How To Cook Chicken Thighs In The Oven | Prepped In 5 Minutes (2024)

This oven baked chicken thighs recipe is quick and simple to make but the results are extraordinary. The chicken thighs turn out absolutely succulent - the skin turns out perfectly crisp and the meat is oh-so juicy. Best of all though, just 5 minutes of prep work and a handful of basic pantry staples are all it takes to put all of this deliciousness together.

The Best Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe

I haven't been able to stop making these oven baked chicken thighs.

I mean, for one, they're crazy delicious. They're savory, herby, and garlicky, and they're balanced out with a hint of sweetness. Gah, these chicken thighs are so good!

For two, this oven-baked chicken thigh recipe is probably one of the easiest chicken recipes you'll ever make. Seriously, it's proof that you don't need a lot of fancy ingredients - or techniques - to make a truly out-of-this-world dinner.

As I mentioned before, this chicken recipe only takes about 5 minutes of prep - if that - and the rest of the time is just letting the thighs bake to golden, crispy-skinned deliciousness in the oven. Plus, the whole prepping/cooking process boils down to following just 3 easy steps.

So, I guess what I'm really saying is that there's hardly anything stopping you from making these oven baked chicken thighs for dinner tonight!

Oh, and since they're so effortless to make, you'll have time to create an equally delicious side dish - like this roasted broccolini, this sauteed eggplant, or these air fryer brussel sprouts.

Ingredients

So, besides the chicken thighs, all you need for this recipe is a few simple herbs and spices.

And anything you don't already have on hand should be easy to find in your nearest grocery store.

Now, here are the ingredients for this oven-baked chicken thighs recipe:

• 6 Chicken Thighs, skin and bone on
• 1 tsp. Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp. Dried Thyme
• ½ tsp. Black Pepper, grounded
• 1 tbsp. Brown Sugar
• 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
• Fresh Rosemary

Pretty typical ingredients for making chicken, right?!

Now, while this recipe is for skin-on bone-in chicken thighs, you definitely can make it with other cuts of chicken! Chicken drumsticks, chicken breasts, and boneless skinless chicken thighs would work here too.

Just remember that breasts - and boneless dark meat chicken - tend to cook much faster than regular chicken thighs. So, just keep that in mind you'll need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Oh, by the way, you can use a lot of the same ingredients here for this blackened chicken recipe, these grilled chicken thighs, this air fryer turkey tenderloin, and this roasted pork loin. So, if you end up with some extra seasoning you don't know what to do with, give those recipes a shot next.

Also, if you end up with some leftover chicken thighs you can always use them to make this Chipotle chicken bowl recipe.

How to Make Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

As I mentioned earlier, this recipe for oven baked chicken thighs could not any easier.

Again, just 3 steps and 5 minutes of prep is all you're looking at for this recipe. With that said, the chicken will take about 30-40 minutes to cook, but the oven will be doing all the work so it's totally hands off at that point.

By the way, I've also included some instructions for making an air fryer version of these baked chicken thighs below. Just in case you want to switch things up and get them ready even faster.

Anyway, with all that said, let's dive into this recipe for crispy chicken thighs!

Step 1: Prep Work

First things first preheat the oven to 350°F (180ºC).

Next, spray the inside of your baking dish with some cooking spray and set it aside.

By the way, if you don't have any cooking spray, you can also coat the inside of the baking dish with cooking oil using a pastry brush.

Step 2: Season The Chicken

Now, pat the chicken dry with paper towels so it'll bake up nice and crisp.

Then, arrange the chicken thighs in one single layer in the baking dish. You'll want to make sure each chicken thigh is lying flat, and they're not overlapping one another.

Next, in a small bowl, mix the garlic powder, dried thyme, black pepper, and brown sugar until they combine.

Brush the top and sides of the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle the mixed seasoning blend, followed by the rosemary leaves, evenly over each one.

Step 3: Bake And Serve

Once the chicken thighs are nice and seasoned, bake them in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until the skin is golden brown and the chicken thighs are fully cooked.

You can use a meat thermometer on the thickest part of the chicken thigh to check its doneness. The internal temperature should be at least 165°F (77ºC). Then, when the baked chicken thighs have reached that temp you can them out and garnish 'em with some fresh herbs.

Finally, pair the juicy chicken thighs with the sides of your choice, and also make sure to serve them with the flavorful cooking juices at the bottom of the pan. Enjoy!

How To Store Baked Chicken Thighs

Now, this recipe for oven baked chicken thighs makes enough for about 3 people so that everyone can enjoy two chicken thighs. But, if you want more, just double - or triple - the number of ingredients and use a bigger baking dish.

Also, just so you know, these oven baked chicken thighs make fantastic leftovers. So don't worry about making too many!

To store the cooked chicken, you can put the roasted chicken thighs in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for about 3-4 days.

You can also freeze them in a freezer bag with the air squeezed out for about 3 months.

How To Reheat Cooked Chicken Thighs

To reheat your leftover chicken thighs, first, take them out of the fridge and let them come up to as close to room temp as possible as you pre-heat the oven. And, speaking of preheating the oven, you'll want to get it to400°F (200ºC). Then, bake the chicken thighs for 10-15 minutes or until warmed throughout.

By the way, if you're starting with chicken thighs from the freezer, let them thaw in the fridge overnight first to ensure they cook evenly. Then follow the same reheating instructions above.

Having said all of that though, if you want to enjoy these baked chicken thighs cold you totally can do that too!

FAQs About This Chicken Thighs Recipe

Is it better to bake chicken thighs at 350 or 400?

I think it's better to bake chicken thighs at 350°F. Having a lower temperature is the best way to still get a crispy skin on the chicken while keeping the meat nice and juicy. I have found that 400°F is too hot and ends up drying the chicken out.

Wrapping It All Up

Well, there you have it, that's how to cook chicken thighs in the oven!

These oven baked chicken thighs are just so, so good. Not only are they chock-full of flavor, but the skin turns out so crispy on them, and the meat is incredibly tender and juicy.

Plus, they're just so easy to make this way. How can you beat a chicken dinner recipe that requires just 5 minutes worth of prep? You can't.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this crispy oven baked chicken thigh recipe as much as I/we do. Honestly, this is a top 5 chicken recipe in our house - so enjoy!

As always, if you make this chicken thigh recipe, be sure to leave a comment and let me know how it turned out. I'd love to know what you think!

More Easy Dinner Recipes

If you thought this was one of the best chicken thigh recipes ever, I have a bunch of other really tasty, easy dinner recipes on the blog I think you'll love just as much!

Here are some of my favorites to get you started:

• Baked chicken legs
• Baked chicken sausage
• Pan seared salmon
  
• Chipotle salad bowl
• Oven baked turkey legs
• Oven roasted brats
• Eye of round steak
• Healthy ground turkey

Also, for more easy recipes - just like this one - make sure to check out my Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. I've got a ton of other really tasty recipes on them as well.

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