Chicken thighs

Chicken thigh / もも肉 momoniku

Flavor and role

A moist cut with moderate fat that does not dry out even with long cooking. Cooked skin-on, it turns crisp.

Typical dishes and uses

Karaage, butter chicken, biryani, chicken tagine, adobo, nasi goreng, teriyaki.

Substitutes

Chicken breast (shorten cooking time; brining recommended), drumettes or drumsticks (bone-in, cook longer).

Storage

Refrigerate 1-2 days, freeze 6-9 months. Cook to an internal temperature of 74°C.

Main countries

Korea · Japan · India

Used in this book

Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)Chicken Tagine with Lemon and OlivesChicken AdoboKaraage (Japanese Fried Chicken)Nasi GorengChicken BiryaniBunny Chow (Durban Chicken Curry in a Loaf)Chicken KarahiChicken Machboos (Emirati Spiced Chicken and Rice)Chicken NanbanChicken Paprikash (Csirkepaprikás)Chicken Tikka MasalaChow Mein (Chinese Chicken Fried Noodles)Coq au VinDak-kalguksu (Korean Chicken Knife-Cut Noodle Soup)Dakgalbi (Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken)Doro WatThai Green Curry with Chicken (Gaeng Keow Wan)Hainanese chicken riceJambalayaJerk ChickenChicken KabsaKhao SoiYangnyeom Chicken (Korean Fried Chicken)Kung Pao ChickenCurry LaksaLarb Gai (Thai Minced Chicken Salad)Massaman CurryNepali Chicken Momo with Tomato AcharPancit CantonPastel de ChocloPeri-Peri ChickenChicken Satay (Sate Ayam)Chicken ShawarmaSoto AyamButtermilk Southern Fried ChickenSri Lankan Chicken Curry (Kukul Mas Curry)Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken (Yan Su Ji)Teriyaki ChickenTom Kha GaiYakitori (Chicken and Leek Skewers with Tare)Slow-Simmered Ají de Gallina with Toasted PecansNikkei Ají de Gallina Udon with Dashi and Soft-Boiled EggSouthern Fried Chicken and Waffles with Spiced Maple ButterHot Honey Buffalo Chicken BowlGochujang Chicken Curry Bunny Chow with Kimchi Slaw (Korean x South African)Chicken Tikka Burrito with Mint RaitaCrispy Rice Burrito BowlTandoor-Style Murgh MakhaniButter Chicken RigatoniButter Chicken Cheese ToastCrispy-Skin Chicken Adobo with Garlic ChipsChicken Adobo Tacos with Pickled Red Onion and Lime CremaHyderabadi Chicken Dum BiryaniChicken Biryani BurritoBiryani Chicken Rice BowlDesi Ghee Chicken Karahi with Charcoal SmokeChicken Karahi TacosKarahi Chicken Cheese Naan MeltRoyal Chicken Machboos with Saffron Rice, Daqoos and Crispy OnionsBlack Lime Chicken Machboos Paella (Emirati x Spanish)Crispy Machboos Popcorn Chicken with Black-Lime YogurtMiyazaki-Style Fluffy Chicken Nanban with Mustard TartareChicken Nanban Tacos with Jalapeño-Lime TartareChicken Nanban SandoWine-Braised Chicken Paprikash with Butter Nokedli and Cucumber SaladCrispy Gnocchi Chicken Paprikash with ParmesanPaprikash Chicken Skewers with Dill Sour Cream DipCharcoal-Skewered Chicken Tikka MasalaChicken Tikka Masala QuesadillasChicken Tikka Masala Cheesy Baked RiceGuajillo-Ancho Chicken Chilaquiles with Crispy Fried EggOvernight-Marinated Burgundy Coq au VinRed Wine Jjimdak (Korean Braised Chicken)Coq au Vin Pot PieHidalgo-Style Chicken Tinga Paste (Mexican Cornish Pasty)Potato-dough chicken thigh coxinha with a cream cheese heartGochujang chicken and mozzarella coxinha (Korean dakgalbi style)Hand-Cut Dak-kalguksu in Clear Chicken BrothKhao Soi-Style Coconut Curry Dak-kalguksuSeared Chicken Thigh Dakbokkeumtang with Homemade Chilli OilRosé Dakbokkeumtang (Gochujang Tomato Cream Chicken)Dakbokkeumtang Pot PiePear-Marinated Crispy-Skin Iron-Pan DakgalbiDakgalbi Cheese QuesadillasDakgalbi Sweet Potato Cheese GratinDoro Wat with Homemade Niter Kibbeh and Honey-Wine FinishDoro Wat Ramen with Berbere Chicken and AjitamaDoro Wat Egg Muffins with Berbere Onion JamShiitake, Silken Tofu and Chicken Egg Flower SoupEgusi Chicken Korma (Nigerian x North Indian)Three-Chile Enchiladas GratinadasButter Chicken EnchiladasChicken Enchilada Rice BowlGhormeh Sabzi Chicken Pot PieGreen Curry with Hand-Pounded PasteGreen Curry Fried Rice with Crispy Fried EggSlow-poached Hainanese chicken riceChicken rice risotto with ginger-scallion gremolataHainanese chicken sandoChicken Harira Tortilla SoupCajun Brown Jambalaya with Shrimp-Shell StockKimchi Jambalaya with a Jammy Fried EggThai-Style Coconut Chicken and Squash CurryPimento-Smoked Charcoal Jerk ChickenJerk Chicken Rasta PastaJerk Chicken Puff Patties with Mango-Lime DipSmoky Party Jollof with Crispy Spiced ChickenKabsa Chicken PaellaKabsa Arancini with Daqqus DipRestaurant-Style Juicy Karaage with Spring Onion PonzuYangnyeom Karaage (Korean Sweet-Spicy Glazed Fried Chicken)Lemon-Mayo Karaage OnigirazuChiang Mai Khao Soi with Hand-Made PasteKhao Soi Curry UdonKhao Soi Fried RiceCrispy Chicken Mayo Rice BowlVelvet Kung Pao Chicken, Restaurant StyleKung Pao Chicken Tacos with Lime SlawKung Pao Popcorn Chicken CupsPrawn-Head Stock Curry LaksaLaksa Butter Fried RiceHand-Chopped Larb Gai with Lemongrass Khao Khua and Crispy Chicken SkinLarb Gai Tacos with Pickled Red Onion and Sriracha CreamCrispy Larb Gai Rice Paper Dumplings with Lime-Chilli DipCrispy-Skin Marry Me Chicken Thighs with White Wine Pan SauceMassaman Chicken Pot PieMassaman Chicken Loaded FriesTandoori Chicken Momo with Mint YoghurtThai Red Curry Coconut CouscousNasi Goreng Spesial with Prawns and Crispy ShallotsNasi Lemak with Spiced Fried Chicken (Ayam Goreng Berempah)Sambal Fried Chicken Nasi Lemak BurgerSeared Chicken Thigh Oyakodon with Homemade DashiCheesy Dakgalbi OyakodonOyakodon Egg SandoCrispy Pork Pancit Canton-BihonPastel de Choclo with Knife-Cut Beef Pino and White-Wine ChickenFlame-Grilled Braai Peri-Peri ChickenPeri-Peri Chicken TacosPeri-Peri Popcorn ChickenSpanish Chorizo and Chicken PlovPotjie Pot PieGochujang Chicken Pozole (Korean-Mexican)Tom Kha Coconut SamgyetangSamgye Sotbap (Ginseng Chicken Pot Rice)Charcoal Sate Madura with Fried-Peanut SauceChicken Satay Tacos with Acar PicklesSatay Chicken Rice Bowl with Crispy ShallotsTower-Roast Chicken Shawarma with ToumChicken Shawarma TacosShawarma Loaded FriesSom Tam Chicken TacosSoto Ayam Lamongan with KoyaSoto Ayam RamenSoto Fried Rice with a Golden Broth ShotLard-Fried Double-Dredged Chicken with Peppered Cream GravyMasala Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Mint RaitaHot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich with Pickle SlawSri Lankan Black Chicken Curry with Toasted CoconutSri Lankan Coconut Chicken Curry UdonSri Lankan Curry Chicken Cheese Toastie with Pol SambolGochujang Chicken StroganoffGochujang Sweet Potato Chicken TagineLemon Olive Tagine Hand PiesNight-Market Master Popcorn Chicken with Toasted Pepper SaltGochujang-Honey Popcorn Chicken (Korean Yangnyeom Style)Popcorn Chicken Sando with Basil MayoCrispy-Skin Teriyaki Chicken with Charred NegiTeriyaki Chicken BurgerTeriyaki Chicken & Egg Mayo Rice BowlTom Kha Gai with Quick Bone Stock and Charred AromaticsTom Kha Coconut Miso RamenTom Kha Creamy Chicken Rice BowlCharred Poblano White Chicken Chili with Seared ThighsCharcoal Yakitori Duo: Salt Negima and TsukuneYakitori Tacos with Lime Slaw and Shichimi MayoYakitori Rice Burger

Updated 2026-10-10