This is about to be the best pan seared boneless chicken thighs recipe you will ever find online. Simple, flavorful, and family-approved! Boneless chicken thighs seasoned with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper, pan-fried to perfection. It's a regular favorite at mine!
It will take about 15 minutes to cook boneless chicken thighs on the stove. If you want gravy, then that will take an additional 5 minutes for good measures.
Why you will love this recipe
- Easy and Quick: This 3-ingredient pan-fried boneless chicken thighs recipe is extremely easy to make and takes 15 minutes to cook on the stove. Perfect for busy days when you want a quick yet delicious meal.
- Delicious! This chicken is packed full of flavor, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. In fact, if all you have is salt and black pepper, it would still be delicious.
- Versatile: The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. You can use the chicken in various dishes if you desire. It works with salad, sandwiches, potatoes, grains or vegetables.
Related recipes: garlic chicken thighs, stove top chicken thighs (with bone) and garlic butter chicken breast.
What you will need
Boneless chicken thighs
Cajun seasoning: Substitute with any other seasoning of your choice.
Olive oil: Substitute with avocado oil or any flavorless cooking oil you prefer.
Salt and black pepper: I used a combination of sea salt, black pepper and red chili flakes.
How to make pan seared boneless chicken thighs
Pat the chicken thighs dry with a kitchen paper towel
Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt, black pepper, and cajun seasoning. Using your fingers, rub the seasoning into the chicken so that it adheres properly
Place a frying pan or skillet on medium high heat. Add olive oil and heat until hot and shimmering but not burnt or smoking.
Carefully add seasoned chicken to the hot pan (smooth side down). Do not touch or move the chicken around for 3-5 minutes. Place a lid on the pan and cook for 3 minutes.
Remove the lid and flip the chicken. Use the back of a spatula to press down the chicken thighs. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. Place the lid back on the pan and cook for 2 minutes or just until the chicken is cooked through. Serve and enjoy!
You will know the boneless chicken thigh is fully cooked when the internal temperature registers 165F/74C or when it is white and opaque when you cut through it.
Watch how to make it
What to serve with pan seared boneless chicken thighs
To make this a well-rounded dish, here are a few ideas of side dishes you will love. I love to serve mine with seasoned rice such as herby rice, chimichurri rice or my Christmas rice, which is perfect all year round.
You can also serve it with salt-crusted baked potatoes or mashed potatoes (ricotta mashed potatoes or creamy garlic mashed potatoes) using pan juice to make a delicious gravy to go with it.
Pasta is also a great choice as well, check out my pasta collection for more.
How to store
leftover pan-seared chicken can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
To reheat: simply reheat in a microwave, oven, or air fryer until warm enough to your liking.
Tips
- To get pan sauce to serve along with your chicken, add ½ cup of water or low stock chicken broth to the pan after removing the cooked chicken. Reduce the oil if need be. Whisk and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for a few minutes until it reduces. Either add cornflour slurry or flour to thicken before pouring over the chicken.
- If you own an air fryer, try my air fryer boneless chicken thighs recipe.
- To ensure the chicken sears/fries nicely with a perfect crust, it is crucial not to overcrowd the pan. This prevents steaming and enhances the overall flavor and texture.
Pan Seared Boneless Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken thighs
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning or as needed
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thigh dry with a kitchen paper towel
- Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt, black pepper and cajun seasoning. Using your fingers, rub the seasoning into the chicken so that it adheres properly
- Place a frying pan or skillet on medium high heat. Add olive oil and heat util hot and shimmering but not burnt or smoking.
- Carefully add seasoned chicken to the hot pan (smooth side down). Do not touch or move the chicken around for 3-5 minutes. Place a lid on the pan and cook for 3 minutes.
- Remove the lid and flip the chicken. Use the back of a spatula to press down the chicken thighs. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. Place the lid back on the pan and cook for 2 minutes or just until the chicken is cooked through. Serve and enjoy!
- You will know the boneless chicken thigh is fully cooked when the internal temperature registers 165F/74C or when it is white and opaque when you cut through it.
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
So there you have it, another easy and delicious chicken recipe that the whole family will love. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 stars and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
Leave a Reply