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Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

The perfect blend of garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and fresh cracked pepper brightens up plain old chicken thighs and adds wow-worthy flavor to this recipe!

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oven baked chicken thighs on a serving platter seasoned with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, & pepper
Photography by Gayle McLeod

Want Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs?

The best oven baked chicken thighs start with seasoning! A blend of garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and fresh cracked pepper brightens up plain old chicken thighs and adds wow-worthy flavor. But I know you are wondering– should you cover chicken thighs when they are baking? The simple answer is, no. We don’t cover our skin-on chicken thighs because we want that skin to get nice and crispy! To achieve this just follow these 4 simple steps!

  1. Place your chicken on top of a metal rack set inside a large rimmed baking sheet. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and use kitchen shears to trim off any excess fat.

  2. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle your seasoning mix over the chicken. Don’t be afraid to get your hands a little dirty and rub it in!

  3. Turn the oven temperature down and bake until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. How long to cook chicken thighs in oven you ask? This takes about 30 minutes.

  4. Dig in and admire the crisp chicken skin and tender, juicy meat.

raw chicken thighs, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, & pepper to make oven baked chicken thighs

Are Quick Baked Chicken Thighs Healthy?

In general, chicken is a great alternative to red meat, especially if you are looking to lower your intake of saturated fats. Chicken thighs are a good source of protein and we especially love that they contain immune boosting nutrients such as iron and zinc. Our chicken thighs are baked in the oven, for a slightly healthier cooking method. We’ve also featured simple ingredients like olive oil and spices, instead of breading our chicken thighs or cooking them in highly refined oils or butter. If you’re looking to pair our oven baked chicken thighs with a veggie packed side dish, try one of these:

seasoned chicken thighs on a wire cooling rack on top of a foil lined baking sheet ready to be baked in the oven

Can I Refrigerate Leftovers? Of Course!

We are always in favor of some scrumptious leftovers! Cooking one recipe and serving it for two meals? Count us in! If you have a few leftover oven baked bone-in chicken thighs, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, don’t miss out on that deliciously crisp skin. Heat your chicken through in the microwave or oven and then place your bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs on a sheet pan, if you haven’t already. Set your oven broiler to high and broil for 2 to 3 minutes (but watch carefully), until the chicken skin crisps up. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over your baked chicken thighs, and meal two is ready to serve!

oven baked chicken thighs on a cooling rack place don top of a foil lined baking sheet

Tools You’ll Need

Chicken Thigh Obsessed? We Are Too!

We love chicken thighs for three reasons: 1) They are super flavorful and succulent 2) They don’t break the bank and are a budget friendly protein option 3) Best of all, they are forgiving, so you don’t have to worry about overcooking them! Check out our best oven baked chicken thigh recipes!

oven baked chicken thighs on a serving platter seasoned with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, & pepper

Well, What Do You Think?

We want to know! Did you pair your chicken thighs with a delicious side or bring them to a potluck? Snap a quick picture or record a short video of your baked chicken thighs in the oven! Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating, friends!

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

  • Serves: 6
  • Prep Time:  5 min
  • Cook Time:  30 min
  • Calories: 444

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, fat trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil and set a cooling rack inside.

  2. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and drizzle with the olive oil.

  3. In a small bowl, combine the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and pepper. Rub the chicken all over with the spice mixture, completely coating the skin.

  4. Reduce the oven temperature to 425°F. Place the chicken on the prepared rack and bake until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crispy and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 30 minutes.

  5. Arrange chicken thighs on a platter and serve alongside your favorite sides.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories444
  • Protein33 g
  • Carbohydrates5 g
  • Total Fat36 g
  • Dietary Fiber2 g
  • Cholesterol167 mg
  • sodium599 mg
  • Total Sugars5 g

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

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  • grayem

    Does honey make the chicken less crisp and does it change the cooking time?

    We have never made this with honey before.

  • Jessica Reese

    Ok to go boneless? Would I just cook it less? I wish my IG weren’t private and you could see that I cook your recipes at least 4x a week, no exaggeration. Love ya’ll and the new cookbook!!

    Wow! That is so wonderful to hear, thanks so much Jessica! Definitely feel free to go boneless. You won't need to cook them as long. Check them after about 18 minutes and if they're not ready just keep checking on them and make sure the internal temp is 165 before you take them out of the oven.

  • Michelle Findley

    Is this going to make a mess of my oven? I don’t like cooking chicken coated in oil above 375 in my oven because it smokes & gets grease everywhere. Then I’m having to clean the oven the next day…..Or can I cook on the stove?

    We haven't experienced that with this recipe but feel free to pan fry if you'd prefer. It will probably take 25-30 minutes on medium heat.

  • Lorener Brayboy

    Delicious! Easy weeknight meal to pair with veggies and rice. My family loved this, especially the crispy skin! This now part of the rotation! Thank you Modern Proper! Love your recipes!

    Thanks Lorener! We are so happy you love this recipe! We love to hear when something makes rotation, cue happy dance!

  • Anna

    This was an amazing and easy recipe!!! Will make again..I would just adjust the salt…less but so tasty!

    Thanks Anna, so glad you loved them!

  • Maggie Takita

    Love this recipe! I often struggle with chicken, either too dry, or too messy cooking on the stove top, too much work etc. This recipe is simple and the flavor and texture come out perfect! Crisp on the outside, moist and juicy on the inside. Definitely a keeper!

    Thanks Maggie, so glad you loved it!

  • Jenn

    Simple perfection. Love the recipe!

    Thanks Jenn, glad you loved it!