackened Chicken Thigh
These are the ingredients that you will need to make this recipe.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Butter
- Blackening Seasoning - Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, Freshly Ground Black Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Thyme, Ground Cumin, and Brown Sugar.
- Olive Oil
- Chimichurri Sauce
See the recipe card for quantities. And, check out the video for a visual.
How to Make Blackened Chicken Thighs
Here's how to make Blackened Chicken Thighs with Chimichurri Sauce. Follow the Step by Step images for better understanding.
Step 1: Make Blackened Spice Mix
In a pan melt some butter. As soon as the butter melts, add onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, ground cumin, and brown sugar. The mixture will look quite dry at the moment. Pour some olive oil and then stir well. Cook spices for few minutes. Once the mixture starts to bubble take it off the heat.
Step 2: Coat Chicken with Blackened Spice Mix
Finally, use a silicone basting and pastry brush to coat chicken thighs with Blackened Spice mix. Coat both sides completely.
Step 3: Sear Chicken Thighs until Blackened
Heat another pan with olive oil. Make sure the pan gets incredibly hot. Add chicken thighs (skin side down) into the pan. Sear until it gets light brown and then finally blackens. Flip over and cook another side as well.
Step 4: Serve with Chimichurri Sauce
Finally, serve your Blackened Chicken Thighs with Chimichurri Sauce. You can find the recipe for Chimichurri sauce linked above in the first paragraph. I like to squeeze some lime juice for that extra kick in flavor.
Variations
Garlic Butter Sauce - Instead of Serving Chicken thighs in Chimichurri Sauce, you can serve it with creamy garlic butter sauce. See Crockpot Chicken Thighs in Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce (just 4-ingredients) for a better idea.
Creamy Mushroom Sauce - Just like Chicken Thighs in Creamy Mushroom Garlic Sauce you can serve your blackened chicken thighs in this creamy Mushroom sauce.
Lemon Garlic Sauce - Similar to the above two, you have lemon garlic sauce which is another great choice for you. See Crockpot Chicken Thighs in Lemon Garlic Sauce for a better idea.
Peri-Peri Sauce - Though Peri Peri Sauce is spicy, but it would pair really well with these blackened chicken thighs.
Storage
Allow this to come down to room temperature. Transfer this to an air-tight container. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days. Though you can freeze this, I don't recommend freezing this because the crispiness of the chicken will be totally gone by the time you are ready to eat.
Serving Suggestions
I like to Serve my Blackened Chicken Thighs with some Jasmine rice. If you are looking for a healthy side dish then you can serve this with Air Fryer crispy broccoli or Air Fryer green beans. Or you can serve this with Mexican Cauliflower rice or Cilantro Lime Quinoa.
Top tip
- Do you think your chicken is cooked thoroughly? Don't take a guess. Use a meat thermometer and check the temperature at the center of the chicken. If it is between 160°F TO 165°F then your chicken is completely cooked.
- Make sure you use separate pan to blacken chicken and for making the sauce.
- Your pan should be smoking heat before you add your chicken into it.
- Reduce the heat to medium high when you add chicken.
What is Blackening Seasoning Made of?
Blackening Seasoning is made of Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper, Ground Cumin, Brown Sugar, and some herbs like Dried thyme and Dried Oregano.
Can Chicken Thighs be overcooked?
Well, you ain't cooking chicken breasts. So, you don't have to worry about a chicken getting dry. In fact, the more you cook chicken thighs the juicier and tender it gets.
Is blackened Chicken burnt?
Well, it might look burnt to you on the outside. But, as you bite in you get a sweet, charred taste that doesn't get any better. It's basically the hot pan and brown sugar that crystalizes to form a charred coating on the chicken. Moreover, sugar helps the spices stick to the chicken.
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Blackened Chicken Thigh with Chimichurri Sauce
Ingredients
- 4-5 pieces Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme can also add dried oregano and dried basil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1½ tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Lime Juice OPTIONAL
- chimichurri sauce see notes for chimichurri sauce recipe.
Instructions
- In a pan melt some butter over medium-high heat. Add the spices for blackened seasoning - Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Ground Cumin, Dried Thyme, and Brown Sugar. Stir well and cook for 30-seconds. Add some olive oil and cook for a few more minutes stirring frequently. When it starts clubbing together and you see bubbles, take it off the heat and keep it aside.
- Coat Chicken Thighs with blackened Spice Mix. Use a silicone basting brush to coat chicken thighs with the blackened spice mix.
- Take a separate skillet and preheat it, for a few minutes over high heat. Add olive oil and once the oil gets smoky add chicken thighs (skin side down). Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook on medium-low until it gets browned and finally blackens. This process usually takes 4-7 minutes depending on the size of your chicken thigh. Flip over and cook another side as well. Check the internal temperature of the chicken with an instant-read thermometer. If it reads 165°F at the center of the chicken then it's thoroughly cooked. If not, cook for some more time.
- When your chicken thighs have blackened on both sides, take them out on a plate and serve with homemade chimichurri sauce or any other sauce that you like. Squeeze some freshly squeezed lime juice for added flavor.
Mia says
Best Chicken thigh recipe ever! Made it last night and loved the blackened seasoning!! Of course the spicy chimichurri felt like the perfect addition