Weeknight Chipotle Chicken Thighs
Grilled chicken thighs are coated in a smoky, spicy chipotle-ancho chile marinade blended with red onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, sea salt, and olive oil. The result is tender, boldly seasoned chicken with deep chile flavor, well suited to easy weeknight dinners, cookouts, or homemade restaurant-style meals.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook5 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Weeknight Chipotle Chicken Thighs, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 69 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 14 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 74 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 38
- Heart Health
- 74
- Metabolic
- 25
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 53
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Gather all ingredients.
- 2
Place chipotle and ancho chile peppers in a shallow bowl; pour in water. Cover the bowl and let sit at room temperature until peppers are softened, 10 to 12 hours. Drain water and remove seeds from peppers.
- 3
Blend chile peppers, red onion, garlic, sea salt, cumin, oregano, and black pepper in a blender until a coarse paste forms; add olive oil and blend until marinade is smooth.
- 4
Place chicken thighs between 2 sheets of heavy plastic on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound chicken with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a 1/2-inch thickness.
- 5
Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag and add marinade. Turn chicken several times to coat. Seal bag and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
- 6
Preheat an indoor grill with top and bottom plates for medium-high heat. Remove chicken from the bag and discard marinade. Place chicken on the preheated grill, close the lid, and cook until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 5 to 7 minutes.
- 7
An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Cut chicken into strips and serve warm.
- Calories 279.89 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 28.36 g Good Source 57%
- Carbohydrate 6.51 g 2%
- Total Fat 16.76 g High 21%
- Saturated Fat 4.51 g High 23%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 126.16 mg High 42%
- Sodium 131.4 mg Moderate 6%
- Dietary Fiber 2.6 g Low Source 9%
- Total Sugars 0.74 g --
- Added Sugars 0.61 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 17.57 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 2.24 mg Moderate 12%
- Potassium 44.05 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 55.31 mcg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin C 0.54 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Weeknight Chipotle Chicken Thighs is made with 11 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 15 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Boneless Chicken Thigh, Dried Ancho Chile Pepper, and Dried Chipotle Chile. Each serving provides about 279.89 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Weeknight Chipotle Chicken Thighs made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Boneless Chicken Thigh, Dried Ancho Chile Pepper, Dried Chipotle Chile, Dried Oregano. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Weeknight Chipotle Chicken Thighs?
- About 15 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 5 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 279.89 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Weeknight Chipotle Chicken Thighs easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 11 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Weeknight Chipotle Chicken Thighs healthy?
- Weeknight Chipotle Chicken Thighs has an easyChef Pro health score of 53/100. Per serving, it provides 279.89 calories and 28.36 g of protein, or 57% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 131.4 mg (6% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 4.51 g (23% of the Daily Value). It contains Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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