Baked Chicken Thighs
These baked chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and juicy inside, with the most delicious seasonings. They are incredibly easy to make and perfect for dinner any night of the week!
Oh How We Love These Baked Chicken Thighs!
When my family asks, “What’s for dinner?” and I answer baked chicken thighs, happy cheers can be heard all around!
Picture this: mouthwateringly juicy chicken, coated in the most amazing savory blend of seasonings, with crackly, crispy skin hot out of the oven. And the best part? These baked chicken thighs will only take you 10 minutes to prep, then your oven does the rest.
This is one of those recipes that you’ll find yourself making again and again. I just love how chicken thighs are always so juicy and tender, since the dark meat holds more flavor and moisture than chicken breasts. You can make this recipe with bone-in or boneless chicken thighs – it will turn out amazing either way.
Without a doubt this is the best chicken thigh recipe I’ve ever tried. The key ingredients, I believe, are the Italian seasoning and brown sugar. Tender, delicious, and SOOOOO easy. It tastes much more gourmet complicated than it really is.
Karen
Fast, budget-friendly and exceptionally delicious, these baked chicken thighs are a meal the whole family will love. I like to serve them with these easy Drop Biscuits and Roasted Vegetables.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Thighs: If you want maximum crispiness, opt for bone-in skin on chicken thighs. If you want to slice up the chicken to add to salads or sandwiches, I recommend using boneless chicken thighs.
- 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. The brown sugar helps the seasonings to caramelize on the chicken as it bakes. If you want a sugar free recipe you can omit it.
- 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 the recipe steps. Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions below.
Mix together the seasonings.
Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. This helps to get the skin extra crispy, similar to making Baked Chicken Wings.
Rub all sides of the chicken first with olive oil and then with the spice rub. If using skin-on chicken, try to get some of the seasonings on the meat under the skin for maximum flavor. Arrange the chicken thighs skin side up in the baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, at 400° F, until chicken is cooked through.
To get skin-on thighs extra crispy, you can broil the chicken during the last few minutes of baking. Be sure to use a broiler-safe baking dish.
The Secret to Amazing Juicy, Tender Chicken Thighs
Did you know that chicken thighs are at their most tender, juicy and flavorful cooked to 175-190° F? It’s true! While the USDA states that chicken is safe to eat cooked to 165° F, chicken thighs actually get even better if you cook them to a higher temperature. Use a meat thermometer to test the internal temperature of the chicken to determine when it’s time to pull it out of the oven. Unlike baked chicken breast, you don’t have to stress about overcooking your chicken with this recipe!
How Long to Bake Chicken Thighs
At 400° F, bone-in chicken thighs will take 30-40 minutes to cook in the oven. Boneless, skinless thighs will take about 10 minutes less. 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 or meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
Serving Ideas
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 Mashed Potatoes.
- 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.
Baked Chicken Thighs
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 13×9-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 (uncovered), 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.
Recipe originally published in 2018, post updated in April 2022 and May 2024 to include more helpful information.
This recipe was delicious!! I will make again and again. Easy and tasty!!
Wow. Nice change up to my usual boring baked chicken thighs. Spiced just right. Will make these again.
I tried this recipe last night and my whole family loved it…even my picky eater.
The recipe was easy to follow and called for ingredients that were already on hand.
Easy to make and delicious!!
Thank you!
I tried this for the first time and it taste great my husband really enjoyed it i will be cooking it again
In the pictures, there is juice in the pan of the baked chicken thighs, but the recipe does not call for any liquid. Was water or stock added before they were baked?
No liquid was added before cooking. I think what you’re seeing is juices that were released from the meat as it cooked. I find that if the chicken is frozen and then thawed, it tends to release more liquid as it bakes.
So delicious and super easy
It was good!
No brown sugar as I’m in a fairly well stocked but maybe keto friendly? airbnb but mixed honey and olive oil on step 2 and it worked great!
Fast and easy and most of all, DELICIOUS!
Made last night–and no leftovers which is always a good sign. Apparently one thigh per person wasn’t enough for the men/boys in my family so I’ll know for next time.
Have you ever made this in an air fryer?
Hi Kathleen,
Here is a link to my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe.
My granddaughter helped me make this & we DEFF! bookmarked for future use. Succulent, crispy, juicy, flavor ABOVE! Couldn’t distinguish just one spice because they melded to make the most perfect pairing. G’baby messed up and added oil to the spices but it worked out ‘cuz she simply brushed the chicken with the combo & ended up skipping a step which we will continue to use because these thighs were SOOOOO Delicious 🤤
Yumm! Super easy recipe and great results
Great flavor, easy recipe. I’m taking this one to our family beach vacation!
I made this tonight per the recipe. I sliced some sweet potatoes and sprinkled a little EVOO and Italian seasoning on them and added it to the sheet pan with the chicken thighs (sheet pan style). Added some asparagus spears at the end. Absolutely delicious. Thank you, this will be a great addition to my menus.
Made it keto by using swerve brown sugar. It was delicious
Thanks for the recipe
What is the green herb sprinkled on the chicken thighs after cooking?
It’s fresh (curly leaf) parsley.
Easy delicious dinner. My picky daughter loved it and wants to eat it each week!
Excellent seasoning blend, thank you for my new go to chicken recipe.
Easy. Inexpensive. Very tasty!
I loved it. Super easy to prepare and I had everything on hand. Roasted veggies at the same time
Sound so yummy. Will be making these for sure. Thanks!
Easy peasy and crazy tasty.
This is absolutely my favorite chicken thigh recipe! It is so easy to make, and the chicken is delicious and so juicy. I wouldn’t change a thing. I definitely recommend!
It was delicious
Just delicious!!! I used Adobo instead of Italian seasonings. Best chicken thighs I ever ate! I didn’t worry about crispiness since I came across recipe while mine were already in the oven. Next time! I was just looking for the the time thighs take in oven at 400° since I don’t usually cook chicken at 400° degrees. My thighs were huge and they still only took 35 minutes! Perfect on a hot summer day to get that oven off sooner! E-mailed the recipe to my adult kids….😎
Recipe is easy to follow that leads to great tasting tender chicken.
I have serves with mashed potatoes, rice, pasta.
This was so awesome !!! Skin was so crisp and the chicken was so good.
Hello.. My name is Brenda..My family loves chicken breast..And we love baked chicken..Can I do this recipe with the breast instead of the thighs? Thx…Brenda
Hi Brenda, I recommend trying my Baked Chicken Breast recipe.
I made this recipe last night and it was delicious!!! The chicken was so juicy with tons of yummy flavor! It was so easy to make and it didn’t take a long time either. My husband, two picky kids, and I LOVED it! I will definitely make it again. Thank you!
Outstanding Recipe! I was chicken cookin’ challenged until I used this recipe. Definitely a keeper. Thanks so much.
Simply good
Even my super picky 8 year old loved it!
Do you think you could put on the grill?
Hi, I suggest that you try my Grilled Chicken Thighs recipe. 🙂
Looks great so far
I seared it first…. Waiting to see how it comes out!
I’m admittedly no pro in the kitchen, but I’ve been seeking out simple recipes to practice with so I can gain experience and confidence. This recipe actually makes me feel like I know what I’m doing! :^)
The chicken thighs are SO so tasty and pair super well with the smashed potatoes on this site. Looking forward to finishing it in the broiler sometime since I’m sure it’s going to make this dish even more phenomenal!
Oh man, this recipe is the bomb! We love it. Make it all the time 🙂
My chicken thighs didn’t look like the picture😂but, was moist and tasty. Will try again !
Do we cover the chicken thighs or bake uncovered?
You bake them uncovered.
This recipe is to die for! Cooked this for dinner last night and my husband loved it so much!
Made this and it turned out good, would recommend.
I just recently came across your site and the chicken looked wonderful–and now I know it tastes even better! You nailed that seasoning mix–slightly tangy but not too strong. I did as you recommended and put in under as well as over the skin. I’m not real fond of soggy chicken skin and the broiling was a great idea. It crisps up the skin nicely to eat and also is just makes a great presentation. Definitely a “keeper”.
Really flavorful and EASY! The entire family loved it. When I first temped the chicken, I basted the top with liquid from the pan and it just added that little something extra.
So glad I found this recipe! Crispy on the outside. So tender on the inside. I made it exactly as written. The pickiest of my kids loved it!! Will definitely keep this recipe!
Amazing! I don’t know a whole lot about cooking so following this recipe was great for me. Easy to understand and my chicken came out perfect, juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside. My teens loved it so much, one of them took some the next day for lunch 😁🙌🏽
Very good and easy to make! I followed the directions to the letter and my whole family loved it! My daughter who doesn’t generally like meat mentioned several times how great it tasted. Thanks for this recipe!
I love it and so did my family! I made this for the first time tonight and it was delicious. 🙂 thank you for sharing the recipe.
Without a doubt this is the best chicken thigh recipe I’ve ever tried. The key ingredients, I believe, are the Italian seasoning and brown sugar. Tender, delicious, and SOOOOO easy. It tastes much more gourmet complicated than it really is.
Can’t use Italian seasoning , oregano upsets my stomach.
Would thyme work?
Yes, you might also use some basil and rosemary instead of all thyme.
My family loves sauce with oven baked chicken thighs. Can you suggest a sauce for this?
Thank you!
You can try my homemade BBQ sauce. Brush it on 1 minute before you pull the thighs out of the oven.
My family Enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for sharing and I did cut half a bell pepper and Onion and a jalapeño also added 1/4 tsp of cayenne. Twas Delicious.
Delish and so easy!
What a great quick tasty recipie! My family loves it.
This is a great recipe! I’ve always been scared to cook chicken but these come out perfect every time. So juicy and flavorful.
Favorite new recipe!!!
Family favorite!!
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.
It is now a family favorite! Super yum!
Made this for dinner tonight. It was easy and delicious!
So delicious and simple.
My go-to recipe! Perfect every time!
Made this for a New Year’s Day late lunch. Everyone loved it. It was really tasty!
Love this recipe! My kid is constantly requesting it! Thank you!
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!
Can this be cooked in the air fryer?
Hi Marlene,
See my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe for air fryer instructions. 🙂
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!!!
Nice..Easy..Tasty..
Found
you be total luck…so thx for being easy to find on the web!
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.
Can I do a combo of thighs and drumsticks or the drumsticks aren’t good for this?
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.
Do you need to cover the meat as it cooks?
No, you don’t. Enjoy!
Absolutely delicious. My family wants me to make it again soon
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!
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.
Super tasty!! Thank you!
Delicious and easy to prepare
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.
I love this recipe..
Only a question – does this work on an outdoor grill?
Hi Sharon,
Try my Grilled Chicken Thighs recipe for a similar recipe that’s cooked on the grill.
This is so delicious and made it with Chicken Drumsticks. Made it several times. YUM
Easy to make and absolutely flavorful. Thighs still juicy and delicious.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for giving it a try.
Delish and simple. Even my picky eater complimented it.
Yay!! That is the best compliment!
Some of the best recipes from Kristin’s kitchens and easy to put together
baked chicken was so good 😋
Not made yet, but I’m sure they will be good!
These chicken thighs are to die for!!! I like to split the paprika with a little cayenne pepper for a little spice. We have these at least once a week, 10/10!!
How far in advance could I put the spices on so it’s ready to go when my company arrives?
You can do put the spices on the chicken up to 24 hours ahead of time. Then refrigerate until you’re ready to bake it.
The only change I made was using boneless, skinless thighs but I was disappointed with the outcome after reading all the great reviews.
Tried last night and my husband and I loved it! I’m all about easier recipes and this was so easy and flavorful. Will be in my recipe rotation from here on out! Roasted some carrots and potatoes with it and it was a perfect and healthy meal!
Family picky and loves these every time!!!
These were easy, came out perfect and my family loved them!
I have used this recipe many times, it has never failed. A family favorite!
Has this recipe changed? I’ve made these before, and don’t remember it having brown sugar.
I slightly modified the recipe in 2022 to add the brown sugar and reduce the amount of onion powder. 🙂
Any advice about making this for 30 people.? I imagine cooking time will have to increase significantly
Hi Judy,
I’m not sure you could fit 30 servings in one oven at once. The chicken might not bake evenly. You could try baking it in two batches. When you cook more chicken in the oven at once, the bake time should in theory stay the same, but if your pan is very crowded you might have to increase the cook time a little. (A crowded pan will also lead to less crispy chicken.) Use an instant read thermometer to check when the chicken is done. It should be at least 165 degrees F. (Chicken thighs are forgiving and can be cooked a little above 165 without drying out.)
This is my go to thigh recipes, turns out perfect every time. So awesome!!
I’m not absolutely sure that I used your recipe when I baked chicken thighs that were so tender and delicious that I was amazed. I baked a 2nd batch using someone else’s recipe, and it was not the same. I am pretty sure now that I baked your chicken thighs, and I will be using your recipe next time. Anyway, I never knew that I could bake chicken thighs at such a high temperature for such a period of time and have them turn out the best I have ever cooked! I’m almost 90 years old, but I guess its true that you’re never too old to learn new tricks. Kudos to you, Kristine, and thank you.
We loved this recipe! Very easy prep and chicken was VERY tasty and tender