How to Bake Chicken Thighs

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I make no secret of my unbridled love of chicken thighs, baked and roasted chicken thighs, in particular, with the tender, juicy meat. The crackling skin, with a generous dusting of salt and pepper, made even crisper with a light rub of olive oil before heading into a very hot oven. My younger son can make short work out of two or three pieces and will pilfer any extra crispy skin from any non-alert family member’s plate. And you will be delighted with how forgiving they are to cook.

You can make a whole lot of wonderful roasted and baked meals with chicken thighs: Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Thighs, Thai Chicken Thighs, Greek Roasted Chicken Thighs, and on and on. But there is something so simple and delicious about a plain oven-baked chicken thigh. Unadorned, perfect, delicious. Just 5 minutes into the oven! It is the perfect dinner to make when you are simply too worn out to think, too tired to cook, and not in the mood to spend much money.

Here, the simple baked chicken thighs are paired up with some Roasted Parmesan Brussels Sprouts and mashed potatoes. Mashed Potato Pancakes would also be an amazing side. In the summer, go for something more like Creamy Corn and Potato Salad with Bacon and Lemon Buttermilk Dressing and a salad.

How to Bake Chicken Thighs: The best, the easiest baked chicken thigh recipe—it’s hard to imagine a better (and more economical!) weeknight meal.

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Ingredients

• Chicken thighs – Make sure to use chicken thighs that have the bone inside and the skin on, as these will provide the most flavor and texture.
• Olive oil – Helps the chicken skin get nice and crispy in the oven.
• Salt and pepper – Be generous with the salt and pepper. These baked chicken thighs may be simple, but with enough seasoning, they truly shine!

How to Bake Chicken Thighs

1. Prepare to bake: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or foil, or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Season the chicken: Rub the chicken thighs with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the oil. Place them on the baking sheet and season with salt and pepper.
3. Bake: Bake the chicken for about 45 to 50 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (an internal temperature of 165 degrees). Serve hot, room temperature, or cold.

How Long to Bake Chicken Thighs

The baking time for chicken thighs depends on the oven temperature and the size and thickness of the pieces. Chicken thighs usually vary from 3 ounces to 6 ounces. The chart below is for chicken thighs that weigh about 4 or 5 ounces each. I like to bake the thighs at 400 degrees, which is technically more like roasting, to get a crispy skin.

Oven Temperature	Cooking Time
350 degrees	1 hour
375 degrees	50 minutes
400 degrees	45 minutes
425 degrees	40 minutes

Pro Cooking Tips

• An instant-read thermometer will help you know for sure when your chicken is done. Chicken thighs are safe at the internal temperature of 165 degrees, but I like to cook them to an internal temp of 175 or 180 degrees, which ensures a perfect internal tenderness. Cooking chicken thighs a bit longer ensures that they won’t be stringy or chewy. But don’t cook them too long, or you will run into those issues.
• If you don’t have an internal thermometer, you want to make sure to cook the thighs until the juices run clear, rather than pinkish, when you cut into them.
• With poultry, dark meat is more forgiving than white meat in terms of not drying out and staying moist. If the chicken is cooked, but you want to keep it warm for a bit, you can just turn off the oven and leave it in there for another 20 minutes or so to keep it warm. It will still be nice and juicy when you are ready to eat it!
• While olive oil, salt, and pepper are all you need for perfect, simple baked chicken breasts, there are also tons of potential variations. Try:
  • a mixture of paprika, dried thyme, and dried basil
  • minced fresh rosemary and lemon zest
  • za’atar
  • a blend of chili powder, ground cumin, and garlic powder

Sauces for Baked Chicken Thighs

And with that said, should you want to add a little something on top, do it…do it! Try drizzling them with green olive tapenade dressing. Other things that have ended up on a roasted chicken thigh in my house are Ramp Chimichurri Sauce, Kale Pesto Recipe, Nut-Free Basil Pesto with Pecorino Romano, Creamy Mustard-Oregano Sauce, Herb Dipping Sauce, and whatever is lurking around in the fridge.

FAQs

What to Serve With Baked Chicken Thighs

Because this is such a simple main dish, you might want to spend some time on the sides and turn this into a more showy meal. Think about Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad, Butternut Squash Casserole, Scalloped Sweet Potatoes, or Potato Gratin. Or just keep it very simple and go for a salad, something like Maple-Roasted Butternut Squash, or Stewed Tomatoes and rice or mashed potatoes, for the world’s most reassuring dinner.

Slivered Wedge Salad with Buttermilk Dressing and Bacon

Warm Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Mustard Vinaigrette

Sautéed Haricot Verts with Red Onions and Shallots

More Baked Chicken Thigh Recipes

Now that you have the basic version in your arsenal, give these other recipes a go.

• Creamed Spinach Stuffed Chicken Thighs
• Rosemary and Lemon Roasted Chicken Thighs
• Lemon-Garlic Chicken Thighs
• Lemon-Rosemary Chicken Thighs

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