Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

45 minutes mins

| 65 Comments |

4.97 from 111 votes

Jump to Recipe | Updated: | by Nora

These Oven Baked Chicken Thighs are easy to make and come out so juicy and flavorful! Great for a healthy family dinner, and keto/low carb friendly, too.

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (1)

I’m a big fan of baked chicken – be it chicken thighs baked with orzo or oven fried chicken breast or the oven baked chicken thigh recipe I’m sharing here. It’s always a favorite with the family!

I prefer using bone-in, skin-on chicken here, but I’ll be giving you tips for other options as well in case you have something else on hand.

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (2)

Ingredient notes

  • Dried herbs: You can use all Italian seasoning or all dried parsley if you don’t have both on hand. Dried oregano would be another substitute that works quite well.
  • Oil: I prefer using olive oil here, but feel free to use any vegetable oil you use in your cooking.
  • Butter: This is entirely optional for a touch more flavor/browning/juiciness. Just leave it out if you need your chicken thighs to be dairy free!

What kind of chicken thighs to use

I really prefer skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe. It’s how the chicken comes out best!

But if you prefer boneless, skinless chicken thighs: They will bake a lot faster, they should bake in around 25 minutes. The chicken may come out less juicy. I highly recommend using the butter on top of the chicken to help keep it from drying out!

How to make baked chicken thighs in the oven

1. Start by combining the oil and all of the seasoning in a large bowl. This will form a sort of paste and it’s exactly what you want it to be.

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (3)

2. Add the chicken thighs to the bowl (work in batches if the bowl is not large enough to comfortably hold all of the chicken).

Toss and dredge the chicken through the seasoning paste, then remove one by one, rubbing the seasoning well into the chicken.

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (4)
Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (5)

3. You want to place a foil-lined pan in your oven as it heats up. Once the oven is hot, remove the pan and place the seasoned chicken thighs on it.

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (6)

4. Dot the chicken thighs with butter, if using, and then bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (7)

5. Baste the chicken with the emerging juices. Return to the oven to continue baking. Baste again 10 minutes later, then finish baking until the chicken is done.

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (8)

6. You can finish the chicken under the broiler for 1-2 minutes for some crispiness. Just watch it so it doesn’t burn!

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (9)

Recipe tips

  • Make sure to rub the seasoning paste well into each chicken thigh to keep the seasoning on the chicken.
  • In case you don’t want to touch the raw chicken, OR the fat and juices from the chicken wash away a lot of the seasoning during baking: Combine ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon ground paprika and pepper to taste. Sprinkle evenly over the chicken thighs after the second basting, then finish baking.
  • The internal temperature of the chicken must reach 165°F before consuming. Be sure to check with a meat thermometer before removing the chicken from the oven, as each oven bakes differently/each chicken thigh is sized differently and may not use the exact baking time given in the recipe. See the USDA Minimum Safe Cooking Temperatures Chart.
  • Please use a rimmed pan or a baking dish, as there will be a lot of juices emerging from the chicken during baking.
Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (10)

Serving ideas

This is such a great recipe for a family meal. You can customize the side dishes to fit everybody’s needs and preferences – this is even great if you’re on a low carb or keto diet yourself, just skip the starchy sides.

Here are some of our favorites:

Starchy sides

  • Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Rice

Vegetable sides

  • Sautéed Green Beans
  • Sautéed Zucchini

Salad sides

  • Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
  • Tossed salad greens with homemade ranch salad dressing or homemade honey mustard salad dressing
  • Creamy Coleslaw
Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (11)

More easy chicken thigh recipes

  • Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
  • Instant Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Thighs
  • Instant Pot Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes
  • Chicken and Asparagus Sheet Pan Dinner

PSIf you try this recipe, please leavea review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along onPinterest,FacebookorInstagram.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (16)

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Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

These Oven Baked Chicken Thighs are easy to make and come out so juicy and flavorful! Great for a healthy family dinner, and keto/low carb friendly, too.

Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings

made it? tap the stars to add your rating!

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Recipe details

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 35 minutes mins

Total 45 minutes mins

Servings 6 servings

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 pounds chicken thighs 6-8 pieces, patted dry
  • 1 tablespoon butter diced

Instructions

  • Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet or large rimmed pan with foil and place in the oven as it heats up (you want the pan to be hot when you add the chicken).

  • Seasoning: Combine olive oil and all seasoning in a large bowl until a paste forms.

  • Season chicken: Place chicken thighs in bowl with seasoning (work in batches if bowl doesn't hold all of the chicken) and toss to coat. Remove each thigh individually, rubbing the seasoning into the skin.

  • Bake: Place chicken thighs on heated pan (careful, hot!); dot with butter. Bake in the hot oven for 20 minutes. Carefully remove and baste chicken with emerging juices from the pan. Return to the oven and bake for 10 more minutes, then baste again. Finally, finish baking for 5-15 minutes, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

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Notes

Ingredient notes

  • Dried herbs: You can use all Italian seasoning or all dried parsley if you don’t have both on hand. Dried oregano would be another substitute that works quite well.
  • Oil: I prefer using olive oil here, but feel free to use any vegetable oil you use in your cooking.
  • Butter: This is entirely optional for a touch more flavor/browning/juiciness. Just leave it out if you need your chicken thighs to be dairy free!

Recipe tips

  • Make sure to rub the seasoning paste well into each chicken thigh to keep the seasoning on the chicken.
  • In case you don’t want to touch the raw chicken, OR the fat and juices from the chicken wash away a lot of the seasoning during baking:Combine ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon ground paprika and pepper to taste. Sprinkle evenly over the chicken thighs after the second basting, then finish baking.
  • The internal temperature of the chicken must reach 165°F before consuming. Be sure to check with a meat thermometer before removing the chicken from the oven, as each oven bakes differently/each chicken thigh is sized differently and may not use the exact baking time given in the recipe. See the USDA Minimum Safe Cooking Temperatures Chart.
  • Please use a rimmed pan or a baking dish, as there will be a lot of juices emerging from the chicken during baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 347kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 21gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 131mgSodium: 892mgPotassium: 290mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 323IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (17)
About Nora
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me! Learn more.

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Comments

  1. Gail says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (20)
    I was looking for something quick, easy & delicious and this recipe was perfect! Paired with some mashed potatoes that I added some of the melted butter I was basting the chicken with….mmm!

  2. Linda says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (21)
    Delicious!!

    Reply

  3. janet says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (22)
    Made these tonight. So good

    Reply

  4. Lauren McKiernan says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (23)
    Made this chicken exactly as the recipe stated for family dinner tonight and it was easy & delicious! No leftovers. This is definitely going into the meal rotation! Thank you!

    Reply

  5. Paula Oshinski says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (24)
    Hi, Nora! I just made this recipe and it is wonderfully easy! My husband loves chicken thighs, so I was really happy to find your site! Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Paula!

      Reply

  6. Betty Gartman says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (25)
    My family loved the chicken ,the recipe was very easy to follow.We loved it.Thank you very much.

    Reply

  7. Laura says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (26)
    This recipe was so easy and very very delicious; flavorful and moist. I reduced the salt by half. I added all the spices into a Ziploc bag. Mixed them up really well and then added the oil and just squeezed the bag to make the paste and then added the chicken thighs to the bag rubbing the paste into each thigh. So it was no mess. I will definitely make it again!

    Reply

  8. Edie says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (27)
    Saved! The only change I made was to add a teaspoon of minced garlic under the skin and added some cayenne to dry rub. Great!

    Reply

  9. Mary R. says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (28)
    I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs and they turned out delicious!!! Leftovers were great – just microwaved for a few minutes. Liked the fact “powders” were used instead the salt version!

    Reply

  10. Evie says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (29)
    I made this for dinner last night using skinless boneless chicken thighs and it was delicious, chicken was lovely, juicy and full of flavour.

    Reply

  11. Patty says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (30)
    So flavorful and juicy!! Delish and so easy!!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Glad to hear it, Patty!

      Reply

  12. Elizabeth says

    Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (31)
    Very easy, fast and flavourful. Will make again

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Glad to hear it, Elizabeth!

      Reply

  13. Stacy says

    Best baked chicken I have ever made!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Stacy!

      Reply

  14. Lil says

    The whole family commented on how tasty they were. Will definitely make these again!!! I did modify a little by cutting salt & pepper in 1/2.

    Reply

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Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

FAQs

Should you cover chicken thighs when baking? ›

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! Place your chicken on top of a metal rack set inside a large rimmed baking sheet.

How to get more flavor in chicken thighs? ›

You'll need salt, pepper, both onion and garlic powders, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Add a dash of cayenne pepper for a little heat. Extra virgin olive oil: helps the seasoning mix adhere to the chicken thighs, and gets the skin golden brown and crispy.

How do you keep chicken thighs from drying out in the oven? ›

To cook boneless, skinless chicken thighs without drying them out, you can follow these steps:
  1. Brine the chicken: Brining involves soaking the chicken in a saltwater solution for a few hours before cooking. This helps the chicken retain moisture and adds flavor. ...
  2. Marinate: Marinating the chicken adds flavor and moisture.
Sep 20, 2023

Should I put olive oil on chicken before baking? ›

It adds great flavor and helps give a nice golden crust on the outside. But if you'd rather use olive oil (or another favorite cooking oil), feel free. Brush the breasts liberally on both sides to prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan, and also to help the seasonings stick.

Is it better to bake chicken in glass or metal? ›

If youre looking to oven bake chicken then metal is the best choice however if you're looking to make a casserole then glass can work perfectly. Just be careful not to expose heated glass to cold tempatures as it will shatter!

Is it better to bake chicken with foil on or off? ›

When chicken is covered while baking, it traps steam and moisture within the dish, resulting in juicier results. The covering helps prevent excessive evaporation and keeps the chicken moist throughout the cooking process. Preventing dryness. Chicken tends to dry out more quickly when exposed to direct heat.

What cooking method is best for chicken thighs? ›

Chicken thighs are a perfect go-to for a hot grill (or grill pan!). Try a rub or marinade, or simply season with salt and pepper. Brush grill grates or grill pan with oil. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.

What spices enhance the flavor of chicken? ›

5 best spice and herbs blends for chicken and meat
  • Paprika and garlic powder. Paprika is a great spice that makes any chicken dish stand out, it comes in many forms sweet, hot, regular and smoky. ...
  • Basil and rosemary. ...
  • Ginger and lemongrass. ...
  • Turmeric and chili. ...
  • Coriander and cumin.

Should you wash chicken thighs before baking? ›

Salmonella, Campylobacter and other harmful bacteria live on raw chicken. Washing or rinsing doesn't remove this risk, it worsens it by helping the bacteria spread. When you add water through washing or rinsing, you give these bacteria a way to travel throughout your kitchen.

Is it better to cook chicken thighs fast or slow? ›

If you get impatient and heat up your chicken thighs by cranking the temperature all the way up, your chicken will be too dry, which is the last thing you want. Instead, you want to keep your chicken thighs slowly cooking on a low temperature, thus allowing the meat to marinate in its juices and gradually tenderize.

How long should chicken thighs rest after baking? ›

Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for about 35 minutes or until the chicken thighs have an internal temperature of 165 F degrees and skin is crispy. Transfer the chicken to a serving plate, cover with aluminum foil and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Do I bake chicken covered or uncovered? ›

Put the chicken in the roasting pan into an oven preheated to 375°F. Bake chicken uncovered. Cooking times vary by weight and by recipe, but in general, follow these guidelines on how long to bake a whole chicken: 2½- to 3-pound chicken: Roast 1 to 1¼ hours.

What oil makes chicken taste better? ›

Canola oil is the best all-around oil to use for frying chicken,” she says. “It has a high smoke point and will not impact the flavor of the chicken the way coconut, peanut or avocado oil will.”

Is it better to bake chicken with oil or butter? ›

Can you cook chicken with butter instead of oil? You have to cook chicken at a lower temperature if you bake or pan-fry chicken using butter instead of oil. This is because butter has a lower scorching temperature. Your chicken will cook more slowly, but it's also likely to be juicier and full of more flavor.

Do you bake chicken at 400 covered or uncovered? ›

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a rimmed baking pan. In a medium bowl, combine chicken breasts, olive oil, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, paprika, and black pepper. Mix well to coat. Bake uncovered for 22 to 26 minutes or until the chicken breasts reach and internal temperature of 165°F.

How long to cook chicken thighs on 400? ›

How long and at what temperature should you bake the thighs? You'll want to bake these at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes without moving or turning them during the process. This temperature and time ensure that crispy outside and juicy inside we're looking for.

How long does it take to cook chicken thighs at 350? ›

The USDA guidelines lists approximate cooking times of 40 to 50 minutes for 4-to-8-ounce chicken thighs roasted at 350 degrees. In our basic meal prep boneless chicken thighs recipe, they take about 25 to 30 minutes baked at 425 degrees F.

Should chicken thighs be room temperature before baking? ›

Pat the pieces dry with paper towels, whether straight from the package or after rinsing (rinsing is up to you). This ensures that the skin will cook up to a nice crisp. Then season as desired. Make sure to let the thighs sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before adding them to a hot pan.

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