This oven baked chicken thighs recipe is truly the best! Here’s how to bake them so they’re succulent and juicy, with a crispy exterior.
“Life changing” is a phrase that’s completely over-used, but here’s a little kitchen trick that we think truly is…yep, life changing. Try this incredible oven baked chicken thighs recipe! This easy method is the secret to perfectly seasoned meat with a crispy skin and juicy, succulent interior. Dunk them in a bit of buffalo ranch and it’s pure heaven (and in all honesty, the favorite bite I’ve taken all year!). Here are all the tricks of how to bake chicken thighs to perfection.
What you need for this chicken thighs recipe
Many chefs and experts say chicken thighs are the best cut of chicken. Why? They’re fattier than chicken breasts, which gives them a more intense, rich flavor than the white meat.
The best type for baked chicken thighs is bone-in, skin-on thighs. When you bake chicken with the bone in, the flavors inside the bone spread out onto the meat, leaving you with a meatier, richer flavor (per Bon Appetit, who says “bone-in chicken thighs are just plain better.”).
In our taste tests, we tend to agree. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs might be easy to eat, but they don’t hold a candle to the bone-and-skin version! Plus, the crispy skin adds both flavor and texture.
How to season baked chicken thighs
The best seasonings for baked chicken thighs? Our custom seasoning blend works wonders. The secret is to make sure to rub the blend on all sides of the chicken and under the skin. That’s right, just stretch the skin and rub a generous amount under it. This is the key to infusing the seasoning throughout the meat! Here are the ingredients you’ll need for the chicken seasoning are:
- Kosher salt
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried thyme
- Cumin
- Chili powder
- Allspice
The key to crispy baked chicken thighs
The key to crispy baked chicken thighs isn’t really a secret: people have been talking about it for years. It’s baking powder! Add a bit of baking powder to the seasoning mix and it makes for a perfectly crispy skin. What’s the right ratio? In the recipe below, we use 1 teaspoon baking powder for 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.
How long to bake chicken thighs
How long to bake chicken thighs depends on the temperature of your oven: at 450°F you’ll need 25 to 30 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165°F at the thickest point. You’ll want to use an oven-safe rack that’s placed on top of a baking sheet to get the best crispy exterior. Here’s how to bake chicken thighs:
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Pat the chicken dry. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture on all sides of the chicken, then rub it under the skin as well. Arrange the chicken thighs on a oven-safe rack that’s placed on top of a baking sheet.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken at its thickest part is 165°F.
- Allow the chicken thighs to rest at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving.
Note: You can also use the convection setting on your oven. Set it to 450°F and reduce the bake time to 20 to 25 minutes.
Sauces to serve: buffalo ranch and more!
These baked chicken thighs come out irresistibly crispy and perfectly seasoned. Take them up another level served with buffalo ranch sauce, a quick and easy dipping sauce you can stir together in just a few minutes! The first bite I had of these with the sauce was pure bliss. Of course, there are many other sauces for chicken thighs! Here are a few ideas:
- Buffalo Ranch
- Chipotle Ranch
- Homemade Ranch
- Lemon Pepper Sauce
- Mustard Sauce or Honey Mustard
- Cilantro Lime Sauce
- White BBQ Sauce
- Sour Cream Sauce
Buy organic chicken if possible
When shopping for baked chicken thighs, keep in mind: the best chicken to buy is organic. Buying organic makes sure that it is the highest quality meat that was raised sustainably. It is also free of chemicals and additives so it’s the healthiest option for eating, and overall: it just tastes better!
Per the USDA, organic chicken must be raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors (like grazing on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not given antibiotics or hormones.
This baked chicken thighs recipe is…
Gluten-free and dairy-free.
Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe (Best Ever)
Ingredients
1x
- 8 large chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on, organic if possible (about 3 pounds)
- 2 teaspoons* kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 recipe Buffalo Ranch for serving (optional)
2x
- 16 large chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on, organic if possible (about 6 pounds)
- 4 teaspoon* kosher salt
- 4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 recipe Buffalo Ranch for serving (optional)
3x
- 24 large chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on, organic if possible (about 9 pounds)
- 6 teaspoon* kosher salt
- 6 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 6 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon allspice
- 3 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 recipe Buffalo Ranch for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Pat the chicken dry. In a small bowl, mix the salt, seasonings, and baking powder. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture on all sides of the chicken, then rub it under the skin as well. Arrange the chicken thighs on a oven-safe rack that’s placed on top of a baking sheet** (or use an oiled aluminum foil-lined baking sheet).
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken at its thickest part is 165°F. (Or, use the convection setting on your oven and bake 20 to 25 minutes.)
- Allow the chicken thighs to rest at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving. Serve as is or with Buffalo Ranch for dipping.