Best Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe (2024)

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These Baked Chicken Thighs are crispy on the outside and juicy inside, with the most delicious seasonings. Incredibly easy to make, this chicken thigh recipe is perfect for dinner any night of the week!

When my family asks, “What’s for dinner?” and the answer is baked chicken thighs, happy cheers can be heard all around.

These oven baked chicken thighs are one of those recipes that you will find yourself making again and again. Along with Baked Chicken Breast, this recipe is one of my go-to’s when I need a quick dinner that’s as tasty as it is quick to prepare.

There’s so much to love about crispy chicken thighs, perfectly seasoned and then baked to juicy perfection. Serve them with these easy Drop Biscuits and Roasted Vegetables for a meal the whole family will love.

Perfect Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

There are so many reasons to love this recipe:

Chicken thigh meat is usually more moist and flavorful than chicken breast.
The seasoning for this chicken thighs recipe is so simple and so tasty.
The skin gets deliciously crispy in the oven.
Chicken thighs are a budget-friendly meal.

Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe Ingredients

Seasonings: This recipe uses a variation of my favorite Chicken Seasoning to season the chicken. For the seasoning rub you’ll need Italian seasoning, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. If you prefer to not add the brown sugar, the chicken will still be delicious. The sugar just helps the seasonings to caramelize on the chicken as it bakes.
Bone-In Skin-On Chicken Thighs: To serve 6 people, buy 3 pounds of meat, or about 8 thighs.
Olive Oil: Helps the seasonings to stick and the skin to get crispy.

How to Make Baked Chicken Thighs

Here’s a quick overview of how to make this easy chicken thigh recipe. Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions below.

Whisk together the seasonings.
Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and place them in a baking dish.
Rub all sides of the chicken first with olive oil and then with the spice rub. For the most flavor, try to get some of the seasonings on the meat under the skin. Arrange the chicken thighs skin side up in the pan.
Bake at 400° F for 30 to 40 minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165° F.

How Long to Bake Chicken Thighs

At 400° F, bone-in chicken thighs will take 30-40 minutes to cook in the oven. The exact cook time will depend on the size of your chicken thighs. The best way to check when chicken is done is to use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature. Chicken should be cooked to 165° F. Be sure to insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, and don’t let it touch the bone.

Can I Use Boneless Chicken Thighs?

Yes, you can use boneless thighs in this recipe. They will take about 10 minutes less to cook through.

Recipe Tips

Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel before seasoning. This will help the skin to get crispy.
Rub the seasoning on both sides of the chicken, both on top of the skin and under the skin. You want the tasty rub to be all over the chicken for the best flavor.
Bake the chicken at a high temperature (400° F). This seals in moisture, giving you juicier chicken.
Do not cover the chicken as it bakes. Baking uncovered helps the skin to get crispy.
To get the skin extra crispy, you can broil the chicken during the last few minutes of baking. Be sure to use a broiler-safe baking dish.
Bake chicken thighs skin side up and do not flip or move the chicken as it bakes.

What to Serve with Chicken Thighs

These chicken thighs go with just about any side dish! Here are a few ideas:

A starch, such as rice (see How to Cook Rice) or Potato Salad.
Vegetables. Try Roasted Broccoli or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.
A fresh, crisp salad, such as Broccoli Slaw or a Greek Salad.

If you have leftover chicken, you can add it to a salad or wrap, or use it to make Chicken Salad for sandwiches.

More Chicken Thigh Recipes

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Grilled Chicken Thighs
Baked Chicken and Rice
Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes

Or try one of these Chicken Recipes.

4.98 from 119 ratings

Baked Chicken Thighs

Servings: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

The best Baked Chicken Thighs! They bake up juicy and tender with the most delicious seasonings and crispy skin. This easy chicken recipe is a favorite, loved by adults and kids alike.

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Ingredients

For the Seasoning:

▢ 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, or dried oregano
▢ 2 teaspoons brown sugar
▢ 2 teaspoons paprika
▢ 2 teaspoons garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
▢ 1 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt, or ½ teaspoon table salt
▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper

Other Ingredients:

▢ 3 pounds skin-on bone-in chicken thighs, 8 bone-in thighs, see note below about boneless
▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° F. Set out a 13x9-inch or similar baking dish or line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
In a small bowl, whisk together the seasonings until well combined.
Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and place them in the baking dish.
Rub both sides of the chicken with olive oil. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken, rubbing it on both sides of the chicken thighs. Try to rub some of the rub underneath the skin as well as on top of the skin for the most flavorful chicken. Arrange the chicken thighs skin side up on the pan.
Bake in the preheated oven, without moving or turning, until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken (not touching the bone) reaches at least 165° F. This will take about 30-40 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken thighs.
If desired, you can broil the chicken for a few minutes to get the skin extra crispy. Be sure to use a broiler-safe baking dish/pan and do not put parchment paper under the broiler.

Notes

If using boneless, skinless chicken thighs, they will take about 10 minutes less to cook through.

Calories: 355kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 142mg, Sodium: 403mg, Potassium: 331mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 372IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 25mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Course

Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

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posted by Kristine Rosenblatt on Apr 27, 2022

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260 comments on “Baked Chicken Thighs”

Ana — November 12, 2023 @ 9:01 am Reply
What a great quick tasty recipie! My family loves it.
Emma — November 19, 2023 @ 9:56 pm Reply
This is a great recipe! I’ve always been scared to cook chicken but these come out perfect every time. So juicy and flavorful.
Ruth — November 25, 2023 @ 2:28 pm Reply
Favorite new recipe!!!
Family favorite!!
Marcia Shelton — November 27, 2023 @ 10:18 am Reply
I use boneless skinless chicken thighs and the seasoning in this recipe is on point. I even put the seasoning on my turkey this year and there were no leftovers.
Clark — November 30, 2023 @ 4:04 pm Reply
It is now a family favorite! Super yum!
Melissa Pyle — December 11, 2023 @ 6:00 pm Reply
Made this for dinner tonight. It was easy and delicious!
Rosemarie Brady — December 24, 2023 @ 7:22 am Reply
So delicious and simple.
Roger — December 29, 2023 @ 8:25 am Reply
My go-to recipe! Perfect every time!
Jody Removchik — December 31, 2023 @ 2:29 pm Reply
Made this for a New Year’s Day late lunch. Everyone loved it. It was really tasty!
Rachel O'Dell — January 2, 2024 @ 1:01 pm Reply
Love this recipe! My kid is constantly requesting it! Thank you!
Phil Harvey — January 6, 2024 @ 8:49 pm Reply
I used chicken leg quarters and followed the recipe exactly as written. It was a huge hit with my family and I’m definitely making it again. The blend of spices is just right. Even my picky grandchildren love it!
Marlene Autio — January 8, 2024 @ 2:17 pm Reply
Can this be cooked in the air fryer?
- Kristine Rosenblatt — January 9, 2024 @ 10:39 am Reply
  Hi Marlene,
  See my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe for air fryer instructions. 🙂
Tara — January 13, 2024 @ 1:01 pm Reply
I LOVE this recipe! We eat it several times a month. If I am out of Italian seasoning, I use Herbs de provence. It is AMAZING!!!
Wayne Smith — January 17, 2024 @ 1:46 pm Reply
Nice..Easy..Tasty..
Found
you be total luck…so thx for being easy to find on the web!
Debbie Choate — January 22, 2024 @ 5:56 pm Reply
I loved this recipe. It was so easy to make it. It turned out perfect, so juicy and had a great flavor. Now we don’t eat the skin but it turned out good. My dog really loved the skin. I will be making it again.
Natalia Martinez — February 4, 2024 @ 7:17 am Reply
Can I do a combo of thighs and drumsticks or the drumsticks aren’t good for this?
- Kristine Rosenblatt — February 5, 2024 @ 5:53 am Reply
  You can, but generally drumsticks require a longer cooking time in the oven than thighs. See my Baked Chicken Legs recipe for guidance on cook times.
Rose — February 12, 2024 @ 10:24 am Reply
Do you need to cover the meat as it cooks?
- Kristine Rosenblatt — February 12, 2024 @ 12:57 pm Reply
  No, you don’t. Enjoy!
Linda — February 17, 2024 @ 4:43 pm Reply
Absolutely delicious. My family wants me to make it again soon
Diane — February 28, 2024 @ 7:55 am Reply
Hands down, this is the very best and most simple baked chicken that I have ever tasted! It’s a regularly occurring weekly staple now for my family. Kristine is genius coming up with the exact amount of the most perfect ingredients to make this so incredibly juicy, crispy, yet packed with flavor chicken. My adult kids all begged for this recipe and even my son commented that this is the tastiest chicken he’s ever eaten, and he’s always been my pickier eater! It’s better than you can imagine so anyone reading this needs to share the joy that Kristine has given us!
Kathy — March 6, 2024 @ 2:15 pm Reply
I printed off this recipe last week and cooked it yesterday. Soooo delicious. I usually baked Chicken thighs with Paprika and a little salt sprinkled over but this recipe adds a super taste! Thankyou Kristine for your yummy recipes, giving us imagination for nourishing meals to serve for our families.
Kate — March 6, 2024 @ 6:40 pm Reply
Super tasty!! Thank you!
Ruthanna — March 7, 2024 @ 7:16 am Reply
Delicious and easy to prepare
Vicky Fiedler — March 11, 2024 @ 4:40 pm Reply
My husband said this is the best chicken recipe I ever made!
It was so easy and I had all the ingredients on hand. I will definitely make this again. Thanks.