Skip to Content

Sour Cream Chicken Thighs

Get ready for this delicious Sour Cream Chicken Thighs recipe! These skinless thighs are smothered in a sour cream and tomato sauce, topped with a mix of cheeses, and baked to perfection. It’s a fiesta of flavors that will have your taste buds dancing!

 

Main image for Sour Cream Chicken Thighs

 

If you need a fast and easy chicken recipe, this baked sour cream chicken thighs dish is a winner. It cooks in 25 minutes and has less than 5 minutes of prep, so you can get a tasty dinner on the table in no time without standing over it!

Last night I ran home between child activities and practices, put this in the pan, started the rice in my instant pot, left to let it cook, and had a perfect dinner with so much flavor waiting for me when I came back.  

I am a big fan of 30 minute dinners that I don’t need to be watching in the kitchen the entire time. Especially when they taste so good that everyone eats them. 

And the nice part about this recipe is if you do have any leftover tex mex chicken thighs, you can use them as taco, enchilada, or quesadilla filling the next day. Or even on top of a southwest salad! 

You will want to keep this sour cream chicken recipe card close, so the next time you need a fast and easy meal, it is ready for you.

 

All ingredients laid out on counter, ready to assmeble

 

What Ingredients Are in Sour Cream Chicken Thighs?

  • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: the dark meat chicken cooks is so smoothly and softly that it is almost melt in your mouth tender chicken
  • Sour Cream: smothers the chicken in creamy goodness
  • Cornstarch: thickens the creamy sour cream sauce to a perfect consistency
  • Oregano: adds a layer of herbal flavor to the dish
  • Garlic Powder: the easiest way to get garlic note throughout the sour cream gravy
  • Cumin: an important tex mex flavor spice
  • Chili Powder: adds layers of smoky flavor with just a hint of chili spice
  • Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: these have a deeper flavor than regular diced tomatoes that give you a more flavorful sauce
  • Chopped Green Chiles: gives the dish a sweet and spicy twist
  • Salt: balances the flavor of all the other ingredients
  • Black Pepper: adds seasoning that helps you absorb the nutrients of the other ingredients
  • Cheese: I like to use a combination of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Pepper Jack to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients
  • Tomatoes: use fresh tomatoes for garnish on top of the chicken dish
  • Green Onions: chopped up small these add a fresh note to the top of the cooked chicken
  • Cilantro: fresh herbs add a bright finishing note to the dish

Pro Tip: Since this dish is cooked and mixed with strong ingredients and spices, if you prefer, you can substitute plain Greek yogurt for the sour cream. That will add extra protein. It will slightly change the flavor of the dish, but as it cooks, it will still give you a great Mexican smothered chicken dish.

 

Sauce mixture mixed in a bowl

 

How to Make Sour Cream Chicken Thighs:

  1. Preheat the oven and grease the bottom of the pan with olive oil.
  2. Mix sour cream, cornstarch, spices, fire-roasted tomatoes, and green chiles in a small bowl.
  3. Arrange the boneless chicken thighs in a single layer in the dish, top with half the cheese mixture.
  4. Pour the sour cream mixture over the chicken casserole and bake in a preheated oven.
  5. Sprinkle the remaining cheese mixture on top of the chicken and bake until golden brown.
  6. Check to make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 170-175 degrees no matter what the cooking time is.
  7. Garnish with tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro. Serve over rice.

Pro Tips:

  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure your baked chicken thighs with sour cream are cooked perfectly.
  • Customize the spice level to suit your taste by adjusting the amount of chili powder and choosing mild, medium, or hot green chiles.

 

shredded cheese topping chicken thighs

 

When to Serve Sour Cream Chicken Thighs:

This sour cream chicken thighs recipe is an easy recipe the whole family will enjoy. That makes it perfect for a weeknight dinner or a weekend gathering with friends. Everyone loves this dish.

What to Serve with Sour Cream Chicken Thighs:

I always serve sour cream chicken thighs with rice. I use plain rice, but I do love this Mexican Rice and Beans recipe too. Then add your favorite sides like homemade guacamole, or a fresh corn and black bean salsa

 

Sour Cream sauce poured over chicken thighs

 

Can Sour Cream Chicken Thighs Be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes you can make sour cream chicken thighs ahead of time! The flavors get deeper with time. There are two best ways to do this.

  1. Prepare the dish without cooking up to a day in advance, refrigerate, and then bake right before you are ready to serve it. 
  2. Prepare and cook the dish completely. Refrigerate, then heat thoroughly before serving it.

I have served it both ways, and the sour cream marinade protects the chicken giving you melt in your mouth chicken sour cream no matter how you cook it.

Are Sour Cream Chicken Thighs Healthy?

While this dish is a little indulgent, it does use a lot of vegetables and protein in this dish. You can make it healthier by using low-fat sour cream or plain greek yogurt and reducing the amount of cheese you sprinkle on top. 

You could also serve it over roasted peppers and red onion or cauliflower rice for an extra veggie kick.

 

Baked Chicken thighs topped with tomatoes, green onions and cilantro.

 

How to Store Leftover Sour Cream Chicken Thighs:

Store leftover sour cream chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave or chop leftovers small and use as enchilada or quesadilla filling.

Can You Freeze Sour Cream Chicken Thighs?

Yes, you can freeze sour cream chicken thighs. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2-3 months, then thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. 

I have also put this chicken thigh sour cream recipe straight in the oven from the freezer and just increased the cooking time until the internal temperature was safely cooked.

 

3 chicken thighs in a bowl of rice

Additional Chicken Recipes You’ll Love…

If you need easy chicken sheet pan dinners, this sour cream chicken thighs recipe is perfect with bold flavors and tender chicken every time you cook it.

 

3 chicken thighs in a bowl of rice

Sour Cream Chicken Thighs

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Creamy Sour Cream Chicken Thighs – a zesty, cheesy delight! Perfect for any occasion, this recipe adds flair to your dinner table.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400* F.
  2. Coat a 9x13 casserole dish with olive oil.
  3. Mix sour cream with cornstarch, oregano, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, fire roasted tomatoes, chopped green chilies, and salt and pepper. 
  4. Lay your chicken thighs in baking dish, top with half the cheese mixture, and pour the sour cream mixture over the top. Cook for 15 minutes,
  5. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese mixture over the top of chicken.
  6. Cook for another 10 minutes. Check to make sure internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165*F. 
  7. Garnish with chopped tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro.  
  8. Serve over rice. 
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 320Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 169mgSodium: 479mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 32g
Originally Posted: March 31, 2020

Photos & Text Updated: October 3, 2023

Melt in your Mouth Tex-Mex Sour Cream Chicken
Melt in your mouth Tex-Mex Sour Cream Chicken

Tex-Mex Sour Cream Chicken

This Melt in Your Mouth Tex-Mex Sour Cream Chicken is a fast, easy, delicious recipe the whole family will love!

This Melt in Your Mouth Tex-Mex Sour Cream Chicken is a fast, easy, delicious recipe the whole family will love!

This Melt in Your Mouth Tex-Mex Sour Cream Chicken is a fast, easy, delicious recipe the whole family will love!

Tex Mex Sour Cream Chicken

Tex Mex Sour Cream Chicken

Sharing is caring!

Catsmom

Monday 22nd of March 2021

Do you drain the can of tomatoes?

Michelle Nahom

Wednesday 31st of March 2021

No, I did not.

Jackie Cayless

Tuesday 16th of February 2021

This was delicious and went down a treat with my ever critical teens. I used chicken breasts

Janelle

Thursday 12th of October 2023

So glad to hear this was a hit with picky teans! Thanks for letting me know!

Deb Clark

Thursday 30th of April 2020

That chicken is melt in your mouth tender! Love the flavor and all of the deliciousness!

MICHAELA KENKEL

Thursday 30th of April 2020

We made this Tuesday night to switch up our taco Tuesday and we LOVED it!! Tonight we are having what's left in tortillas! I can't wait for dinner! ;)

Amy Nash

Thursday 30th of April 2020

This was such a great change of pace from my regular rotation chicken dinners! I love the chicken thighs and all the flavors in it. It's getting saved and added to future meal plans!

Skip to Recipe