What Is Chicken Thigh In Spanish? | Order It Right

A chicken thigh is “muslo de pollo” in Spanish; menus may also say “contramuslo” for the upper thigh.

If you’re reading a Spanish menu, shopping at a butcher counter, or translating a recipe, “muslo de pollo” is the phrase you’ll want most of the time. It means the meaty thigh portion of a chicken leg, often sold bone-in, boneless, skin-on, or skinless.

The small catch is that Spanish names for poultry cuts can shift by country, store, and menu style. “Muslo” may refer to the thigh area, while “contramuslo” often points to the upper thigh. In some places, “pierna de pollo” may mean a whole leg, and that can include both drumstick and thigh.

Chicken Thigh In Spanish Menus And Markets

The safest phrase is muslo de pollo. It’s clear, natural, and widely understood. If you want to order chicken thighs at a restaurant, you can say, “Quiero muslos de pollo,” which means “I want chicken thighs.”

At a butcher counter, add the cut style. Say “sin hueso” for boneless, “con hueso” for bone-in, “sin piel” for skinless, and “con piel” for skin-on. These small words save you from getting the wrong pack.

How The Main Terms Break Down

Spanish food words often become easier when you break the phrase into parts. “Pollo” means chicken meat. The RAE entry for pollo lists it as chicken meat as well as a young chicken, so the word fits both menus and grocery labels.

“Muslo” means thigh. The RAE entry for muslo also names the fleshy lower part of a bird’s leg. That is why “muslo de pollo” works so well for a chicken thigh order.

• Muslo de pollo: Chicken thigh.
• Muslos de pollo: Chicken thighs.
• Contramuslo de pollo: Upper chicken thigh.
• Pierna de pollo: Chicken leg, often the full leg.
• Cuarto trasero: Chicken leg quarter, usually thigh plus drumstick.

Why “Muslo” And “Contramuslo” Can Confuse Buyers

In English, “chicken thigh” usually means one clear cut. In Spanish, labels may split the leg into parts more sharply. “Contramuslo” is one of those words you may see on supermarket packs, butcher signs, and recipes from Spain.

The RAE entry for contramuslo defines it as the upper part of a bird’s lower limb. In plain kitchen terms, that points to the upper thigh section. If a pack says “contramuslos,” it should not mean drumsticks.

“Pierna” is the word that needs the most care. A menu may use it loosely for a chicken leg. At a store, it may mean the drumstick, the full leg, or a leg quarter, depending on the seller. When accuracy matters, ask whether the piece includes the thigh: “¿Incluye el muslo?”

Broad Translation Table For Chicken Thigh Terms

Spanish Term	Best English Meaning	When You’ll See It
Muslo de pollo	Chicken thigh	Menus, recipes, butcher counters
Muslos de pollo	Chicken thighs	Family packs, recipe ingredient lists
Contramuslo de pollo	Upper chicken thigh	Spanish supermarkets and recipes
Contramuslos	Upper thighs	Pack labels, butcher displays
Pierna de pollo	Chicken leg	Menus, casual speech, markets
Cuarto trasero	Chicken leg quarter	Bulk packs, roasting cuts
Muslo deshuesado	Boneless thigh	Recipe prep, grilled dishes
Muslo con piel	Skin-on thigh	Roasting, frying, crisp-skin dishes
Muslo sin piel	Skinless thigh	Stews, meal prep, lighter dishes

How To Order Chicken Thighs In Spanish

The best ordering line depends on what you want on the plate or in the shopping bag. “Quiero muslos de pollo” is fine for a simple order. Add more detail only when the cut matters.

For a butcher counter, polite phrasing helps. Try “¿Tiene muslos de pollo sin hueso?” That means “Do you have boneless chicken thighs?” If you need the skin left on, say “con piel.” If you want the skin removed, say “sin piel.”

Ready Phrases That Sound Natural

• Quiero dos muslos de pollo. I want two chicken thighs.
• ¿Tiene muslos de pollo sin hueso? Do you have boneless chicken thighs?
• Los quiero con piel. I want them skin-on.
• ¿Son muslos o piernas enteras? Are these thighs or whole legs?
• ¿Me los puede cortar en trozos? Can you cut them into pieces?

Small Grammar Notes That Help

“Muslo” is masculine, so use “el muslo” for one thigh and “los muslos” for more than one. “De pollo” stays the same after singular and plural forms. You don’t need to change it to match the number.

Adjectives can change. “Deshuesado” means boneless for one masculine item. For several thighs, you’ll often see “muslos deshuesados.” If grammar slips, most sellers will still understand you from the food word and context.

Recipe Translation Tips For Chicken Thighs

Spanish recipes may name the cut, the bone, the skin, and the cooking method in one line. Once you know those parts, the ingredient list becomes much easier.

“Muslos de pollo al horno” means baked or roasted chicken thighs. “Muslos guisados” means stewed chicken thighs. “Muslos a la plancha” means chicken thighs cooked on a flat grill or skillet.

Recipe Phrase	Meaning	Best Use
Muslos al horno	Oven-baked thighs	Sheet-pan meals
Muslos guisados	Stewed thighs	Rice, potatoes, sauces
Muslos a la plancha	Grilled or skillet thighs	Boneless cuts
Muslos empanizados	Breaded thighs	Frying or air frying
Muslos adobados	Marinated thighs	Grill, roast, pan cook

If a Spanish recipe uses “piernas” and you only have thighs, check the cooking time. Drumsticks, thighs, and whole legs don’t always cook at the same pace. For food safety, the USDA safe minimum internal temperature chart gives 165°F for poultry.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Don’t translate chicken thigh as “cadera de pollo.” “Cadera” means hip, and it sounds odd for a poultry cut. “Muslo” is the natural food word.

Don’t assume “pierna de pollo” always means the same thing as chicken thigh. It may include the drumstick. If you need thighs only, say “solo muslos” or ask for “muslos, no piernas enteras.”

Don’t use “thigh” as a direct English-style noun when speaking Spanish. Say the full food phrase once: “muslo de pollo.” After that, “muslo” is enough if the seller already knows you’re talking about chicken.

Best Phrase To Use When Accuracy Matters

For most menus and stores, use muslo de pollo. It’s short, correct, and easy for native speakers to place. If a label says “contramuslo,” you’re still in the chicken thigh area, usually the upper thigh section.

When buying, add bone and skin details. When reading a recipe, watch for “pierna,” “cuarto trasero,” and “contramuslo,” since those terms can change the cut size. A single extra question at the counter can spare you from cooking the wrong piece.