This baked chicken thighs recipe makes scrumptious crispy chicken thighs with tender, juicy meat! 5-minute prep and hands-free baking make this an easy dinner recipe for any cooking skill level. These are THE BEST oven baked chicken thighs and are just as easy as my Baked Chicken Legs!
Baked chicken thighs recipe for any cook
Oven-baked chicken thighs are so easy to buy, prep, cook, and serve, practically on a moment's notice. Even inexperienced cooks will nail this chicken recipe the first time because chicken thighs are hard to ruin and are, hands down, the juiciest part of a chicken. We wish we could say that about boneless chicken breasts. Don't worry, we're working on how to help you nail those too. For now, start with my chicken thighs recipe and win dinner tonight!
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Prepping roasted chicken thighs
Baked chicken thighs require 5 minutes of prep and a few pantry staples. This recipe uses olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. You can substitute your favorite seasonings for this baked chicken recipe! Just pat the chicken dry, drizzle oil, sprinkle seasonings, and bake!
Should I rinse chicken before baking?
There's no need to rinse chicken during prep. It's unnecessary and creates more work cleaning areas that inevitably become contaminated with raw chicken. Just get those thighs prepped and let the oven take care of the rest.
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How to bake chicken thighs
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Let chicken thighs sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Pat each piece dry with a paper towel.
- Place chicken thighs in a baking dish or pan.
- Lightly coat the skin with olive oil and sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika.
- Bake, uncovered for 35-45 minutes until a meat thermometer inserted in the center reads 165°F.
- Let chicken thighs rest for 5 minutes, transfer to a platter, and serve warm. (optional) garnish with fresh chopped parsley or lemon.
* See full recipe below
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What temperature to cook chicken thighs
Roasted chicken thighs can be done with a wide range of temperatures. We love to roast chicken at 400°F because it allows enough hands-free time to knock out a side dish or dinner salad ... or clean out lunch boxes from our busy day. We also like to roast vegetables in the same oven, which calls for the same 400°F temperature, only with a shorter time frame.
How long to cook chicken thighs at 400°F
Smaller chicken thighs (about 3 oz) should take close to 35 minutes. Average sized chicken thighs (about 5 oz) take about 40 minutes. Larger chicken thighs (about 8 oz) should take about 45 minutes.
Regardless of said times on chicken recipes, the determining factor of how long to cook chicken thighs is measured by how long it takes for the internal temperature to reach 165°F on an instant-read meat thermometer.
How to make chicken thighs crispy
My baked chicken thighs recipe results in delicately crisped skin as you can see in the photos. If you want even more crispy chicken thighs, here are two options:
- Bake the chicken thighs on a cookie cooling rack that lays over a baking pan, using the baking pan to catch the drippings.
- If you don't have the cooling rack, place baked chicken thighs under the broiler for a few minutes until the skin is crisped to your liking.
How to cook boneless chicken thighs
Baked boneless chicken thighs require about half the cooking time of bone-in chicken thighs. For this recipe, simply use boneless chicken thighs and follow the same prep of patting the chicken dry, then coating with oil and seasonings. Bake boneless chicken thighs for 20 minutes and test for a minimum internal temperature of 165°. Add 5-minute baking intervals as needed to reach the minimum temp.
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Chicken Thigh Recipe Tips
CHICKEN PREP TIPS
- If using frozen chicken thighs for this recipe, thaw completely before roasting.
- No need to rinse raw chicken. Rinsing chicken creates unnecessary steps and creates risk of surface contamination which requires cleaning.
- Let chicken thighs sit at room temperature for 20 minutes to promote uniform baking. You can even oil and season the thighs before they sit at room temp if you prefer.
- No need to oil the bottom side of the thighs. They naturally create plenty of juices and shouldn't stick to the baking pan. Hint: use the scrumptious juices to make gravy for mashed potatoes.
- Use a baking dish that’s deep enough to prevent overflow of baked chicken juices. My 10" x 7" dish is 2" tall, perfect for 5 chicken thighs.
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CHICKEN ROASTING TIPS
- This baked chicken thigh recipe cooks at 400° which is a common temperature for roasted vegetables like these Roasted Mushrooms. When you roast chicken in the same oven as your side dishes, be sure to time it accordingly so they can be served at the same time.
- Chicken thigh cook time varies according to the size of individual pieces and the temperature of the chicken before it goes into the oven.
- The cooked chicken temperature should always be 165°F before consuming. Always use a meat thermometer for this.
CHICKEN SERVING AND STORAGE TIPS
- Before serving, allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before cutting to prevent the juices from escaping too quickly.
- Use baked chicken thighs as meal prep for other chicken recipes like my Chicken Fried Rice and my One Pot Broccoli Chicken and Rice.
- Refrigerate thigh meat to eat in salads throughout the week or freeze and thaw as needed for recipes.
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What to serve with baked chicken thighs
- THE BEST Potato Salad
- Garlicky Oven Roasted Mushrooms
- Loaded Baked Potato Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
- Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
- Tortellini Pasta Salad
Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 5 Bone-in Chicken Thighs about 1 lb.
- 1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/8 tsp Paprika
RECIPE VIDEO
Recipe Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Pat the CHICKEN dry with a paper towel and place in a baking dish, skin side up.
- Drizzle and brush OLIVE OIL over the chicken pieces. Sprinkle SALT, PEPPER, GARLIC POWDER, and PAPRIKA evenly over the surface.
- Bake uncovered for 35-45 minutes (35 min for smaller thighs and 45 for larger). Insert an instant-read thermometer to confirm a 165° F minimum internal temperature near the bone.
- Transfer chicken thighs to a serving platter and allow a 5-minute rest before serving. (optional) Garnish with lemon or chopped fresh parsley.
Nutrition
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Excellent recipe! I used 8 thighs & baked them for 50 min. So good! Juicy & tasty. Thank you!
Awesome, Nanette! I'm so glad you gave these chicken thighs a go! They're one of my favs too π Thanks for the feedback...much appreciated π
These were the best bone in chicken thighs I have ever made. Easy and simple and delicious!! I added a pat of butter on top of each so I'd have lots of drippings.
Awesome, Jillian! I feel the same way about these baked chicken thighs LOL. I'm so glad to inspire your dinner! Thanks for taking the time to let me know π
I used your recipe for the chicken in soft tacos. I appreciated the clear instructions and ease of this. Husband enjoyed it so a win all around!
Yay Emily! I'm so happy to contribute to the success of your dinner. Baked chicken thigh tacos sound so good right now! Thanks for the feedback...much appreciated! π§‘
Very juicy and flavorful. Husband loved it!
Awesome, Linda! Always love it when the hubs signs off! Thanks so much for the feedback π
I look forward to these baked chicken thighs once a month. They are such an easy chicken recipe and delicious AF!
Thanks, JB! I'm so glad you think so. I feel the exact same way π
We loved it. Easy and very tasty. Made some rice and used the drippings from the pan for added flavor. Also had smoked paprika and used that instead. Will definitely be making again!
Yay, Karen! So glad your family enjoyed it. I love smoked paprika too! Thanks for taking the time to review...much appreciated π
The chicken turned out amazing and my son loved it!!
Awesome, Stephanie! So glad to hear it π Thanks for taking the time to let me know π
These chicken thighs look so juicy and flavorful! I canβt wait to make these for our next family meal!
Thanks, Erika! Glad your family can enjoy these π€©
I love your site for chicken recipes, and it seems the recipe choice is endless. Love this chicken thighs' recipe, and I am going to make it this weekend.
Thanks, Irina! Yes, you can never have too many chicken recipes π€© Enjoy the chicken thighs!
These thighs look so juicy and delicious! A wonderful easy dinner for the whole family, for sure.
Thanks Bintu! Yes, chicken thighs are SO family-friendly. Glad you can enjoy π€©
These baked chicken thighs came out perfectly! The whole family loved this meal and we will be making again!
Woot woot! Can never go wrong with chicken thighs for the whole family π€© Thanks, Emily!
Never baking chicken thighs any other way - so juicy and flavorful! YUM!
Awesome, Tawnie! I feel the same way about these chicken thighs π€©π Thanks!
Best baked chicken thighs! Turn oven on. Sprinkle a few things. Bake. Meanwhile, make your Instant Pot mashed potatoes and I'm CEO of dinner. Thanks TKG!
You ARE dinner CEO with this one ππΌ I'm sooooo happy about that π€©
My lady is not a big fan of chicken, however when I surprised her by cooking thighs using your recipe, she said it was best sheβd ever had! Lol I did modify the recipe some, added a few other secret spices, nonetheless she loved it! So Iβve graduated from being just her Soo chef! π
Best review EVRRR π€© Srsly, I love your lady's reaction ... which is how I always feel about baked chicken thighs lol. Thanks so much for the feedback!
This recipe was fabulous! So easy and tasty! I'll definitely be making again!
Awesome, Kim! So glad you love it...thanks! π
This is my idea of chicken recipe heaven. I can't wait to have these!
Awww thanks, Sisley! Baked chicken thighs are pretty heavenly π
I love how easy yet tasty this recipe is! Thanks.
Awesome! So glad you like this one...thanks! π
This chicken looks so delicious. Perfect for a weeknight meal.
Thanks, Andrea...glad you can enjoy this one π
These oven baked thighs were perfect for dinner last night! The seasoning had tons of flavor and the chicken was definitely juicy. Keeping this in my rotation!
So glad to hear it, Emily! We're crazy about the flavor too...so simple. Glad you enjoyed these π
It is okay to use boneless chicken thighs? How would the recipe be altered.
Hi Marian, yes, boneless chicken thighs will work great for this recipe. You can use the same prep steps as the bone-in chicken thighs, but bake the boneless thighs for about half the time (about 20 minutes). Great question, btw! I just added a section to the blog post π I'm always here for more questions anytime. Thanks!
This chicken look SO juicy!!!! Quick and easy recipe. Perfect for meal planning.
Awesome, Mirlene! Glad you can enjoy this one π
Thanks for the great tips here, there's nothing better than juicy baked chicken thights
You're so welcome, Nart! Glad you can enjoy these π
Quick, easy and tasty, a perfect chicken recipe.
You said it! And thanks for that! π
Sometimes I wonder about how to spice up chicken thighs while cooking them so often. Thanks for your flavorful recipe.
Yes, these are so simple too! Glad you can enjoy them π
I'm always looking for quick and easy chicken dinners, juicy is the right word for this one. Can't wait to try it!
Thanks Charla...enjoy!!!
Ooh wow, so juicy. I love chicken thighs wayyy more than chicken breasts, so this is right up my alley. Thanks for the recipe π
Awesome, Cathleen! Glad you can enjoy this recipe π