This quick and easy chicken recipe is bursting with flavor. The cucumber and avocado salsa adds a dose of freshness and vitamins.
If there’s one thing I learned when my kids became involved in weeknight activities was that any form of “gourmet” cooking is out. Easy, quick and healthy recipes, such as these chicken thighs with a quick cucumber avocado salsa, fit the bill. Complicated meals won’t do when we are trying to squeeze dinner between soccer practice and kung-fu class, my husband and I playing tag-team drivers as we tote water bottles, herd kids into separate cars and try to keep our cool as our kids search for their misplaced shin guards and kung-fu belts. Good times.
The most difficult part of this recipe is not tossing every second piece of avocado into your mouth while making the salsa. Other than that, there is nothing more complicated than tossing boneless, skinless chicken thighs into a simple spice mixture and chopping up some fresh vegetables for the salsa. If you line the baking sheet with foil before you cook the chicken (10 minutes, tops, under the broiler), then clean-up will be just as easy as the cooking. Prepare the salsa while the chicken cooks.
Have you done the math yet? Yep, 15 minutes or less, from start to finish. Pair the chicken with some cooked quinoa or rice, which can be prepared earlier in the day. Not only is this dish quick, easy and darn tasty, but it is also very healthy.
I’d wax on a little longer about the slight spiciness of the chicken and the fresh, slightly sweet and tangy salsa, but I need to rush off to soccer practice. Over and out.
The spicy chicken thigh recipe:
The chicken:
Preheat broiler and set the oven rack in the upper third of the oven.. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top of the foil. Lightly coat the rack with cooking spray.
In a small bowl, stir together ancho chile pepper, cumin, lime zest, salt and pepper. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat. Space the chicken thighs evenly on the wire rack.
Place the chicken under the broiler and cook until the chicken is just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
The salsa:
In a medium bowl, stir together cucumber, red bell pepper, avocado, lime juice, cilantro and honey. Set aside.
Serve the chicken with the salsa.
Other quick and easy chicken thigh recipes:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Grilled Lemon & Rosemary Chicken
Creative Culinary’s Spiced Honey Brushed Chicken Thighs
Simply Delicious’ “Butter Chicken” Grilled Chicken Thighs
Dine & Dish’s Oven Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
Spicy Chicken Thighs with Cucumber Avocado Salsa
Ingredients
The Salsa:
- 1 1/2 cups diced cucumber 1/4 inch pieces
- 3/4 cup diced red bell pepper 1/4 inch pieces
- 1 avocado peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
The Chicken:
- 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 teaspoons ancho chile pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
The Salsa:
- In a medium bowl, stir together cucumber, red bell pepper, avocado, lime juice, honey and cilantro. Set aside.
The Chicken:
- Preheat broiler and set the oven rack in the upper third of the oven.. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top of the foil. Lightly coat the rack with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, stir together ancho chile pepper, cumin, lime zest, salt and pepper. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat. Space the chicken thighs evenly on the wire rack. Place the chicken under the broiler and cook until the chicken is just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
- Serve the chicken with the salsa.
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Kathryn says
Apr 25, 2012 at 3:07 amA perfect quick meal! I love that you used chicken thighs too, they’re definitely my favourite part of the bird to eat.
Blog is the New Black says
Apr 25, 2012 at 5:10 amThis meal looks like a winner but I ESP love the salsa!
Belinda @zomppa says
Apr 25, 2012 at 5:18 amSo juicy and lovely! Love that salsa!
Rachel Cooks (formerly Not Rachael Ray) says
Apr 25, 2012 at 6:12 amThis looks awesome–can’t wait to try it!
Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama says
Apr 25, 2012 at 6:23 amI know what I’ll be making for dinner tonight! This looks soooo good!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
Apr 25, 2012 at 6:26 amI need this! Pinning for sure 🙂
Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says
Apr 25, 2012 at 6:59 amI’m always looking for new chicken recipe ideas. Love this-so fresh!
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
Apr 25, 2012 at 9:40 amGreat idea for chicken thighs; I used to be all white meat all the time but boneless chicken thighs have changed my chicken habit a lot. I’ve always loved dark meat but loved the ease of preparation of white meat…now we can have both!
Thanks for including my recipe too!
KalynsKitchen says
Apr 25, 2012 at 10:27 amLooks like a great quick dinner!
SeattleDee says
Apr 25, 2012 at 10:33 amIf I’m lucky there will be leftovers – these ingredients sound perfect for a tortilla wrap or quesadilla. Yum!
Julia {The Roasted Root} says
Apr 25, 2012 at 11:27 amTo think something this delicious could be made on a time crunch is a huge selling point for me! I much prefer chicken thighs over breasts it looks like there’s tons of flavor in those bad boys. Your salsa recipe looks great too!
Laurie @SimplyScratch says
Apr 25, 2012 at 11:28 amYou had me at spicy and thigh. 🙂
Elizabeth says
Apr 25, 2012 at 12:28 pmAvocados are one of my favorite foods!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
Apr 25, 2012 at 2:38 pmWhat a fantastic quick and healthy recipe. I just happen to have chicken thawing for dinner and was wondering what in the world I could make that was a little different from the usual – found it!
Becky at VintageMixer says
Apr 25, 2012 at 3:50 pmI think chicken thighs add so much more flavor to a dish than chicken breasts. And I’m loving all of the avocado online lately. This recipe looks like it would be especially tasty!!
Deborah says
Apr 25, 2012 at 6:42 pmAny time dinner can be done in 15 minutes, you know I’ll love it! I especially love the sound of that salsa. Delish!
carolinaheartstrings says
Apr 25, 2012 at 6:56 pmLooks like the perfect any night recipe to me! Love your pictures.
Antionette @ Diva Dishes says
Apr 26, 2012 at 12:13 amWhat an awesome way to jazz up chicken! I must try this recipe… You just can’t go wrong when avocados and cucumbers are involved.
Lydia says
Apr 30, 2012 at 2:44 pmDropping in to jot down the details, I am making this tonight. Very excited about it! I love the smell of ancho chili.
d.liff @ yelleBELLYboo says
May 3, 2012 at 11:59 amWe had this for dinner last night and I loved it!! SO easy to make (DONE in like 15 min!) and absolutely delicious. The ancho and cumin combine to almost taste like cinnamon, that type of spicy rather than hot. And the salsa is AAAHHmazing. I love the honey in it – the perfect bit of sweet. Thanks!
Kari says
May 4, 2012 at 11:43 amI made this last night and it was delicious! Thank you. I used chicken breasts because I had them on hand and we grilled the chicken after adding the spices because it was a beautiful warm day (and you just can’t pass that up in MN!). Great recipe – thanks!
RavieNomNoms says
May 9, 2012 at 1:53 pmLovely and refreshing!
Liz says
May 10, 2012 at 6:45 amYeah, I can’t help but snack on the avocado I’m supposed to be using in a recipe…and I could eat a huge bowl of this salsa! What a marvelous dish!!!
Carolyn says
May 10, 2012 at 8:18 amI am a chicken thigh fanatic…love this one. And so what I get from this post is that life doesn’t actually slow down as they get older, hmmmm? More activities, less diaper-changing, this is what you are telling me? 😉
Judy says
May 22, 2012 at 7:07 pmWhat a great light and easy recipe for a busy weeknight. Love the salsa – sans bell peppers since I don’t like them much 🙂 – and my husband loves chicken thigh.