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I know, I know. Chicken. The most basic of proteins…
Not anymore! These thighs are FAR from dry or boring.
The trick to juicy, delicious, savory chicken thighs?
MAYO!
Whaaaat?
“But isn’t mayonnaise so not healthy? Why are you posting a mayonnaise recipe on a health blog?”
Historically, store-bought mayo is not a health food.
If we look at the ingredients of a famously Southern mayo brand, we see: soybean oil, eggs, water, distilled and cider vinegar, salt, oleoresin paprika, natural flavors, calcium disodium EDTA added to protect flavor.
Four of those ingredients seem okay! Eggs, water, vinegar, salt- yeah, I recognize those. But, soybean oil is a definite NO. Read my blog post about which cooking oils are inflammatory here. And there are a few ingredients in that list that sound mysterious at best and like a chemistry project at worst.
So, if you don’t want to slather a science project on your chicken thighs, what are you supposed to do?
If you don’t have the time or bandwidth to make mayo homemade (which is basically just oil, egg yolk and lemon juice emulsified), I have a solution for you.
Primal Kitchen mayo made with avocado oil!
Primal Kitchen is a great brand that makes healthier versions of the products we know and love. Their selections of mayos are a staple in my house. This mayo provides a creamy condiment with a bit of tang- which is what we all crave in our mayo.
The ingredients? Avocado Oil, Organic Eggs, Organic Egg Yolks, Organic Vinegar, Sea Salt, Organic Rosemary Extract
DING DING DING! We have a winner! What a beautiful list. All ingredients I recognize and most are organic.
I wasn’t entirely sure how the organic rosemary extract was processed for this product, but when I check it out on the Primal Kitchen website, they state “The rosemary extract for the mayo is extracted without solvents and is in organic olive oil.”
Good enough for me.
This mayo is a tasty alternative to other brands whose ingredients may be questionable.
Primal Kitchen products can be found in many grocery stores, but if you’d like, you can purchase products from their website. Use the code REVEL at checkout for 10% off your order!
Let’s get on to the recipe, shall we?
These thighs are guests-are-over-for-dinner worthy. They are so juicy, tender, and flavorful thanks to the mayo. It tenderizes the meat so nicely. Also, this recipe is EASY! The hardest part is remembering that you have to marinade them at least 3 hours prior to putting them in the oven. (But in all honesty, I once made this recipe without marinading the chicken for any amount of time- just mixed it all up and threw them in the oven and they still came out delicious. BUT, I do think the marinade time infuses the flavor quite a bit!)
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs chicken thighs (skin-on & bone-in)
- 1/4 cup mayo (avocado oil based like Primal Kitchen brand)
- 1 Tbs avocado oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground paprika
Instructions:
- Remove chicken thighs from their packaging, dry each thigh with a paper towel and set aside on a plate.
- Combine mayo, avocado oil and garlic in a large bowl. Add in your chicken thighs and coat the thighs with the mayo mixture. I use my hands for this task!
- Mix seasonings in a small bowl or ramekin. Sprinkle each side of the thighs with seasoning mixture and leave in the bowl. Cover with aluminum foil or alternative and place in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 hours or overnight.
- When it’s time to bake, remove thighs from refrigerator. Place into a glass baking dish making sure the chicken thighs are positioned with the skin on top prior to going in the oven.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 45-55 minutes until chicken is golden. Internal temperature should be at least 165 degrees.
I hope you love this recipe. Give it a try!
Take good care,
Disclaimer: The information presented in this blog post is intended for educational purposes only, and it hasn’t been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information isn’t intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease, nor is it medical advice. One should always consult a qualified medical professional before engaging in any dietary and/or lifestyle change.
Corie McInnis
Corie is a functional nutritionist in Asheville, N.C. She specializes in helping her 1:1 clients with digestive discomfort, fertility struggles, skin inflammation, mood imbalances and more. She believes that a nourishing diet can support the body's innate ability to heal. She's a big fan of grass-fed butter and will not shut up about the gut microbiome.