Ninja Speedi chicken thighs are cooked with quinoa, rice, and peas all at the same time - and all in one handy appliance! This easy recipe includes step-by-step instructions for how to cook a delicious full dinner in a Ninja, in just 20 minutes or less.
This quick and easy Ninja Speedi chicken thighs recipe is an entire all-in-one meal loaded with nutrients and lots of delicious flavors!
Protein-rich thighs are great to balance the hearty carbs in the rice and quinoa, which are also packed with protein! And peas are the perfect lightly-sweet, vitamin-rich veggie to pair with a savory main dish like this.
Ninja Speedi chicken thighs and rice cooks all of these ingredients at the same time, with no need to swap out any trays or delay cook time. Add everything to the appliance, set it, and in only about 15 minutes you are ready to serve a satisfying dinner that took barely any effort to make. No wonder it's called a Speedi!
Recipe ingredients
Chicken thighs. Your choice of boneless and skinless or bone-in and skin-on, with any excess fat trimmed off. Ninja Foodi Grill chicken thighs is another great recipe from Ninja Family appliance.
Quinoa. Rinse the grain in a sieve before adding to the pot, if you like. This isn't necessary but does mellow the quinoa flavor a bit.
White rice. Long grain rice is great for cooking in the Speedi. It isn't quite as glutenous as short grain rice so stays fluffier when rapidly cooked.
Water. This goes with the carbs and peas in the lower part of the appliance. I recommend using filtered water for the best taste.
Peas. Use frozen peas - there is no need to thaw them first! Trust me, they'll cook nice and tender from frozen.
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Spices. In this recipe I am just using a simple poultry seasoning.
Variations
- It is up to you whether to use bone-in and skin-on or leaner boneless and skinless chicken thighs. Add 4-5 minutes to the suggested cooking time if using bone-in pieces.
- Feel free to change up the spices and season the chicken however you want! Try this Ninja Speedi chicken thighs recipe with lemon pepper seasoning, BBQ seasoning, Cajun or Creole seasoning, Chinese 5 spice, Italian seasoning, garam masala, cumin and chili powder, or other favorite spice blends. There are so many great options!
- You can swap out peas or do a mixture of peas and other frozen veggies. Other small vegetables like frozen lima beans, edamame (just the bean, not the pod), corn, or a veg mix with corn, carrots, green beans are all easy to cook in this recipe.
- Brush the cooked chicken thighs with a sweet, savory, or spicy glaze like sweet chili sauce, BBQ sauce, or hot wing sauce for even more flavor.
Frequently asked questions
The appliances are made by the same company and have very similar functions. However, they are not the same device. The Ninja Speedi is an all-in-one air fryer, cooker, steamer, slow cooker, and crisper. The Ninja Foodi has all of the same capabilities but can also pressure cook.
The Speedi is a good bit smaller than the Foodi, which makes it a more convenient countertop appliance if you're working with limited space.
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken thighs in the Ninja Speedi. Add 3-4 minutes to the cooking time for boneless and skinless thighs, and 4-5 minutes for bone-in and skin-on pieces of chicken.
Whether cooking skin-on or skinless chicken thighs it's key to not overcrowd the basket. Too many thighs, and thighs too close together, will cause steam to build up in the Ninja. Steam equals extra moisture, which keeps the exterior of the thighs from getting crisp.
Other Ninja Speedi recipes
- Ninja Speedi ham- glazed ham ready for any occasion!
- Ninja Speedi turkey breast- tender turkey breast cooked with mashed potatoes in your Ninja Speedi!
- Ninja Speedi green beans- with garlic and butter.
Hope you will like this Ninja Speedi chicken thighs recipe as much as we do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Recipe
Ninja Speedi Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs bone in skin on
- ½ cup quinoa
- ½ cup white rice
- 1 ½ cup water
- ½ cup frozen peas
- poultry seasoning to taste
Instructions
- Place water, rice, quinoa and peas in to the pot. Place tray on the top.
- Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place them on the tray. Close the lid and flip the SmartSwitch to RAPID COOKER.
- Select SPEEDI MEALS, set temperature to 350°F, and set time to 14 minutes. Press START/STOP to begin cooking.
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