How to Bake Chicken Thighs (2024)

The easiest roasted chicken thigh recipe — hard to imagine a better (and more economical!) weeknight meal.

There is something so simple and delicious about a plain oven-baked chicken thigh. Unadorned, perfect, delicious, and it takes just 5 minutes to get into the oven! The result is tender, juicy chicken with a crisp skin every time. 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.

And you will be delighted with how forgiving they are to cook. Just follow this easy chicken recipe, and I’m betting you will start making baked chicken thighs as often as I do. 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.

I also love using boneless, skinless chicken thighs in recipes, but when I am baking them on their own, I like to use bone-in thighs. Cooking chicken on the bone gives the meat more depth of flavor, and one of the best parts is the crackling skin, made even crisper with a light rub of olive oil.

Here, the simple baked chicken thighs are paired up with some Roasted Parmesan Brussels Sprouts and mashed potatoes. Mashed Potato Pancakes or Easy Cheesy Rice with Broccoli would also be an amazing side. In the summer, go for something more seasonal, like Classic Potato Salad and a big green salad.

How to Bake Chicken Thighs: The best, the easiest oven-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 black 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.

Pro Cooking Tips

• An instant-read thermometer or meat thermometer will help you know for sure when your chicken is done. Chicken thighs are safe at the internal temperature of 165 degrees, but they won’t be fall-apart tender. Cooking chicken thighs a bit longer ensures that they won’t be stringy or chewy. I like to cook them to an internal temp of 180 to 185 degrees, which ensures an ideal tenderness. But don’t cook them too long, or you will head back into chewy or stringy territory. 195 is the maximum internal temperature you should be looking for.
• If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you want to cook the thighs until the juices run clear, rather than pinkish, when you cut them 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!
• To ensure the crispiest skin, bake the chicken in the middle or top part of the oven, close to the heat source on top.
• While olive oil, salt, and pepper are all you need for perfect, simple baked chicken thighs, 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 it 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 with rice or mashed potatoes, for the world’s most reassuring dinner.

More Baked Chicken Thigh Recipes

Now that you have the basic versionin 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