Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs – The best oven baked chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. This easy one pan recipe is made with just a few ingredients. These easy baked chicken thighs are perfectly seasoned and perfectly crispy!
Make these crispy baked chicken thighs once and your family will be asking you to make them again and again. They are that good! Baked chicken is a favorite for quick and easy dinners and baked chicken thighs are a delicious and often overlooked option. Out of all of the recipes for chicken thighs that I’ve tried, this is my favorite!
Why oven baked chicken thighs?
- Chicken thigh meat is often more moist and flavorful than chicken breast meat.
- When you bake chicken thighs the right way, they will be deliciously crispy outside and juicy inside.
- The seasoning for this chicken thighs recipe is so simple and so tasty.
- Chicken thighs are often less expensive than chicken breasts, making them a budget-friendly meal.
If chicken breasts are what you have on hand, try my favorite Baked Chicken Breast recipe. It’s my simple method for cooking tender, juicy chicken breasts in the oven!
These are some common questions about how to best bake chicken thighs in the oven:
How do you make chicken thighs crispy in the oven? There are a few secrets to crispy chicken thighs. First, it’s essential that you pat the chicken dry before rubbing it with the seasonings. Just use a paper towel to pat off any excess moisture. This will ensure that your chicken gets a good sear and crisps when it hits the hot oven. Rubbing some olive oil over the chicken also helps it to crisp, as does baking it at a high temperature. You can broil the chicken for a few minutes after it bakes, but I find that my chicken crisps enough without broiling.
Should you bake boneless skinless chicken thighs or bone in with skin? For this recipe, I prefer to use bone in skin on chicken thighs. The bone in thighs turn out juicier and the skin gets extra crispy as it bakes. You can certainly use boneless skinless chicken thighs in this recipe.
How long do you cook chicken thighs in the oven and at what temperature? Bake your chicken thighs at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes. If using boneless chicken thighs bake about 10 minutes less. You want the internal temperature of your chicken to reach at least 165 degrees F when measured with an instant-read thermometer. Be sure to insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken thigh, and don’t let it touch the bone.
How do you make juicy baked chicken thighs? Unlike baked chicken breasts which can turn out dry if you aren’t careful, it’s really easy to make juicy baked chicken thighs! The thigh meat is naturally more moist than chicken breast meat. Using bone-in chicken thighs helps to ensure juicy baked chicken. Even if you over-bake your chicken thighs by a few minutes they will still be moist and yummy.
Ingredients for easy baked chicken thighs
- Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs. To serve 6 people, buy 3 pounds of meat, or about 8 thighs.
- Herbs and seasonings – this recipe uses my favorite rub to season the chicken.
- Olive oil, for moisture and that crispy skin!
What to serve with baked chicken thighs?
I like to serve these with creamy, fluffy Instant Pot mashed potatoes, easy roasted butternut squash or simple roasted carrots.
If you have any leftovers of these easy crispy baked chicken thighs, they are delicious served cold for lunch the next day.
Tips for the best baked chicken thighs
- For the juiciest and crispiest chicken, use bone in skin on chicken thighs. If you prefer, you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs, or even chicken breasts or drumsticks. You will need to adjust the cook time for different types of chicken.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel.
- Rub the dry chicken with olive oil. The oil both helps to keep the chicken moist and helps it to crisp as it bakes.
- 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 your chicken on a rimmed sheet pan that you’ve lined with foil or parchment paper. The chicken will release some of its natural juices as it bakes, and you don’t want the juices running all over your oven. Lining the baking sheet makes for very easy clean up. If you plan to broil your chicken at the end for an extra crispy crust, don’t use parchment paper since it cannot go under the broiler.
- Bake chicken thighs skin-side-up and do not flip or move the chicken as it bakes to get that crispy crust on top.
- Cook your chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Then let it rest on the pan for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute before serving.
These easy crispy baked chicken thighs are one of my family’s favorite dinners and I make them often for a quick weeknight meal. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 3 pounds skin-on bone-in chicken thighs about 8
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Rub Ingredients:
- 3 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt or 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the rub ingredients until well combined.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry and place them on the baking sheet.
- Rub both sides of the chicken with olive oil. Rub the spice mixture over the chicken, rubbing it on both sides of the chicken. Try to rub some of the rub underneath the skin as well as on top of the skin for the most flavorful chicken.
- 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 degrees F. This will take about 30-45 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken thighs.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes on the pan before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Delicious!!
I’m so glad you liked them!! Thank you for letting me know!
Excellent! I only changed a little.. I used smoke paprika, didn’t use pepper and I used boneless chicken thighs. My picky 13 year old actually ate all of his and didn’t complain.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed this recipe! It’s the best when the kids eat their dinner without complaint. 🙂
I would TOTALLY take one of these oven-baked chicken thighs over anything fried ANY day! They look SO incredibly juicy and I love that spice rub!!
Thank you, Sarah!
This is the perfect meal for busy weeknights! So crispy and flavorful!
Thanks, Christina! It really is so easy!
I’m cooking now. Will update after tssting!!
I hope you loved the chicken!
These chicken thighs were easy & delicious. My picky grandson ate it right up!
I’m so happy they were a hit!
This chicken looks like it’s baked to perfection! So good!
Thank you!
Great recipe Kristine! We used boneless, skinless chicken thighs and the flavour of that rub was awesome. The chicken was so tender! With roasted veggies, it was a quick dinner for a busy work night!
Isn’t the rub so good? Thank you for taking the time to let me know how you liked this!
Wow this looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it.
Thank you for the great recipe!
Have a great day.
Priyanka
Do the thighs go directly in the pan so they are then in the juices as they cook? Or do you cook them on a rack?
I cook mine directly on the pan (which I line with foil or parchment for easy clean up). You could cook them on a rack. I don’t because I don’t want an extra dish to wash. 😉
Hi! Quick question, may I use my Le Creuset oval casserole stoneware dish???
I think that should work well. Enjoy!
Thank you Kristine!!! I’m new to cooking and tend to get nervous if I don’t have the proper cookware to use. I just found your blog and I love it!!!!!
Hi Roxanne! Welcome! I’m so glad you found my blog and I hope you find some new favorite recipes here!
Hi Kristine,
I had about 4 thighs in the freezer I set out this morning having no idea what I would do with them for dinner tonight. I came across your recipe and it is now going in my recipe book. Very easy with fantastic results! My daughter and I couldn’t get over how crispy the skin was. I usually stay away from it but tonight was an exception! I will be having this again! Maybe not every week, but definitely it is a keeper!
Thank you for the recipe. I followed your perfect instructions. Four thighs were done in 33 minutes. I took them out at 160 degrees and after letting them rest the temp was that perfect 165 👏👍 The olive oil, seasoning on top AND under the skin ( very important) and patting all the moisture off the chicken made it crispy and moist! Absolutely awesome!
Terry
Hi Terry, Your comment put a smile on my face this morning! I’m so happy that you had success with this recipe! It is a favorite here too – we love this seasoning blend!
Well in the oven it went. One of seasonings I accidentally put with others to mix was cumin, but caught it before much went in. Luckily I like cumin but hopefully this slight mistake still turns out wonderful.
I think it will still be delicious! I hope you enjoyed it.
Yes hardly noticed. Very delicious!! Defineate keeper!
Absolutely fantastic! I served it with red beans and rice for dinner and Dad loved it as well.
I’m so glad you liked this! It’s one of our favorites.
Making for second time tonight, hubby loves them. Just as an FYI, I make extra rub and sprinkle it on quartered or halved (depending on size) yukon gold potatoes and roast them just like the chicken, yummy! I spray the potatoes with olive oil and then add the rub. When the potatoes come out of oven I sprinkle a little lemon zest and juice on them… OMG a great combo with the chicken. Thanks for the recipe
That’s a great tip to make extra seasoning for potatoes! I’m going to try that. I’m so glad you’re enjoying this recipe. 🙂
I have an allergy to onion powder. My son doesn’t like garlic. Having that these ingredients bring out the flavor, I am in search of substitutes to help bring out the flavor. Any ideas are appreciated! 🙂
Hi Bonnie, You could try leaving them out and using your favorite spice blend or other spices that you enjoy. You could do a chili powder/cumin/paprika/brown sugar rub if you like those flavors. 🙂
My husband loved this recipe. He took 5 leftover thighs to work the next day and his boss went crazy over them. I am making them again tonight. Thanks for the recipe! Denise, Tampa
I am so happy that this recipe was a hit! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. 🙂
OH MY GOODNESS! Kristine, this is by far the best baked chicken thigh recipe I have ever tasted A keeper for sure. I normally eat only the white meat but this recipe is fantastic. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
I’m so glad you enjoyed these! You should also try my baked chicken breast recipe. The seasoning is similar to this one and the chicken turns out perfectly cooked and never dry! 🙂
Thanks for this quick and delicious recipe. My wife and I both love this recipe for chicken thighs. It’s tasty and easy to cook. And what I like most is that it always comes out flavorful.
I’m so glad you both enjoy this recipe, Bill! It’s one of our favorites, too!
This is without a doubt the best and easiest way to make chicken thighs! Huge hit with my family and requested often! Thank you so much for sharing!
I followed most of the recipe but did not have olive oil, so I used mayonnaise and added jalapeno hot sauce together and then rubbed the chicken with that before I seasoned it. I also just used garlic powder, salt and peeper as I didn’t have all the other seasonings. The chicken was nice and crispy and had a tiny kick to it.. I did wash mine before hand and dried it well. I have always washed my chicken!!!!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! There’s no need to wash chicken because any harmful bacteria will be killed while it cooks, and washing it can spread germs around your sink. You do you, though!
2nd time making this! Sooo good & easy to make. Thank you for sharing. Next one on my to make list is your Broccoli salad.
I’m so happy to hear that! These chicken thighs are a favorite in my house too. 🙂 I hope you love the broccoli salad!