Sous Vide Chicken Thighs

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5 from 10 votes
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These sous vide chicken thighs are super moist and juicy and come together in minutes! This method can also be used without the sous vide machine. 

Love sous vide recipes? Try my sous vide steak, sous vide turkey breast, and sous vide pork belly.

sous vide chicken thighs.

I love cooking with chicken thighs and have tried various methods, but nothing comes close to cooking them sous vide style. The meat is consistently juicy, tender, and it’s pretty much hands-off!

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to sous vide chicken thighs
  4. Arman’s recipe tips and variations
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. More sous vide recipes to try
  8. Sous Vide Chicken Thighs (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

  • Juicer than oven-cooked chicken thighs. Chicken cooked in a water bath and then quickly seared in a skillet turns out juicier than when cooked in the oven. 
  • Perfect results every single time. Chicken thighs may come out dry and chewy if they are overcooked or cooked at high temperatures. Cooking them in a sous vide machine helps you avoid these problems and serve flawlessly juicy chicken on all occasions. 
  • You don’t need a sous vide machine. No worries if you don’t have one. This recipe works just as well with a pot of water and a thermometer.

Ingredients needed

  • Chicken thighs. With bone and skin. Boneless and skinless chicken thighs also work, but you’ll need to reduce the cooking time by around 8-10 minutes to compensate for less surface area.
  • Lemon. Lemon slices gives the chicken a hint of bright citrus flavor. 
  • Fresh coriander.  To add flavor. 
  • Kosher salt and black pepper. To taste. 

How to sous vide chicken thighs

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Season the chicken thighs. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.

seasoned chicken thighs.

Step 2- Vacuum seal. Put the chicken thighs in a vacuum bag along with the slices of lemon and fresh coriander. Seal the bag using a vacuum sealer. 

chicken thighs in bag.

Step 2- Cook the chicken sous vide. Set the sous vide machine to 75C/167F degrees. Put the chicken in the water making sure it is fully submerged. Cook for 60 minutes. 

chicken thighs in sous vide cooker.

Step 4- Sear and serve. Remove the chicken thighs from the bags and discard the aromatics. Heat butter in a skillet on high heat. Sear the chicken thighs evenly on all sides for a total of 2 minutes.

pan seared chicken thighs.

How to make this without a sous vide machine

You can make sous vide chicken thighs without a sous vide machine so long as you have a large pot, a thermometer, and ziplock bags. 

Fill the pot with water and place a thermometer in it. Heat the water to 167F degrees. Put the seasoned chicken thighs in a ziplock bag along with the aromatics of your choice and remove the excess air.

Cook the chicken thighs in your makeshift sous vide machine for an hour. Then remove them from the bags, sear, and serve. 

Arman’s recipe tips and variations

  • Pat dry the chicken before searing them. Removing any extra moisture from it helps achieve crispier results. 
  • You don’t need to thaw chicken thighs if they are frozen. Simply cook them 60 minutes longer to give them time to defrost and cook through. 
  • If you don’t have fresh coriander use other herbs. Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, and parsley will work well for this chicken.
  • Season the chicken thighs with chili powder to make them a little spicy. 

Storage instructions

To store: Place leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. The chicken thighs will be good for 3 to 4 days.

To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled chicken in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

To reheat: Microwave for 30-40 seconds until hot or in a skillet/oven.

chicken thighs sous vide.

Frequently asked questions

How do you know when the chicken is done?

The best way to tell if sous vide chicken is done is with a meat thermometer and ensure it is at least 165F. Unlike other cooking methods that allow you to guess the doneness of chicken by inspecting the color, doing it with the sous vide method is a little tricky. Sous vide chicken may remain a little pink inside, which doesn’t mean that it is undercooked. 

How long do you sous vide chicken thighs for?

You can cook chicken thighs in the sous vide machine for 1 to 8 hours, depending on the temperature you are using and the result you are trying to achieve. In general, cooking chicken thighs for 1 to 4 hours yields juicy and tender results, while cooking them for 5 to 8 hours makes them slightly less juicy and good for shredding. 

What temperature should I cook chicken thighs in the sous vide?

You can sous vide chicken thighs at temperatures ranging from 141 to 180F degrees. If you are aiming for a perfectly juicy and tender texture, sous vide chicken thighs at 165 to 167F degrees. 

More sous vide recipes to try

sous vide chicken thighs recipe.

Sous Vide Chicken Thighs

5 from 10 votes
These sous vide chicken thighs are super moist and juicy and come together in minutes! This method can also be used without the sous vide machine. Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen.
Servings: 4 chicken thighs
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 57 minutes
Total: 58 minutes

Video

Ingredients  

  • 4 chicken thighs skin-on and bone-in
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 slices lemon
  • 1/4 cup corriander fresh
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions 

  • Preheat the water bath using the Sous vide machine to 75C.
  • Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
  • Place the chicken in a vacuum bag, along with lemon slices and coriander. Seal the bag with a vacuum sealer.
  • Place the vacuum bag in the water bath and submerge it completely in the water and cook for 60 minutes.
  • Remove the chicken thighs from the bag and discard the herbs and lemon.
  • Add the butter to a non-stick skillet and place over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear both sides.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

TO STORE: Place leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. The chicken thighs will be good for 3 to 4 days.
TO FREEZE: Place the cooked and cooled chicken in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. 
TO REHEAT: The oven works great for reheating leftover chicken thighs. You can also reheat the chicken thighs in a water bath until they reach a safe internal temperature (165F). 

Nutrition

Serving: 1chicken thighCalories: 368kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 24gFat: 30gSodium: 447mgPotassium: 307mgFiber: 0.2gVitamin A: 289IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 1g
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Originally published December 2022, updated and republished April 2024

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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