Oven Baked Chicken Thighs (With Crispy Skin!)

Crispy golden brown oven-baked chicken thighs are simple to prep and easy to make! These chicken thighs are juicy on the inside and packed with flavor. Simple ingredients make a delicious and easy chicken dinner that you’ll want to make again and again!

So in our house, we eat a lot of boneless skinless chicken breast with meals. I’ve made these chicken drumsticks often enough and I love the convenience of having chicken thighs with roasted vegetables on the same pan. Often though, I reach for chicken breast when I am making a recipe. (Try my one-pot broccoli cheesy chicken with chicken breast, it’s a favorite!)

The thing is sometimes chicken breast can dry out. I started really paying attention to chicken meals I’ve had out at restaurants and I noticed that many times when the chicken was delicious and juicy? It was thigh meat in the recipe. I knew I had to try chicken thighs more often. Boy was I glad I did because these chicken thighs are juicy, flavorful, and amazing! The leftovers are great for salads, sandwiches and wraps!

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Why We Love Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

• Quick and easy dinner that only requires a little bit of prep, perfect for a weeknight.
• Juicy chicken every time with golden crunchy skin and tons of flavor. If you are used to cooking chicken breast, thigh meat is even more juicy!
• Can use the air fryer for this recipe or convection oven to make the chicken crispier and cook even a little faster. Can be made in an oven also.
• Simple dinenr the whole family will love, yet still impressive for company.
• Great recipe to meal prep ahead of time for dinner or lunches. I love this recipe to make ahead for a busy week or day.

Ingredients For Your Shopping List

• 5 chicken thighs Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs is what I used. You can use boneless chicken thighs but expect it to take less time to cook. Boneless thighs also typically do not come with skin which means your recipe won’t be as crispy. See the notes further down the page if using boneless chicken thighs.
• 2 teaspoons baking powder – You can not substitute baking soda for baking powder, it must be baking powder for crispy skin.
• 1 teaspoon paprika – Using smoked paprika can also give these chicken thighs even more flavor, but regular paprika works just fine also.
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder – or granulated garlic. Fresh garlic can be used if it is minced well, use at least two cloves of garlic.
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper

How To Make Oven Baked Chicken Thighs With Crispy Skin

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees If you have a convection setting or air fryer setting use it if possible. Line a sheet pan (also known as a baking sheet or cookie sheet) with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with a little cooking oil.
• Dry bone-in chicken thighs with paper towels well to remove any extra moisture.
• Place all the baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix the ingredients together.

• Rub the spice mix evenly over each thigh.

• Lay the chicken thighs on the baking pan. Leave a few inches of space between each piece.

• The bake time for bone-in chicken thighs is about 30 to 40 minutes. Use the convection or air fryer setting if you have it. If you don’t have a convection or air fryer setting the chicken may take an extra few minutes to come to temperature.
  If your chicken thighs are boneless start checking them for doneness after about 25 minutes. Once the chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of 165, the chicken thighs are fully cooked and the juices will no longer be pink. (A meat thermometer is handy to check the temperature inside) Use any juices on the pan to baste each piece generously.
• You can also place the chicken under the broiler for a minute or two to make the chicken extra crispy. This step is typically only necessary if you are not using a convection or air fryer setting on the oven.

Variation Ideas, Swaps And FAQ

Can I Use Boneless Chicken Thighs?

Yes, you can use boneless chicken thighs in this recipe. I actually like boneless chicken thighs quite a bit because they are a little less messy, but bone-in chicken thighs tend to have a little more flavor.

Boneless chicken thighs also usually don’t have the skin. If you want crispy skin, you’ll need to use a bone-in chicken thigh. This recipe is still delicious and flavorful with boneless chicken thighs, but won’t’ be crispy without the skin.

Boneless chicken thighs will take slightly less time to cook than bone-in chicken thighs. Expect boneless chicken thighs to take about 25-30 minutes before they are finished. Use a meat thermometer to check, the chicken is cooked when it reaches 165 degrees.

Whether you use bone in- or boneless chicken this baked chicken thighs recipe will be delicious for dinner.

Do I Need Any Oil?

Don’t add extra olive oil or other oil to these crispy chicken thighs! Chicken thighs have a lot of fat already on their own. You don’t need the extra oil in this dish to make them delicious.

Can I Make These Crispy Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer?

Yes, you can make these chicken thighs in the air fryer. I love using my air fryer! Follow the instructions as listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the page. Start checking the chicken for it to be done after about 30 minutes.

Air Fryer Note *Some air fryer machines run a little hotter than others. The first time I cook a new recipe in my air fryer I like to start checking it early if I am unsure. For this chicken recipe, I would start checking the chicken with a meat thermometer at 20-25 minutes if you are unsure if your air fryer runs hot.

What Do I Serve With Crispy Chicken Thighs?

Here are just a few of our favorite recipes to make with chicken thighs, yum! These chicken thighs go well with so many recipes and sides.

Dreamy Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes– Sweet, creamy and fast to make, these mashed sweet potatoes are not your average potato side dish.

Crispy Baked Potato Wedges– These crispy potato wedges have the BEST seasoning!

Green Salad

Roasted Honey Garlic Carrots – A favorite vegetable side dish that’s easy and delicious.

Greek Potatoes– Lemon garlicky roasted potatoes, delicious and pair with everything!

Rice

Loaded Baked Potato Salad – Perfect cozy potato salad with ALL the fixings of a loaded baked potato.

Classic Italian Pasta Salad – Make a big batch of pasta salad ahead of time and enjoy when the chicken is done!

Baked Parmesan Garlic Zucchini Fries – These baked crispy zucchini fries are crunchy, savory and perfect for dipping!

Classic Crispy Baked Potatoes – Baked potatoes just like the restaurants make, delicious!

More Chicken Recipes To Love

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs– These savory chicken thighs are bone-in and pack so much flavor! Tender and delicious, this make-ahead style dinner is perfect for busy nights.

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli And Rice– this one-pot meal has everything you need for a tasty dinner all in one pot on the stove.

Honey Garlic Chicken Foil Packets– Made in the oven or on the grill, these chicken foil packets have the most delicious sauce and are cooked right with the vegetables.

Whole Chicken In The Instant Pot– Make a whole chicken with simple steps, fast and delicious!

Baked Bruschetta Chicken– This delicious weeknight meal has tender chicken breast topped with sweet tomatoes, melty cheese and a savory balsamic that will make your tastebuds sing!