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 ½ cups diced cucumber ¼ inch pieces
- ¾ cup diced red bell pepper ¼ inch pieces
- 1 avocado peeled and cut into ½-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 ½ teaspoons grated lime zest
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ 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
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Judy
What 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.
Carolyn
I 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? 😉
Liz
Yeah, 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!!!
RavieNomNoms
Lovely and refreshing!
Kari
I 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!