Basil Crispy Baked Chicken is fresh, herby, flavorful main entrรฉe. Youโ€™re not going to believe how easy this finger-lickin’ good, juicy tender chicken thigh recipe is!

Basil Baked Chicken - chicken thighs marinated in fresh basil marinade for an amazing healthy main dish

If you scoped out my Basil Marinade I posted recently, you already have a solid idea of what Iโ€™m about to throw down.

Thatโ€™s right – basil crispy baked chicken!

Check it: bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs marinated in coconut aminos (or liquid aminos/soy sauce), rice vinegar, garlic, and fresh basil and baked to crispy perfection for a fresh and funky, umami tangy tender melt-in-your-mouth, finger-lickin-GREAT experience!

โ€ฆ.Also known as that insanely delicious crispy chicken recipe I made by pure accident.

And then made two more times in the span of the following three days for good measure.

And made a salmon version as well…in the name of science.

This simple basil baked chicken is one of those recipes that became a household staple the second it graced us with its presence. Youโ€™ll just have to taste it to believe it! 

I scaled down the marinade to accommodate 1.5 to 2 pounds of bone-in chicken pieces. You can follow the original Basil Marinade recipe if you’re looking to marinate more animal protein!

Easy Basil Baked Chicken made with a fresh, delicious basil marinade. Baked to perfection with crispy skin and tender inside

I know what youโ€™re thinking: how is does this differ from pesto chicken? Well. We arenโ€™t using pesto sauce is the main difference. The marinade contains no parmesan cheese or pine nuts, so while the chicken does taste similar to pesto, it is not pesto chicken by definition. 

How to Make Crispy Basil Baked Chicken:

Add the ingredients for the marinade to a small blender and blend until smooth.

Basil Marinade for baked chicken

Place the raw chicken pieces in a zip lock bag (or glass tupperware container) and pour in all of the marinade. Seal the bag and slosh it around until all of the chicken is submerged in marinade. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (up to 10) for best results.

Chicken marinating in basil marinade

When youโ€™re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Transfer the chicken along with the marinade to a casserole dish. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F and bake another 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and skin is nice and crispy.

Crispy Baked Chicken marinated with basil marinade

For crispier skin, place oven on the high broil setting and move the chicken to the second-to-the-top shelf. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes, until skin is nice and crispy.

Crispy Basil Baked Chicken - baked chicken thighs marinated in basil marinade

Serve chicken with your choice of side dishes and enjoy!

Basil Baked Chicken Bowls with Sauteed Vegetables and Brown Rice

How Long To Bake Chicken:

How long you bake chicken depends on whether or not it is bone-in and the size of the piece. According to the FDA, chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Note that chicken continues cooking after it is out of the oven. I allow my chicken to rest for about 10 minutes after I pull it out (usually around 158 to 160 degrees), which allows the juices to distribute throughout the meat, creating juicy, tender chicken. 

For bone-in chicken thighs, bake at 350 for 30 minutes, then bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes at 425 degrees F. You can check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer along the way if youโ€™d like. If you’re in a hurry, bake the chicken at 425 for 30 minutes and check the temperature to be sure the chicken is cooked through.

For super crispy skin, finish the chicken off under the high broil setting for 3 to 8 minutes (keep a watchful eye so chicken doesn’t burn).

One of the things I like about bone-in pieces is they are much more forgiving than boneless when it comes to flavor and texture. Boneless skinless chicken breasts dry out easily and become tough when overcooked, whereas boneless pieces can be left in longer than needed and still turn out delicious.

For boneless chicken breasts, bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes (depending on the thickness of the breast). Remove from the oven and allow chicken to rest 10 minutes before serving.

Can I Make This With Boneless Thighs or Breasts?:

Yes, absolutely. Simply use 1.5 to 2 pounds of boneless thighs or breasts and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Bone-in pieces take longer to bake than boneless, so be sure you donโ€™t overcook your chicken!

Crispy Baked Chicken in basil marinade - paleo, low-carb, delicious

Recipe Adaptations:

  • Substitute soy sauce or coconut aminos for the liquid aminos
  • Lime juice or lemon juice can be used in place of rice vinegar
  • Omit the pure maple syrup for low-carb/keto version of this recipe
  • Use bone-in drumsticks, boneless thighs, or boneless breasts instead of bone-in chicken thighs.

Healthy Side Dish Suggestions:

These dishes go marvelously alongside the basil baked chicken:

Basil chicken for life!

My cookbook, Paleo Power Bowls, is now available! CLICK HERE to check it out. Thank you for your support!

If you make this recipe, please feel free to share a photo and tag @The.Roasted.Root on Instagram!

Basil Baked Chicken - chicken thighs marinated in fresh basil marinade for an amazing healthy main dish

Basil Crispy Baked Chicken

4.13 from 24 votes
Perfectly crispy baked chicken marinated in fresh basil marinade
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the ingredients for the marinade to a small blender and blend until smooth.
  • Place the raw chicken pieces in a zip lock bag (or glass tupperware container) and pour in all of the marinade. Seal the bag and slosh it around until all of the chicken is submerged in marinade. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (up to 10) for best results.
  • When youโ€™re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Transfer the chicken along with the marinade to a casserole dish. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F and bake another 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and skin is nice and crispy.
  • For crispier skin, place oven on the high broil setting and move the chicken to the second-to-the-top shelf. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes, until skin is nice and crispy.
  • Serve with your favorite side dishes and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 8 ยท Calories: 211kcal ยท Carbohydrates: 19g ยท Fat: 15g
Author: Julia
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked chicken, basil, chicken thighs
Did You Make This Recipe?I want to see it! Tag @the.roasted.root on social media!
Basil Baked Chicken - paleo, keto, low-carb, delicious and easy healthy chicken recipe - use chicken thighs, dumsticks or chicken breasts!

Julia Mueller
Meet the Author

Julia Mueller

Julia Mueller is a recipe developer, cookbook author, and founder of The Roasted Root. She has authored three bestselling cookbooks, – Paleo Power Powers, Delicious Probiotic Drinks, and The Quintessential Kale Cookbook. Her recipes have been featured in several national publications such as BuzzFeed, Self, Tasty, Country Living, Brit.co, etc.

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4.13 from 24 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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Questions and Reviews

  1. Hi! I doubled the recipe and have 10 drumsticks marinating for the next 7 hours. . I’m really excited to serve them at my party today with rice and salad. The recipe calls for baking them in a casserole dish, but I’m wondering if I can place them on a rack in the roasting pan so they can crisp up. What’s your recommendation?
    Thank you, Susan

    1. Oooh, I love the idea of baking them on a roasting pan! They will definitely crispy up nicely. I’m going to try this the next time I make the chicken! Hope you enjoy and let me know if you have any other questions. xoxoxo

  2. Delicious dish. Loved the marinade and served as sauce over finished dish. Used boneless skinless chicken breasts which were thick. Followed similar baking instructions to bone in thighs but basted and flipped meat halfway and prior to putting at 425 deg & reduced time to 5 min at that temp. Did use digital thermometer. Thank you for the recipe

    1. I’m so happy to hear you made and enjoyed the recipe, Lynne! That’s great to hear it worked out so well with boneless skinless chicken breasts as well! Thank you for the feedback ๐Ÿ˜€ xoxox