To Herb or Not to Herb Boneless Chicken Thighs
By Danielle Shea-Tan, MS, CHHC
Functional Family Nutritionist
Make it a Complete Meal: Serve alongside Roasted Cinnamon Acorn Squash with Coconut Butter and Raisins or Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Shallots.
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Hail to the chicken thighs! If you’ve been eating chicken breasts your whole life take a leap into thighland. Organic chicken thighs naturally contain more fat in the meat, but this keeps the meat juicy, more flavorful and much more forgiving (read: difficult to overcook!). Your family needs plenty of fat each day to provide both energy and to ensure absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K found in other foods. Plus, Danielle’s chicken cooks up so well it can be both cut into chunks or shredded making for a customizable eating experience!
To Herb or Not to Herb Boneless Chicken Thighs
Yields
6 pieces
Cook Time
30 minutes
Total Time
33 minutes
Ingredients
- 6 boneless, skinless organic chicken thighs (thawed)
- 1 - 2 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 - 2 Tbs. Herbes de Provence
- 1 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt
Optional
Optional ingredients for Toddlers: Favorite barbeque or honey mustard sauce
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425℉
- In 8x11 glass baking dish, spread chicken thighs leaving open space around each thigh to avoid overcrowding.
- Brush thighs with olive oil (or drizzle over top and spread with hand).
- Sprinkle tops of thighs with sea salt. If serving a baby under 12 months, leave at least one thigh unsalted for your infant.
- Sprinkle Herbes de Provence across tops of thighs. Leave some thighs plain as your family desires.
- Cook 25-30 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 165℉ and juices run clear.
For the ages
For Babies: BLW
Your little one is going to loooovve chicken if you spoil her with this juicy, flavorful recipe.
Portion Size:
1 hunk
Ingredients:
3 inch x 1 inch hunk of cooked chicken thigh
Serving Tip(s):Serve in a tiny bowl. Let your baby gnaw on chicken hunks but watch her closely to be sure she can handle any chicken that she nibbles off.
For Babies: Traditional
These chicken thighs provide a richer flavor than breasts and make for a heartier meal.
Portion Size:
1 -2 Tbs.
Ingredients:
Cooked chicken, liquid such as no salt chicken stock, filtered water or breast milk
Serving Tip(s):In high speed blender, puree meat with liquid until desired consistency is reached. Let your baby eat as much as she wants.
For Toddlers
You can finally enjoy a chicken dinner that doesn’t involve “nuggets.” Use this recipe to your advantage and make it fun for your littles! Shred it, chop it or dip it! Serving toddlers with the same food in different forms increases food acceptance and this recipe is very versatile!
Portion Size:
2 - 3 Tbs.
Ingredients:
Chicken thighs cut up into bite-sized pieces
Serving Tip(s):Serve chicken in a happy bowl or in a happy mat alongside other foods. If desired, serve with a dollop of barbeque sauce or honey mustard and show your child how to dip the chicken in sauce. He’ll love being in charge of dipping!
For Grown-Ups
This chicken recipe is so delicious and fancy, yet so simple to make, it might just bring tears to your eyes :)
Portion Size:
1 - 2 chicken thighs
Ingredients:
Chicken thighs, barbeque or honey mustard sauce (optional)
Serving Tip(s):Serve hot alongside a delicious side dish or two. Make it a Complete Meal: Serve with Roasted Cinnamon Acorn Squash with Coconut butter and Raisins (link to this recipe) or Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Shallots (link to recipe).
Happy Eating!
Danielle Shea-Tan, MS, CHHC
Functional Family Nutritionist
Danielle is passionate about helping families ditch processed foods and start making real, wholesome food that is both simple and delicious. She blows our minds with fascinating "nutritional nuggets" about foods and herbs. Danielle also recently wrote a book called "52 Small Changes for the Family," an inspiring guide that helps families make one small change each week to improve their overall happiness and health. You can learn more about Danielle at HealthyMamas.com.
