Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

45 minutes mins

| 65 Comments |

4.97 from 109 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!

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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. Linda says

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

    Reply

  2. janet says

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

    Reply

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Stacy says

    Best baked chicken I have ever made!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Stacy!

      Reply

  13. 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. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and use kitchen shears to trim off any excess fat.

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

I recommend baking the chicken thighs at 400 degrees for less time to ensure the chicken thighs stay nice and juicy, vs baking for longer at 350 degrees and running the risk of drying them out.

How to get more flavor in chicken thighs? ›

12 Ways To Add More Flavor To Chicken Thighs
  1. Buy thighs with the skin on. ...
  2. Salt or brine thighs before cooking. ...
  3. Use a splash of spirits in your marinade. ...
  4. Use leftover pickle juice for an easy marinade. ...
  5. Give the thighs a poke before marinating. ...
  6. Cook them low and slow. ...
  7. Use dairy as a marinade. ...
  8. Don't shy away from sweetness.
Jan 29, 2023

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400? ›

Given the fact that drumsticks and thighs are dark meat and won't dry out as easily as breasts, the range from 350 to 450 degrees is okay for baking them. 350 to 375 is generally best for breasts. The best answer to these questions? Simply check the chicken for doneness using an instant read thermometer.

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.

Should you wash chicken thighs before baking? ›

Put simply, if you wash raw chicken, you are cross-contaminating your kitchen. Yes, fresh fruit and vegetables should be washed with cold water before preparation, but raw poultry should not. Don't worry: Properly cooking chicken will destroy any pathogens. In fact, it is the only way to destroy those pathogens.

Do you wash chicken thighs before baking? ›

"Washing can spread germs from the chicken to other food or utensils in the kitchen." We didn't mean to get you all hot about not washing your chicken! But it's true: kill germs by cooking chicken thoroughly, not washing it. You shouldn't wash any poultry, meat, or eggs before cooking.

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.

What brings out the flavor in chicken? ›

Marinating is good for flavouring and tenderising your chicken at the same time. It's best to marinate your chicken overnight to give the flavours plenty of time to infuse. A faster way to add flavour is to simply brine your chicken in salty water prior to cooking.

Is it better to cover chicken when baking? ›

It delivers mouth-watering results: By using foil to bake chicken, you seal in its juices as it steams. This keeps your chicken moist and wonderfully flavorful. It gives you a complete meal in a packet: While you can bake your chicken alone, using foil allows you to build a delicious, all-in-one meal.

Should you bake chicken covered or uncovered at 400? ›

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.

Is 30 minutes at 400 enough for chicken? ›

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and place your prepared chicken breasts on top. Timing is key. At 400 degrees F, I find that my chicken breasts are done between 20 and 30 minutes. It really depends on how thick and large your chicken breasts are.

Do you bake chicken at 400 covered or uncovered? ›

You never have to worry about covering chicken while baking, as it's OK to bake it uncovered. Once your chicken is in the oven, it's hands-free until you need to check the temperature. Then, you can whip up a no-cook appetizer, vegetable or potato side dish, or dessert if you're feeling ambitious.

How long to cook chicken thigh at 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.

Should chicken thighs be room temperature before baking? ›

Allow the chicken thighs to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. Cold meat in a hot oven or hot pan will cook unevenly and be tough. Make sure to pat the skin dry with paper towels, moisture will prevent the skin from getting crispy.

Do you put water in the pan when baking chicken? ›

It's usually not necessary to add water to the pan for a roast chicken: the steam created by the water can prevent the skin from becoming browned and crisp.

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