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    Home » Recipes » Chicken and Poultry » Garlic Stuffed Chicken Thighs

    Garlic Stuffed Chicken Thighs

    Published: Dec 12, 2022 · Modified: Aug 1, 2024 by Chandice · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    JUMP TO RECIPE

    These garlic stuffed chicken thighs have an irresistible flavor that everyone will love and it is perfect for a weeknight dinner.

    garlic stuffed chicken thighs on a plate

    I have been cooking for as long as I can remember. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I took my love for cooking and made some amazing gluten-free recipes.

    My love for life and cooking has helped me learn a lot of different things especially when I was in Ukraine where I first enjoyed this recipe (along with this Ukrainian borscht). I learned plenty of tips and tricks, so I am here to help make this the BEST stuffed chicken thighs recipe.

    Garlic is such a great seasoning, in my opinion. I absolutely love garlic! Especially in our gluten-free garlic bread recipe. There is just something about it that warms my soul. I love it with lemon too like you find in this lemon grilled chicken.

    Maybe it’s because garlic usually pairs with pasta, like our Instant Pot lasagna or our tortellini Pomodoro. Pasta is always such a cozy meal, and now we have this tasty chicken dish that will soon be your favorite comfort food.

    Stuffed chicken recipes are some of my favorite recipes because they are usually filled with some type of cheese, like parmesan cheese, feta cheese, swiss cheese, and sometimes cream cheese. I also love how much flavor is in this recipe.

    Just one piece of chicken has the incredible flavors of garlic, onions, olives, cheese, and cayenne. Because individual pieces of chicken are stuffed with all of these flavors, each bite is a good bite just like in this chicken plov recipe as well.

    Why you should make this recipe

    • You get to try BRIANNAS garlic vinaigrette, possibly introducing you to your new favorite salad dressing. Any garlicky vinaigrette will work if you can’t find this brand.
    • It’s super easy to make.
    • All of your friends will ask for the recipe.

    Ingredients needs

    Garlic Stuffed Chicken Thighs Ingredients
    • Organic chicken thighs – Chicken breasts and chicken legs have a different texture and taste to them. For this recipe, we use chicken thighs for their fattiness and moisture.
    • BRIANNAS Garlic Vinaigrette – We are thankful to BRIANNAS salad dressing for sponsoring this post. We love all of their salad dressings, but for this recipe we are using their garlic vinaigrette. It adds such a great flavor to this chicken dinner.
    BRIANNAS Garlic Vinaigrette bottle
    • Medium onion – You will need one medium onion for this recipe. Make sure it is diced before you fry it in a little olive oil on a medium-sized skillet.
    • Black olives – Slice a half a cup of olives before stuffing into the chicken.
    • Cheddar cheese – You will need four slices of cheddar cheese that are long enough to fit inside the deboned chicken leg.
    • Salt – Only one tsp salt will do when flavoring the chicken.
    • Black pepper – 1/4 tsp pepper will do when mixed with the salt and cayenne pepper.
    • Cayenne – 1/4 tsp cayenne adds such a great flavor to this stuffed chicken recipe.

    How to make garlic stuffed chicken thighs

    Combine chicken in seasoning

    In a gallon ziplock bag or large bowl, combine chicken with Real salt, black pepper, cayenne, and 1/2 bottle BRIANNAS Garlic Vinaigrette.

    I think a ziplock bag works great, but if you are worried about the marinade leaking, you can use a large bowl. I’ve done both and both ways work great.

    spices being poured into a bag

    Marinate chicken

    Allow the chicken to marinate in the seasonings and BRIANNAS garlic vinaigrette for two hours in the refrigerator. I love marinating chicken because it creates such a delicious flavor, and it makes the chicken more juicy and flavorful.

    You can marinate the chicken longer than two hours if you prefer. I think two hours works great for the flavor, but it is up to personal preference.

    BRIANNAS garlic vinaigrette being poured over chicken in a bag
    chicken thighs in a bag

    Fry onion

    Once the chicken is marinated, dice the onion and fry it on medium heat in a frying pan with a bit of olive oil. Doing this will add some more flavor to the onions and make it nice and tasty.

    I find that frying the onion beforehand really makes a difference in this recipe. When you take a bite of the chicken, you can really taste the deliciously fried onion.

    onions frying

    Stuff the chicken

    Now that everything is ready to go, it is time to stuff the chicken. Stuff the chicken with cheddar cheese, onions, and olives.

    Secure with toothpicks to ensure that the chicken will not fall apart when baking. Make sure to warn your guests about the toothpicks before eating.

    Stuffed chicken
    Stuffed chicken rolled

    Bake the stuffed chicken

    Place chicken thighs in either a baking dish or on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes.

    Remember to remove the toothpicks from the chicken before eating. You do not want to take a bite out of that.

    Tips for Success

    • Make sure you plan ahead to let the chicken thigh marinate enough. The chicken will have the best flavor when it has the time to marinate.
    • Do not overstuff the chicken or else it will make a mess. You don’t want to under stuff though. The perfect balance is when the chicken is full, but the filling does not stick out of the chicken.
    • Put a toothpick in each end of the chicken thigh. That way everything will stay put together.
    garlic stuffed chicken thighs on a plate

    Storage and Freezing

    Storing: Allow the chicken to cool to room temperature before placing it into an airtight container. You can store the airtight container in the fridge and the chicken will last 3-4 days.

    Freezing: You can freeze the stuffed chicken either cooked or uncooked. If uncooked, wrap the chicken in plastic wrap, place into a freezer bag or container, and freeze. When you are ready to cook, allow the chicken to thaw in the fridge before cooking.

    If you want to freeze the cooked chicken, follow the same steps (allow the chicken to cool to room temperature first) and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, allow chicken to reheat, splash with a bit of water, and reheat in oven or microwave.

    Recipe FAQ

    Can I use chicken breast instead?

    Yes. It won’t be as juicy or flavorful though as it is with chicken thigh though. You will also need to flatten the chicken breasts to an even thickness before stuffing and rolling.

    What temperature should the chicken be when cooked?

    The desired internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Fun fact: for moist, softer chicken, you want to cook the chicken between 300-350 degrees, whereas for tougher, crispier chicken skin, you will want to cook it at around 425 degrees.

    You can easily check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer. I always recommend having one because they are incredibly useful.

    Should I cover the chicken with aluminum foil in the oven?

    You don’t have to worry about covering the chicken in this recipe. It cooks perfectly fine without being covered.

    garlic stuffed chicken thighs on a plate

    Ways to Enjoy

    This recipe is the perfect main dish. It is filling and delicious and goes with a lot of different sides. Our gluten-free mashed potatoes are incredible and it’s always great to have gravy with chicken.

    You could also go for a gluten-free stuffing depending on your preference. I highly recommend our gluten-free crescent rolls as a side for these boneless chicken thighs.

    I love having a nice mocktail with a delicous meal, so you should check out any of our mocktails. What is a mocktail you ask? We have a whole post about what a mocktail is.

    Need an EASY and delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert?
    Take a look at my Sheet Pan Meals and More!

    NEED MORE GOODNESS? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for great recipes, entertaining ideas and more!

    Garlic Stuffed Chicken Thighs

    Garlic Stuffed Chicken Thighs on a plate
    5 from 1 vote
    These garlic stuffed chicken thighs have an irresistible flavor that everyone will love and it is perfect for a weeknight dinner. 
    PRINT RECIPE SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 40 minutes mins
    Total Time: 2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
    Course: Chicken
    Cuisine: American, ukrainian
    Keyword: chicken, garlic, stuffed, thighs
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 353kcal
    Author: Chandice Probst

    Ingredients

    • 4 organic chicken thighs, deboned
    • 1 bottle BRIANNAS Garlic Vinaigrette, divided (or another garlic vinaigrette)
    • 1 medium onion, diced
    • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
    • 4 slices cheddar cheese (long enough to fit inside the deboned chicken leg)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

    Instructions

    • In a gallon ziplock bag or large bowl, combine chicken with Real salt, black pepper, cayenne and 1/2 bottle BRIANNAS Garlic Vinaigrette
    • Marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator
    • When chicken is done marinating, fry onion in 1 teaspoon olive oil
      Stuff chicken with cheese, onion mixture and olives. Secure with a toothpick. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

    Notes

    • Make sure you plan ahead to let the chicken thigh marinate enough. The chicken will have the best flavor when it has the time to marinate.
    • Do not overstuff the chicken or else it will make a mess. You don’t want to under stuff though. The perfect balance is when the chicken is full, but the filling does not stick out of the chicken.
    • Put a toothpick in each end of the chicken thigh. That way everything will stay put together.
    Storing: Allow the chicken to cool to room temperature before placing it into an airtight container. You can store the airtight container in the fridge and the chicken will last 3-4 days.
    Freezing: You can freeze the stuffed chicken either cooked or uncooked. If uncooked, wrap the chicken in plastic wrap, place into a freezer bag or container, and freeze. When you are ready to cook, allow the chicken to thaw in the fridge before cooking.
    If you want to freeze the cooked chicken, follow the same steps (allow the chicken to cool to room temperature first) and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, allow chicken to reheat, splash with a bit of water, and reheat in oven or microwave.
    Can I use chicken breast instead?
    Yes. It won’t be as juicy or flavorful though as it is with chicken thigh though. You will also need to flatten the chicken breasts to an even thickness before stuffing and rolling.
    What temperature should the chicken be when cooked?
    The desired internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Fun fact: for moist, softer chicken, you want to cook the chicken between 300-350 degrees, whereas for tougher, crispier chicken skin, you will want to cook it at around 425 degrees.
    You can easily check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer. I always recommend having one because they are incredibly useful.
    Should I cover the chicken with aluminum foil in the oven?
    You don’t have to worry about covering the chicken in this recipe. It cooks perfectly fine without being covered.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1stuffed thigh | Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 1044mg | Potassium: 296mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 378IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi, I'm Chandice!

    Parties, gatherings, gorgeous food and ESPECIALLY holidays with my people are what make my heart pitter patter. Having a place to share our favorite traditions, recipes and celebrations is very important to me. I live each day with unapologetic, authentic happiness and hope to help others do the same. More About Chandice

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dontay Lesser says

      January 28, 2023 at 4:07 am

      Can this recipe be cooked on the stovetop.I’m not finding any stores that sells Brianna’s garlic 🧄 vinaigrette.Do you know what store sells that ingredient?Also what cheddar cheese 🧀 do you think 🤔 would work for this recipe?

      Reply
      • Chandice says

        January 30, 2023 at 7:34 pm

        Yes, it can be cooked on the stovetop but I like baking better. I use cheddar cheese. Briannas has a store locator on their website. 🙂 If not, another garlic vinaigrette works great.

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi there, I’m Chandice!

    I love sharing ways to live more vivaciously! Celebrate life with us through unforgettable gluten-free recipes, easy mocktails and everyday entertaining ideas…

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