If you are one of those people who hate cooking, then this recipe is for you. These crispy baked chicken thighs are the perfect weeknight dinner and can be prepared in 35 minutes or less. You will want to use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for this recipe because not only are they more juicy, but they have more flavor as well.
Looking for more easy chicken recipes? Try my honey garlic chicken thighs next!
About This Recipe
Back when I was a bachelor straight out of college, baked chicken thighs were probably my most-eaten meal. They were very cheap, easy to make, and you could easily cook enough for at least 3 days. All you had to do each day was make some veggies and rice and you had a complete meal. Perfect for anyone who is working and/or studying full-time.
A perfect baked bone-in chicken thigh can be hard to attain if you've never done it before. The skin should be lightly browned and crisp. The meat should be juicy and moist. And every inch of the chicken should be well-seasoned. I know when I first started making these, they did not always turn out perfect. Sometimes the meat was overcooked, and other times the skin wouldn't crisp up. But now, after making this a million times, I can make the perfect juicy, crispy, and flavorful chicken every time.
The key to this is monitoring the temperature and time closely. Use a meat thermometer to get the most accurate reading of the chicken. The meat is perfect once it reaches 165F. If you find the skin is not browning, move the chicken to a higher rack and crank up the temperature. If you find it's burning, do the opposite.
Key Ingredients
Chicken Thighs: For this recipe, you want bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Sometimes I find grocery stores leave extra skin attached- if that happens, you can chop it off yourself, or leave it on if you don't mind.
Olive oil: This is for coating the chicken thighs. The extra oil will make the skin brown and crisp up faster.
Spices: My favorite combination is garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, salt, and oregano.
Instructions
STEP 1: Add the chicken to a large bowl. Combine the olive oil and spices in a small bowl, and add to the bowl of chicken. Use your hands to massage the spices all over.
STEP 2: Arrange the chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
STEP 3: Baked at 425°F on the middle rack for 30-35 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. if the skin is not getting decently brown by the 30-minute mark, increase the temperature to 500°F and broil for 2-3 minutes.
Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use paper towels to pat the chicken dry and transfer to a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil and spices. Pour the spiced oil into the bowl of chicken and use your hands to massage it all over the chicken. Arrange the chicken on the baking sheet with some space between each one.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until the inside reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
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