When cooking with chicken thighs, it’s important to know how much raw chicken equals a certain weight in order to plan recipes and portion sizes appropriately. Chicken thighs can come bone-in or boneless, which affects the weight per piece. Here’s a quick look at how many boneless chicken thighs are in 1.5 pounds.
Quick Answer
Approximately 8 to 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs will make up 1.5 pounds. The exact number depends on the size of the thighs.
Calculating Chicken Thighs Per Pound
On average, one raw boneless, skinless chicken thigh weighs around 4 ounces. Since there are 16 ounces in a pound, this means that:
- 4 chicken thighs = 1 pound
- 8 chicken thighs = 2 pounds
- 12 chicken thighs = 3 pounds
For 1.5 pounds:
- 6 chicken thighs would be around 1.5 pounds (4 thighs per pound x 1.5 pounds = 6 thighs)
- Since chicken thigh size can vary, 8 to 12 thighs would cover the 1 to 1.5 pound range.
Chicken Thigh Size and Weight Variability
The main reason an exact number of chicken thighs per pound is hard to pin down is that the size of thighs can vary quite a bit. Here are some factors that affect the weight of an individual thigh:
- Chicken breed – Some breeds are genetically larger or meatier than others.
- Age and size of chicken – Older, larger chickens will have bigger thighs.
- 但chic or jumbo – Thighs may be sold as “jumbo” for larger sizing.
- Boneless vs bone-in – Boneless thighs weigh more per piece.
- Thigh shape – The thighs may be short and squat or longer and thinner.
To demonstrate the range, here are some average boneless, skinless chicken thigh sizes:
| Chicken Thigh Description | Average Weight |
|---|---|
| Small or Petite Thigh | 3 ounces |
| Average Thigh | 4 ounces |
| Large or Jumbo Thigh | 5-6 ounces |
As you can see, thighs on the smaller end of the spectrum would require more pieces to make up a pound compared to larger thighs. This accounts for the range of 8-12 thighs per 1.5 pounds.
How to Estimate Thigh Size
If you need a more accurate count for a recipe, there are a couple of ways to estimate your chicken thigh size:
- Look at the package size – If the package states 10 thighs at 2 pounds total, then each thigh is around 5 ounces on average.
- Weigh a sample thigh – Weigh one raw thigh on a kitchen scale to get the average weight for that package.
- Measure a sample thigh – The length and diameter can give insight into the size.
How Much Chicken to Buy
When shopping for chicken thighs to use in recipes, keep these tips in mind:
- Allow for some variability in size, and buy a little extra.
- For boneless thighs, estimate 6-8 thighs per pound needed.
- For bone-in thighs, estimate 3-4 thighs per pound needed.
- Adjust as needed if thighs are labeled as small, large, jumbo, etc.
Purchasing too little is better than purchasing too much since the chicken can be frozen. It’s easier to thaw a few extra pieces than be short for a recipe.
Comparing Boneless and Bone-In Thighs
Bone-in chicken thighs typically weigh around 6-8 ounces each. After removing the bones, the boneless thigh meat weighs 4-5 ounces per thigh. Here’s a direct comparison:
| Thigh Type | Average Weight per Thigh | Number for 1.5 Pounds |
|---|---|---|
| Boneless, Skinless | 4 ounces | 8-12 thighs |
| Bone-In, Skin-On | 6-8 ounces | 3-4 thighs |
You can see that 1.5 pounds of bone-in thighs requires far fewer pieces. Keep this in mind if substituting boneless for bone-in, or vice versa, in a recipe.
Cooking with Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are very versatile in the kitchen. They are juicier and more flavorful than breast meat when cooked. Here are some tips for cooking with chicken thighs:
- Thighs excel in moist cooking methods like braising, stewing, and simmering.
- They can be pan seared, baked, grilled, or broiled.
- Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F-175°F.
- Allow thicker boneless thighs to rest for 5 minutes after cooking.
- Trim excess fat if desired, but leave skin on for added moisture.
And because chicken thighs often come in packages of 8-12 pieces, they work beautifully for meal prepping! Here are some great meal prep recipes that use 1.5 pounds of boneless thighs:
| Meal Prep Recipe | Cooking Method |
|---|---|
| Hawaiian Chicken Thighs | Baked or grilled |
| Balsamic Chicken Thighs | Baked or sautéed |
| Buffalo Chicken Thigh Meal Prep Bowls | Baked and shredded |
| Jerk Chicken Thigh and Vegetable Foil Packets | Grilled in packets |
Chicken Thigh Nutrition
Chicken thighs are often considered healthier and more nutritious than breast meat. Here is a nutrition comparison of 3 ounces cooked chicken breast vs. thigh:
| Nutrient | Chicken Breast (3 oz) | Chicken Thigh (3 oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 140 | 184 |
| Fat | 3g | 11g |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 3g |
| Protein | 26g | 15g |
As you can see, chicken thighs contain more calories, fat, and saturated fat compared to breasts. However, they provide plenty of protein and have more vitamins and minerals overall:
- Iron – 2x as much as chicken breast
- Zinc – 20% more than chicken breast
- B vitamins – 2-3x as much as chicken breast
Dark chicken meat like thighs contains more myoglobin protein, which leads to the increased nutritional value.
Cost Savings of Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are typically cheaper per pound compared to chicken breasts. Based on USDA data, here are some average prices for boneless, skinless chicken cuts:
| Chicken Cut | Average Price Per Pound |
|---|---|
| Chicken Breast | $3.99 per pound |
| Chicken Thigh | $2.78 per pound |
Since chicken thighs cost around $1 less per pound compared to breasts, choosing thighs can lead to good cost savings. Buying bone-in, skin-on thighs saves even more.
Chicken thighs are also well suited for sale prices and bulk discount packs at the grocery store. Stock up when they go on sale for maximum savings.
Summary
For 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs:
- Plan on purchasing 8-12 thighs depending on average size.
- Thighs range from 3 ounces (petite) up to 6 ounces (jumbo).
- Bone-in thighs require 3-4 pieces for 1.5 pounds.
- Chicken thighs work well in meal prep recipes and moist cooking methods.
- Chicken thighs provide more nutrients, calories, and fat compared to breasts.
- Buying chicken thighs instead of breasts can lead to decent cost savings.
Knowing how many chicken thighs are in a certain quantity is helpful for shopping and meal planning. Take the variability in size into account, and enjoy the juicy, flavorful chicken thigh meat in your favorite recipes!