The Ultimate Guide to Making Perfect Crispy Chicken Thighs

🍗Pouring boiling water over chicken thighs before cooking helps render out excess fat and results in a leaner, crackling crispy skin.

🍽️Chicken thighs are more forgiving to cook than boneless chicken breasts and have a wonderful layer of skin that adds a next-level flavor profile.

👨‍🍳Prep chicken thighs by dry brining with kosher salt and placing them in the fridge overnight to dry out the skin for the best results.

🔥Achieve extra crispy skin by pouring boiling water over the chicken thighs, causing the skin to lift and shrink slightly in size.

⏰After pouring boiling water over the chicken thighs, let them sit for a few minutes before draining off the water and pan frying for extra crispiness.

Why should I pour boiling water over chicken thighs?

—Pouring boiling water over chicken thighs helps render out excess fat and results in a leaner, crackling crispy skin.

How do I prep chicken thighs for this cooking method?

—Prep chicken thighs by dry brining with kosher salt and placing them in the fridge overnight to dry out the skin for the best results.

Do I need to pour boiling water over other chicken cuts?

—While this method is commonly used for chicken thighs, you can also try it with other cuts of chicken to achieve crispy skin.

Can I achieve crispy skin without pouring boiling water?

—Yes, there are other methods to achieve crispy skin, such as steaming or mixing baking soda and salt.

Can I use this method for other meats?

—While this method is specifically for chicken thighs, you can experiment with pouring boiling water over other meats to see if it improves the texture and flavor.

00:00Cooking chicken thighs can be tricky to get right, but pouring boiling water over them before cooking can take them to the next level.

00:10Pouring boiling water over the chicken thighs helps render out excess fat and results in a leaner, crackling crispy skin.

00:19Prep the chicken thighs by dry brining with kosher salt and placing them in the fridge overnight to dry out the skin for the best results.

01:51Achieve extra crispy skin by pouring boiling water over the chicken thighs, causing the skin to lift and shrink slightly in size.

02:00After pouring boiling water over the chicken thighs, let them sit for a few minutes before draining off the water and pan frying for extra crispiness.