Roasted Crispy Chicken Thighs with Jalapeño Cilantro Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 lb Chicken thighs (Bone-in, skin-on (can also use boneless, skinless))
• 0.5 Lemon (Juice and zest)
• 2 tsp Baking powder (Essential for achieving a crispy skin)
• Salt (To taste)
• Black pepper (To taste)
• 0.5 tsp Garlic powder (Estimated quantity)
• 0.5 tsp Onion powder (Estimated quantity)
• 0.5 tsp Paprika (Estimated quantity)
• 0.25 tsp Chili flakes (Estimated quantity)
• 0.5 tsp Dried oregano (Estimated quantity)
• 0.25 tsp Turmeric (Estimated quantity)
• 0.5 cup Greek yogurt (For the sauce; estimated quantity)
• 2 tbsp Mayonnaise (For the sauce; estimated quantity)
• 0.25 cup Fresh cilantro (For the sauce; chopped)
• 1 Scallion (For the sauce; chopped)
• 1 Jalapeño (For the sauce; seeded and minced)
• 1 clove Garlic (For the sauce; minced)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs with the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili flakes, oregano, turmeric, and 2 teaspoons of baking powder. Mix thoroughly to ensure the chicken is evenly coated.

2. 2

   Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 15 minutes to let the flavors penetrate and the baking powder to react with the skin.

3. 3

   Prepare the Jalapeño Cilantro Sauce by combining yogurt, mayo, chopped cilantro, scallion, minced jalapeño, lemon juice, and minced garlic in a small bowl. Season with salt to taste and refrigerate until serving.

4. 4

   Choose your cooking method. For the AIR FRYER: Preheat to 400°F. Place chicken in the basket and cook for 15 minutes total, flipping the thighs over after the first 5 minutes (so they cook for 10 minutes on the second side).

5. 5

   For the OVEN: Preheat to 400°F. Place chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Roast for 25 minutes total, flipping the chicken 5 minutes before the end of the cooking time.

6. 6

   Let the chicken sit and rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute and the skin to fully crisp up. Serve with the prepared sauce.

Notes

The baking powder is the secret ingredient that raises the pH of the chicken skin, allowing it to brown and crisp more effectively without deep frying. For the sauce, you can adjust the heat by keeping or removing the jalapeño seeds.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• chicken
• high-protein
• low-carb
• air fryer
• roasted
• healthy
• dinner