These easy baked Bone In Chicken Thighs are simple to prepare with a handful of basic ingredients. All we need is chicken, oil, and some seasonings for a delicious main dish that wins every time!
If you’re like me and sometimes you can’t be bothered to whip up a fancy main dish, these crispy baked chicken thighs are for you.
They turn out magically flavorful and satisfying, yet they require hardly any effort and can be tossed together any night of the week. I love serving them with brown rice and roasted vegetables for a complete, healthy meal.
We simply make an easy spice rub using dry spices and bake the chicken to crispy perfection. BOOM! perfect baked chicken.
Ideal for those who enjoy clean and easy meals, I find this to be the perfect meal prep recipe for chicken lovers. The bones and skin add tremendous flavor to keep your animal protein game strong. For me, the golden crisp skin is the best part!
Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for this easy recipe! You can find the full list of ingredients at all grocery stores.
Ingredients for Bone-In Chicken Thighs:
Bone-In Chicken Thighs: Stick with bone in skin-on chicken thighs, or use a combination of thighs and drumsticks. There is no steadfast rule here, but the baking time and temp is designed for bone-in pieces (which require longer than boneless thighs or breasts).
Avocado Oil: Used to lubricate the chicken to ensure it bakes evenly during the cooking process. I like using avocado oil because it is a high temperature cooking oil with a high smoke point. I don’t recommend using olive oil, because it will likely burn during the baking process.
Paprika: A little sweet paprika (not to be confused with smoked paprika) brings a very subtle smoky flavor for just the right level of intrigue.
Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: Onion powder and garlic powder are all-star seasonings when seasoning any cut of meat! Be sure to use them liberally for the tastiest results.
Cayenne Pepper (optional): If you enjoy a little kick of spice, feel free to add in the cayenne pepper and adjust it to your personal taste. Omit it for mild chicken.
Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Season to taste using sea salt and black pepper. If the chicken tastes at all bland to you once it is out of the oven, that likely means there wasn’t enough salt. Simply sprinkle it after the fact if this is the case.
Recipe Customizations:
- Herby Addition – Add in 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning for some herby flavor.
- Sensational Marinade – Follow the marinade for my Asian Baked Boneless Chicken Chicken Thighs. Or, make a marinade by adding 2 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of pure maple syrup, 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar and an extra tablespoon of oil. Marinate for at least one hour for the best juicy chicken.
- Go Garlic Butter – Make my Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs for the most luscious flavor.
- Spice Swap – If you have a favorite spice blend or spice mix, use it in this easy chicken thigh recipe in place of the seasonings I call out. Cajun seasoning and lemon pepper work great here!
Now that we’ve covered the basic ingredients, let’s bake some chicken!
How to Make Baked Bone-In Chicken Thighs:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly oil a casserole dish or a large rimmed baking sheet.
Remove the chicken from its packaging and pat it dry using paper towels. In a small bowl, stir together the spices.
Transfer the bone in chicken thighs, avocado oil, and spices to a large zip lock bag. Seal the bag and shake vigorously until the chicken is well coated in oil and seasonings. Place chicken thighs in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
Note: Skip the bag method and simply coat the chicken pieces in oil and sprinkle with seasonings in the baking dish if you prefer.
Bake chicken thighs on the center rack of the preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
Insert a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh to check its internal temperature. Bone-in chicken pieces are ready when they reach an internal temp of 180 to 205 degrees F.
For crispy skin, place the oven on the high broil setting and move the chicken one shelf up. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until chicken skin reaches desired level of crisp.
Remove chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve it alongside your favorite side dishes, and enjoy!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Recipe Tips:
- If you have the time, keep the chicken marinating in the oil and seasonings in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or longer. This step isn’t mandatory, but it results in more flavorful chicken.
- For boneless chicken thighs, bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cooked through. Note that boneless skinless chicken thighs require less time than bone-in.
- For the best results, use a meat thermometer to ensure you end up with juicy meat with amazing texture. Without a thermometer, you run the risk of undercooking or overcooking the chicken.
Serving Suggestions:
Here are some of my favorite side dishes to serve with this baked chicken recipe.
- Garlic Herb Roasted Vegetables
- Italian Salad
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Roasted Sweet Potato Brown Rice Salad
- Wild Rice Salad
The next time you’re craving crispy chicken, whip up this great recipe! It is perfect for busy nights, and is tasty enough to serve for special occasions too.
The simple dry rub adds tremendous flavor while keeping it lightning fast and simple!
Baked Bone-In Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a casserole dish and stir together the spices. Place chicken in the casserole dish and drizzle with olive oil. Use your hands to coat the full surface of the flesh with oil. Sprinkle both sides of each piece of chicken with the spice blend.
- Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven 35 to 45 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and has reached an internal temperature of 185 – 205 degrees F. For crispy skin, place oven on the high broil setting and move the chicken one shelf up. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until chicken skin reaches desired level of crisp.
- Remove chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving. This process helps distribute the juices throughout the chicken for the moistest and tenderest result.
- Serve with your favorite side dishes, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions:
For boneless breasts, bake at 350 degrees F for 25-35 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Because breasts have less flavor than dark meat, I recommend marinating them for the best results.
Follow the same instructions for skinless thighs, but cook to an internal temp of 180 to 205.
I find the best marinade for chicken is a combination of avocado oil, soy sauce (or liquid aminos, tamari, or coconut aminos), rice vinegar, fresh garlic, and some herbs.
Make my Garlic Soy Chicken Marinade for the exact measurements. As an herby alternative, make my Basil Marinade For Chicken. You can also try my recipe for The Best Tri Tip Marinade, as it can easily be used for chicken too!
For the best results, don’t flip the chicken in the middle of baking. Bone-in skin on chicken should be baked skin-side up for the full duration. This ensures the chicken bakes evenly and ends up with that amazing golden brown crust.
At 400 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, bone-in chicken thighs need about 30 to 45 minutes of total cooking time.
Smaller thighs need about 30-40 minutes, whereas larger thighs require about 40-45 minutes.
Rather than relying on a precise time, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness starting at 30 minutes for small thighs and 35 minutes for large thighs. The chicken should be cooked to 180 degrees Fahrenheit minimum for the best results.
