Oven-Crisped Chicken Thighs – Prepare yourself for the ultimate baked chicken thighs! These babies emerge from your oven with skin that snaps and meat that’s fall-off-the-bone tender and dripping with juice. Seriously, baking chicken thighs is a weeknight dinner dream – minimal ingredients and just one pan to wash! Hey there, food fans! Guess what question pops up in my inbox more than any other? Yep, “How do I cook chicken thighs?” Well, grab a side of our Mac and Cheese, seriously – and get ready for a flavor explosion! This recipe is ridiculously simple and has become a top recipe. Craving more chicken thigh adventures? Check out my Garlic & Herb Chicken Thighs or maybe some Zesty Lemon Chicken Thighs! And when the weather’s warm, Grilled Chicken Thighs are our jam, but let’s be real, Crispy Baked Chicken Wings are a year-round obsession!
The burning questions I always encounter are:
- What’s the magic time and temp for oven-baked chicken thighs?
- How do I get that irresistible crispy skin when pan-cooking chicken thighs?
- Bone-in, skin-on or boneless, skinless – what’s the real deal?
I get it – chicken thighs are flavor bombs, no doubt! But sometimes they feel like the culinary underdog compared to chicken breasts. Good news, folks! Cooking them is a total breeze. We’re talking just a few minutes of hands-on time, then your oven works its magic, transforming them into crispy-skinned, juicy wonders right on a sheet pan. And guess what? I’m here today to spill all the secrets with my absolute go-to baked chicken thigh recipe, plus a quick video demo to show you exactly how it’s done!
Let’s dive right into the insider tips for baked chicken thigh victory:
- First things first: pat those thighs dry with paper towels pre-seasoning. Chicken’s natural juices can be a crispy skin’s worst enemy. Essential for that oven-sear.
- Baking time and temp? Crank that oven to 400°F and let them bake undisturbed for 35-45 minutes. No flipping, no fussing! This is the sweet spot for achieving that crispy-outside, juicy-inside dream. Remember, chicken’s gotta hit 165°F internally before it’s chow time.
- Grab a rimmed baking sheet – trust me on this. Chicken releases delicious juices, but oven puddles? No thanks! Rimmed sheets are your best friend here.
- For this recipe, bone-in, skin-on thighs are my go-to. They deliver maximum flavor and crispy skin magic. But hey, life happens! If boneless, skinless is what you’ve got, roll with it. They’ll still be delicious, just might shave off about 10 minutes of cooking time. Keep a watchful eye!
I’m betting you’ll adore this super-simple chicken recipe as much as my crew does! And you know the drill – if you’ve got any burning questions, drop them in the comments below. Happy to help a fellow chicken enthusiast out!
Ingredients:
▢ 3 lbs Chicken thighs (around 6-8 pieces)
▢ 2 tbsp Olive Oil
▢ 2 tsp Salt
▢ 2 tsp Garlic Powder
▢ 2 tsp Onion Powder
▢ 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
▢ 1 tsp Black Pepper
▢ 1 tsp Paprika
Instructions:
Fire up the oven to 400°F. Grab a large baking sheet, line it with foil (because who loves dishes?), and set it aside. Unpack those chicken thighs and give them a pat-down with paper towels – gotta get ’em dry! Place them on your prepped baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, giving them a little rub-down to make sure they’re coated. In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Now, sprinkle this magical spice blend evenly over all sides of the chicken. Slide that baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 35-45 minutes.* *Pro Tip: Chicken’s done when it hits an internal temp of 165°F. Safety first, flavor always!