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Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

September 3, 2024

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

Juicy, Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

Sometimes chicken for dinner might sound boring but we promise, our recipe for crispy oven baked chicken thighs is anything but! Our bone-in, skin-on thighs cooked in the oven are full of flavor with tender, dark meat. Chicken thighs have a bit more fat than chicken breast, which helps to create a flavorful, juicy interior. You won’t have to worry about your chicken drying out in the oven, especially because we’ve kept the skin on. This helps the chicken to stay moist inside but allows for the exterior to become deliciously crispy. Similarly, our Baked Crispy Chicken Thighs offer great texture. We guarantee you the perfect bite when all is said and done!

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

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!

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Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

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

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on, 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
  • Calories 444
  • Protein 33 g
  • Carbohydrates 5 g
  • Total Fat 36 g
  • Dietary Fiber 2 g
  • Cholesterol 167 mg
  • sodium 599 mg
  • Total Sugars 5 g

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

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  • David

    I don't have a cooling rack

    You can do it directly on the baking sheet it just might not get quite as crispy. Hope you enjoy David.

  • E.

    Will the seasoning be as effective if I add them to flour or bread crumbs after I coat the boneless, skinless thighs?

    Probably won't be as flavorful if they are on top of flour and not directly on the chicken.

  • Joyce

    Can I use skinless thigh

    Sure!

  • Chavonne

    My tighs have no skin can I still prepare asparagus \children dish

    Absolutely!

  • RoseMary

    Cover the chicken ? to bake

    No, you don't have to cover it.

  • Sofia

    Literally so tasty! I added a teaspoon of Italian seasoning and then marinated the chicken in the spices for a couple of hours in the fridge but otherwise I followed the recipe as written. I am adding this recipe to the rotation! Will definitely make this again.

    Thank you, we are so glad you loved it!

  • Kathryn

    Moist but not as delicious as the cooking smell…. Needed more of the of the flavor in the meat

  • Jimmy

    Without a doubt the best baked chicken thighs EVER!! They were a huge hit with the entire family. Will be making these again soon & often!!
    Thank you so much for the recipe.

    YAY! That is great news, we are so glad you adn your family enjoyed them Jimmy! Thank you.

  • Lorener

    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!