These Cowboy Butter Chicken Thighs are an easy dinner recipe with juicy roasted chicken thighs coated in rich, flavorful cowboy butter. With minimal prep and only three ingredients, it is perfect for weeknights or any night you are craving chicken. Once you taste the flavor that homemade cowboy butter brings to each bite, you will want to check out more of my Cowboy Butter Recipes.
What Is Cowboy Butter?
Cowboy Butter is a rich, homemade compound butter flavored with herbs, spices, and a little kick from cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes. While it’s delicious as a spread, it’s great for so much more! Use it as a dipping sauce, melt it over your favorite meats, or shape it into a log to slice and serve. It’s fantastic on steak, chicken (like in this recipe), turkey, or really anything you like!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Chicken: Look for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for this recipe. Pat them dry before salting to help the skin crisp up while roasting and keep the meat juicy.
- Salt: Sprinkling salt on the chicken enhances its flavor and helps create a golden, crispy skin.
- Cowboy Butter: The star of this recipe is the homemade cowboy butter! It brings so much flavor to so many recipes, including these chicken thighs.
Why Increase The Oven Temperature
Increasing the oven temperature at the end helps the chicken thighs develop a golden, crispy skin while keeping the meat juicy. This simple step makes your roasted chicken thighs extra flavorful! I can’t argue with that!
Can I Use Boneless Chicken Thighs or Chicken Breasts?
Yes, you can use boneless chicken thighs or chicken breasts, but cooking times will be shorter. Boneless thighs stay juicy and flavorful, while chicken breasts can dry out more easily, so keep an eye on the internal temperature to ensure they reach 165°F without overcooking. If you prefer chicken breasts, you will want to check out my Cowboy Butter Chicken Skewers.
Make-Ahead Cowboy Butter Chicken Thighs
You can prepare these chicken thighs ahead of time by coating them in Cowboy Butter and storing them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking. Or, make the Cowboy Butter in advance; it will last up to a week in the refrigerator.
How to Get Crispy Chicken Skin
Patting the chicken dry, seasoning it well with salt, and finishing at a higher oven temperature helps create golden, crispy skin while keeping the meat juicy. These simple steps make your roasted chicken thighs perfectly crisp every time.
What To Serve With Cowboy Butter Chicken Thighs
I like to pair these chicken thighs with easy, tasty sides to round out the meal. Here are some delicious options:
- Skins On Mashed Potatoes (or Cauliflower Mashed)
- Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
- Coleslaw
- Homemade Cornbread or Cornbread Muffins
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
How To Store and Reheat Cowboy Butter Chicken Thighs
Store leftover cooked chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. To reheat, place them in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10–15 minutes, or until warmed through, to keep the meat juicy and the skin as crisp as possible.
Cowboy Butter Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup prepared cowboy butter, softened
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Set aside a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Pat the skin of the chicken thighs thoroughly dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
- Arrange the chicken thighs in the baking dish in a single layer, skin side up.
- Lightly sprinkle kosher salt all over the chicken.
- Spread the softened cowboy butter evenly over each thigh.
- Bake at 375°F for 40 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and baste the chicken with the pan juices and melted butter.
- Increase oven temperature to 425°F and bake another 5–10 minutes, until skin is golden and crisp and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest 5–10 minutes before serving, spooning the buttery pan juices over the top.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This chicken is juicy and buttery with lots of flavor! And, there is plenty of butter in the pan to add as much as you want!
Elizabeth
I am not sure about this chicken. The skin was not as crispy as I would like, and bone-in chicken thighs are hard to eat.
Stephanie
This chicken is super tender and flavorful! Plus, it is such an easy recipe to prepare.
Bella
This is delicious! Cowboy butter adds so much flavor to so many foods. I am always willing to try easy chicken recipes!
