Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs

Tender, juicy, and seasoned with onion, garlic, and paprika, these Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs are so tasty. The crispy outer skin adds the perfect amount of crunch to each bite.

If you love chicken thighs, then you should also try these Rice Stuffed Chicken Thighs and Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs.

Recipe Details

I can’t get enough of these Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs with their perfectly crisp outer skin, tender juicy meat, and perfect level of seasoning. I love how easy and quick they are, too.

• TASTE: Garlic, onion, thyme, and paprika all add great flavor to this succulent chicken. Its flavor is so delicious and versatile enough to serve with any side.
• TEXTURE: Crispy on the outside and juicy and moist on the inside, you can’t help but love the texture of this dish.
• TIME: These take 40 minutes to make.
• EASE: With simple ingredients and easy directions, this simple recipe will be a breeze.

What You’ll Need

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken thighs- Ensure they are bone-in for extra moisture and skin-on chicken thighs for that crispy outer layer.
• Paprika- This adds a yummy smoky flavor.
• Thyme-This spice adds savory, pungent flavor that’s a little spicy and sweet.
• Olive oil- This helps the chicken get its awesome crispiness.

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Make it spicy- Add hot sauce or Sriracha to the chicken, or sprinkle the thighs with red pepper flakes.
• Add sauce- Add Homemade BBQ Sauce, Italian dressing, honey, mustard, or Chimichurri Sauce to these Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs.
• Use a different cut of chicken- You can make this recipe with chicken breasts, chicken legs (drumsticks), or wings. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
• Add other seasonings- Try this recipe with Italian seasoning, dill, lemon, cayenne pepper, or garlic salt.

How to Make Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs

• Mix the seasonings. In a small prep bowl, add the salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and dried thyme. Combine and set aside.

• Oil the chicken. Add the chicken thighs to a large prep bowl and drizzle them with olive oil. Rub it in.
• Add the spices. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken and rub it in evenly.
• Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
• Bake. Place the chicken thighs on top (skin side up). Then bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. (Do this with an instant-read thermometer.) Rest and serve.

Pro Tip: Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to reabsorb into the meat so the chicken doesn’t become dry.

Recipe Tips

• Premix the seasonings- You’ll get a much more even distribution of the different seasonings if you mix them together with a whisk before adding them to the chicken.
• Rub the oil into the chicken- Make sure you get the oil into all the crevices and rub it into the skin well. This will ensure the skin gets extra crispy.
• Use a wire rack- Adding a wire rack will allow the oil and juices to fall below the chicken so the skin gets crispy without getting greasy.
• Preheat the oven- Make sure that you preheat the oven so that it is at temp when you add the chicken. This ensures high temperature cooking that gives it a crispy skin as opposed to steaming it at a lower temp.

FAQs

What is the trick to getting crispy chicken?

To get your chicken extra crispy, make sure that you cover it with oil and rub it in so that the heat will crisp the skin. Cooking the chicken on a wire rack allows oil to drip off and not get the bottom of the chicken greasy and wet, keeping the skin at its crispiest.

Should chicken thighs be room temperature before baking?

Allowing the chicken to reach room temperature before baking makes it more tender and ensures even cooking. Before adding oil and spices, use a paper towel to pat any moisture off the chicken.

Serving Suggestions

These oven-baked chicken thighs are juicy, tender, and perfectly crispy. The flavors in this dish work well with salads, rice, potatoes, and green vegetables.

• Salads: Serve this with a Salmon Potato Salad, Broccoli Cranberry Salad, Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad, or Spinach Salad.
• Rice: Place this chicken on a bed of Brown Rice Jambalaya, Wild Rice, Hibachi Fried Rice, or Wild Brown Rice.
• Potatoes: Enjoy these Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs with Scalloped Potatoes, Super Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, or Crispy Air Fryer French Fries.
• Vegetables: Pair this chicken with Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Air Fryer Green Beans.

Make This Recipe in Advance

Make ahead: You can premix the spice rub and store it covered with plastic wrap until you’re ready to season the chicken.

Storing: Store these Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs in an airtight container once they have cooled in the refrigerator. They can last for up to 5 days.

Freeze: You can freeze these chicken thighs once cooled in a freezer ziplock bag. They will last for 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven to get the crispy skin again.

More Tasty Chicken Dishes!

• 
  Paleo Chicken Casserole
• 
  Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce
• 
  Breaded Chicken Skewers
• 
  Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs

Full Recipe Instructions

Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs

These Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs are juicy with a perfect crispy skin. Seasoned with garlic, onion, and paprika, they are savory and smoky.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Prep Time: 5 minutesThis recipe will take about 40 minutes to make, with a 35-minute cook time. It’s designed to serve 6 people and contains 965 calories. The author of this recipe is Dina.

Ingredients:
– 3- 3 1/2 lb bone in skin on chicken thighs
– 2 Tbsp olive oil
– 2 tsp salt
– 2 tsp garlic powder
– 2 tsp paprika
– 2 tsp onion powder
– 1 tsp black pepper
– 1 tsp dried thyme“`html

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• In a small prep bowl add the salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, pepper, and dried thyme.
• Use a small whisk or fork to combine the spices.
  
• Then add the chicken thighs into a large prep bowl and drizzle the olive oil over it. Rub the oil into the chicken.
• Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken and rub it in evenly.
• Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
• Place the chicken thighs on top (skin side up). Then bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. (Do this with an instant-read thermometer. Then let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
  

Notes

• Premix the seasonings- You’ll get a much more even distribution of the different seasonings if you mix them together with a whisk before adding them to the chicken.
• Rub the oil into the chicken- Make sure you get the oil into all the crevices and rub it into the skin well. This will ensure the skin gets extra crispy.
• Use a wire rack- Adding a wire rack will allow the oil and juices to fall below the chicken so the skin gets crispy without getting greasy.
• Preheat the oven- Make sure that you preheat the oven so that it is at temp when you add the chicken. This ensures high temperature cooking that gives it a crispy skin as opposed to steaming it at a lower temp.

Nutrition

Calories:
965
kcal

|

Carbohydrates:
3
g

|

Protein:
68
g

|

Fat:
74
g

|

Saturated Fat:
19
g

|

Polyunsaturated Fat:
15
g

|

“`
Monounsaturated Fat:
32
g

|

Trans Fat:
0.4
g

|

Cholesterol:
409
mg

|

Sodium:
1099
mg

|

Potassium:
896
mg

|

Fiber:
1
g

|

Sugar:
0.1
g

|

Vitamin A:
662
IU

|

Vitamin C:
0.3
mg

|

Calcium:
43
mg

|

Iron:
3
mg