How Long to Cook Chicken Breasts vs. Thighs

Chicken thighs and chicken breasts are both great dinner options, but what works with cooking for one cut of meat doesn't translate exactly to the other cut of meat. Whichever cut of chicken you choose, you can be sure it's ready to serve when a meat thermometer shows that an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit has been achieved.

What Takes Longer to Cook: Chicken Thighs or Breasts?

The difference in cook times for chicken thighs and chicken breasts is negligible in most cases. Chicken thigh meat takes longer to cook because it's more dense, so if you have a breast and a thigh of identical size, the thigh will need more cooking time. But chicken breasts are usually larger than chicken thighs, meaning that they need more time to cook through, which cancels out this difference in cooking times.

Chicken Thigh Cook Times

On the stovetop: 5-7 minutes on each side
On the grill: 10 minutes on each side
In an Instant Pot: 8 minutes on high
In a slow cooker: 2-3 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low
In the oven: 20-40 minutes depending on oven temperature

Chicken thighs are a very forgiving cut of meat and can be cooked in many different ways. Classic oven-baked chicken thighs are a familiar favorite for easy, inexpensive weeknight meals.

Chicken Breast Cook Times

On the stovetop: 5-7 minutes on each side
On the grill: 10 minutes on each side
In an Instant Pot: 10 minutes on high
In a slow cooker: 2-3 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low
in the oven: 15-30 minutes depending on oven temperature

Oven-baked chicken breast is best baked in a 400-degree oven for about 16 minutes. The cook time may vary based on the size of the chicken breast, so always test for doneness with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees.