Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
Juicy inside and crispy outside, these oven baked chicken thighs use bone-in thighs for tender meat and crisp skin with just minutes of prep for a true weeknight win!
Servings: 5 chicken thighs
Calories: 324kcal
Equipment
- casserole dish or baking pan with high sides
- pastry brush optional
Ingredients
- 5 Bone-In Chicken Thighs or more as desired
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil or oil spray
- Salt and Black Pepper for seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon Garlic Powder or measure with your heart
- ⅛ teaspoon Paprika or measure with your heart
Instructions
- Optional: Let the CHICKEN THIGHS sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes before or after seasoning for more even cooking.
- Preheat and season: Preheat the oven to 400°F with the rack centered. Pat the CHICKEN THIGHS dry and place skin side up in an oven-safe dish. Brush lightly with OLIVE OIL and season with SALT, PEPPER, GARLIC POWDER, and PAPRIKA.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 30–45 minutes, until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches about 185–200°F. Broil briefly if needed, watching closely.
- Serve: Rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy while the skin is crispy!
- Storage and reheating: Refrigerate cooled leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat at 350°F in the oven or air fryer for 8–10 minutes, until heated through.
Video
Notes
Use a high-sided pan: Choose any oven-safe baking dish or pan with high sides to contain the juices and prevent spills.
Go easy on the oil: Chicken thighs already have enough natural fat, so a quick brush of oil is all you need to help the spices stick.
Season the thighs however you like: Use my seasoning blend or your favorite spices. Chicken thighs have great natural flavor, so even simple salt and pepper work well, especially for picky eaters.
Why chicken thighs are great for beginners: Chicken is safe at an internal temperature of 165°F, but dark meat stays juicy beyond that because it has more fat than white meat. This extra fat keeps the meat tender even with longer cooking, so you can bake chicken thighs longer to crisp the skin without drying them out.
Nutrition
Serving: 1thigh | Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.5g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 170mg | Potassium: 299mg | Fiber: 0.04g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 138IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg