Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs – The most amazing oven baked chicken thighs! These chicken thighs come out crispy on the outside and amazingly tender and juicy on the inside. Baked chicken thighs are so easy to make with only a few ingredients and one pan!
Ok, folks! One of the questions I get asked most often is how to cook chicken thighs. Try these with a side of our Classic Baked Mac and Cheese, so good! They’re so easy to make, and this has become one of my most popular recipes! If you’re looking for other fun chicken thigh recipes, try these Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs and these Greek Chicken Thighs! We’re also loving these Grilled Chicken Thighs during the summer months and of course Crispy Baked Chicken Wings all year long!
Questions that I hear about them the most are:
- How long do I cook chicken thighs in the oven and at what temperature?
- How do I cook chicken thighs in a pan but make sure they turn out crispy on the outside?
- Should I use boneless skinless chicken thighs are bone in with skin?
I think people love the thigh meat because it’s super flavorful, but they just aren’t as familiar with cooking them as they are the breast meat. Luckily, it’s an incredibly easy process that takes only a few minutes of prep and then the thighs bake up to crispy tender perfection on a sheet pan.
And, I am here to answer those questions for you today with my favorite baked chicken thigh recipe ever, plus a quick video that shows just how I make them!
Let’s go directly into tips for success when making baked chicken thighs:
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Pat them dry with paper towels before seasoning. The natural moisture from the chicken can prevent getting a really good sear. These thighs basically sear right in the oven, so this is an important but quick step to take.
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How long and at what temperature should you bake the thighs? You’ll want to bake these at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes without moving or turning them during the process. This temperature and time ensure that crispy outside and juicy inside we’re looking for. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees before being consumed.
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Use a rimmed baking sheet. The chicken will produce some of its tasty natural juices, and you don’t want those running off the pan into your oven!
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I use bone in and skin on chicken thighs for this recipe. I find that it produces the best results. However, if you have boneless skinless on hand or that is just your preference, they work just fine with this recipe as well! They may take about 10 minutes less to cook, so just keep an eye on them.
I hope you guys enjoy this simple chicken recipe as much as my family does! As always, leave me a comment if you have additional questions, I’m happy to answer them!
Be sure to check out our video for this recipe below and follow along on Facebook to see all of the yummy food videos we share!
~Nichole
Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 3 Pounds Chicken thighs, About 6-8
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 Teaspoons Salt
- 2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 2 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup and set aside.
- Remove the chicken thighs from their packaging and pat them dry with paper towels. Arrange the chicken thighs on prepared baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil rubbing the oil into the chicken to coat.
- In a small bowl mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Sprinkle the spices over the chicken evenly.
- Bake chicken in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes.*
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you’re looking for other tasty chicken recipes for dinner try these:
If you’re looking for baking recipes, these are some of my readers favorites:
Second time this week that I’m making this recipe! It’s so good! This time I made a big batch of the seasoning and put it in a shaker jar for future use. Thanks for a great recipe!
These were INCREDIBLE. I made the recipe as is, only halving the mix for 4 large bone-in thighs. I should have made them all. My picky 4 year old son asked if they were called “the best chicken ever”. I *may* add a bit less salt next time, but they were seriously delectable. I’m currently hand-writing this recipe into my book of recipes I never want to lose haha. Thanks!
Loved it!! Soooo easy, too. Thanks!!
I made this with skinless chicken thighs and chicken thighs with the skin and it is delicious both ways. Thank you!
Fantastic recipe! I really needed a good recipe for roasted chicken thighs, as I’ve run out of creative recipes with chicken breasts. My boys loved it, one of whom is a terribly picky eater and would eat chicken nuggets every night if I let him! So crispy and seasoned perfectly! The only modification I made to your recipe was to cut the Italian seasoning to 1 1/2 tsp, as I have find it to be overwhelming in some dishes. I will probably just use the 2 tsp next time, as I didn’t take over the flavor at all. As a busy mom with a first grader, 18 month old a husband who works nights, this recipe is a blessing! Thank you!
Second time i’ve Made it and delicious both times.
I like how the skin gets crispy and it’s very
tasty with all the seasonings. The skin keeps the
Chicken moist and juicy! Thank you for this easy
family night meal!
So simple but this tasted sooooo good! Husband said he hasn’t had chicken that good in a long time- I agree! Thank you for posting!
I made this for dinner tonight and my family absolutely loved it! My daughter came home and said, “Oh my God! What are you cooking? It smells so good! When I made my fiance’s plate she stopped me to take a picture! lol As for him, he is currently in a food coma! lol This is definitely added to the dinner rotation! Thanks so much for sharing this! ?
Great recipe! The skin was crispy and the chicken was moist.
I’ve been making this almost weekly for the past few months and it’s the only meal my family will all eat. I’ a working mom with little time and this recipe allows me to give them a real meal and feel like I’ve got it together. Thank you SO much.