Baked chicken thighs have a crisp shell and a juicy interior. They are perfectly seasoned. A simple process that consistently yields delicious results!
Overhead view of cooked Making Baked Chicken Thighs thighs on a white circular dish.
Chicken Thighs Baked
The ideal, cozy home-style meal is baked chicken thighs with potatoes (and 1-hour dinner rolls, if you have the prep time).
Nothing extravagant or sophisticated, simply basic ingredients used to make the comfort cuisine we yearn for.
These thighs are simple to make, just like the majority of my recipes, and the oven handles all of the cooking. unlike grilling or pan searing, not much turning and tending is required.
There are countless spice options for this recipe, making it flexible. Simply follow the instructions, stirring with oil and baking as needed. After that, you can use various herbs, spices, or blends to customize the seasonings to your heart’s desire.
An illustration of the ingredients for roasted chicken thighs. raw chicken thighs, salt, pepper, olive oil, lemon, paprika, Italian seasoning, and garlic are all visible.
Chicken Thighs Baked Ingredients
(most print)- Chicken thighs: To add extra flavor, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are used in this recipe.
- Lemon: The chicken is seasoned with the zest before being served with wedges for spritzing. To make the chicken skin crispier in the oven without additional liquid, I prefer to wait before adding the juice.
- Use 2 teaspoons of garlic powder as an alternative.
- Make your Italian seasoning by combining 1/2 teaspoon of marjoram and rosemary with 1 teaspoon each of basil, oregano, and thyme.
- Paprika: This enhances color and provides a lovely, mild flavor.
a six-image collage demonstrating how to bake chicken thighs. A spice mixture is made, chicken is dried, tossed with the mixture, and placed on a rack within a baking pan.
The Best Way To Make Baked Chicken Thighs
oven preparation Place the oven rack one level higher than the middle. A 400-degree oven is recommended.
assemble the baking sheet: An oven-safe wire cooling rack should be placed on top of an aluminum foil-lined, 18 by a 13-inch baking sheet with a rim. Apply nonstick frying spray on a cooling rack.
To prepare the seasoning, combine the olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, Italian spice, and paprika in a very big mixing bowl.
Chicken thighs should be well dried with paper towels before being added to a bowl with the oil mixture. Stir well to coat everything with the mixture.
Set chicken on a rack and season. Turn the thighs’ skin side down and place them on the baking sheet’s rack. Season with salt and pepper, then flip the roast over and season again.
How Long Should Chicken Thighs Bake?
In a preheated oven set to 400 degrees, roast chicken thighs for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the skin is browned and the thickest part of the thighs reaches 175 degrees. Depending on the size of the thighs, the time may change.
- Broil for the final 1 to 3 minutes of baking for crispier skin (keep a close eye on it).
- Serve with lemon wedges for spritzing to add flavor.
- After baking, chicken thighs are displayed on a wire rack.
Tips:
- Use chicken thighs of the same size so they cook at the same time.
- Don’t forget to use paper towels to dry the chicken. The additional moisture makes it harder for the chicken to crisp up and brown.
- Want to cut back on smoking? Instead of placing chicken thighs on a cooling rack, place them over a layer of chopped vegetables (such as potatoes and carrots). extend the baking period a little.
- When in doubt, take a temperature reading. Check the temperature of the chicken thighs’ thickest part.
- After baking, chicken thighs are displayed up close on a wire rack.
Serving Sauces With Baked Chicken
Do you want to step it up? Consider serving it with a dipping sauce:
- Green Aji
- BBQ Rub
- Chimichurri
- hone-mustard sauce
- Pesto
Utilizing Leftover Chicken
Since this recipe yields a sizable amount, you can use half of it for supper and the remaining half to prepare another dish. Here are a few concepts:
- poultry salad
- bowl of chicken and rice
- spinach salad
- Ramen or pad Thai (Only include cooked chicken at the end)
- Pasta
- Soup
On a dish are stacked baked chicken thighs.
- Additional Recipes for Chicken Thighs
- Rice and Chicken Baked
- Roasted chicken thighs with garlic
- grilled chicken tacos
- Roasted chicken
- Root vegetables and chicken in a sheet pan
Instructions
- Place the oven rack one level above the middle. A 400-degree oven is recommended.
- An oven-safe wire cooling rack should be placed on top of the aluminum foil-lined, 18 by a 13-inch baking sheet with a rim (I like THIS ONE). Apply nonstick frying spray on a cooling rack.
- Chicken thighs should be well dried with paper towels before being placed in the basin with the oil mixture. Stir well to coat everything with the mixture.
- Turn the thighs’ skin side down and place them on the baking sheet’s rack. Season with salt and pepper, then flip the roast over and season again. To ensure consistent heat distribution, provide room between the thighs.
- Cook in a preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the skin is browned and the thickest part of the thighs reaches 175 degrees. If preferred, broil* for the final two minutes for skin that is crisper (keep a close eye on it).
- With lemon wedges for spritzing, serve warm**. If preferred, add 1 tablespoon of finely chopped parsley as a garnish.
Notes
*If you decide to broil, you might want to drain the fat from the baking sheet first to cut down on smoking.
*Because browned garlic pieces can be bitter, I like to brush them off the top after broiling. The chicken is seasoned while baking, but the flavor changes when it is browned.
A mix of homemade Italian seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Tsp of thyme
- 1/2 tsp marjoram
- 1/2 tsp rosemary