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This is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to make chicken for dinner, and in this post, I’m sharing a family-favorite recipe plus all of my best tips for making oven-baked chicken thighs that are juicy, flavorful, and so easy, you’ll want to make them at least once a week!
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Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs
There’s no secret that juicy baked chicken thighs are much more flavorful than chicken breasts. Add a little seasoning and every bite is heavenly.
Achieving perfect baked chicken thighs with juicy meat and crispy, seasoned skin is possible, even when cooking at high oven temperatures.
Ingredients
You can bake chicken thighs with any of your favorite marinades or seasoning blends. For this recipe, I am using the simple combination of olive oil and garlic plus Italian seasoning. Together they pack a ton of flavor. Here’s what you need:
- salt & pepper: the essentials.
- olive oil: forms a paste with the other seasonings and helps the skin bake nice and crispy.
- fresh garlic: TONS of flavor!
- Italian seasoning: a simple pantry staple that gives these thighs a delicious aroma and taste.
- chicken thighs: bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.
How to Bake Chicken Thighs
This recipe is made with bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, and the garlic-Italian seasoning rub, but you could follow the directions with your choice of seasonings or marinade.
In the recipe card below, you’ll find the ingredient measurements and a video where I share all my best tips for baking chicken thighs and step-by-step instructions to help you get perfectly juicy chicken every time. Here’s an overview:
- Preheat
While the oven heats to 400F. - Make the marinade
Whisk the olive oil, garlic, and Italian seasoning in a large bowl. - Brush
Season on both sides of the chicken with salt and black pepper. Place them in a baking dish. Using a spoon or a basting brush, distribute the garlic mixture over the top of the chicken thighs. - Bake
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175F. Read up on how to check chicken thighs for doneness with and without a meat thermometer here. - Serve
Allow the chicken to rest 5 minutes before serving. Top them over rice with a sprinkle of fresh herbs for a quick and easy dinner.
First time making this recipe, watch this short video to see how.
Is It Better to Bake Chicken Thighs at 350 or 400
It depends on how quickly you want the chicken thighs to cook. At 400F, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs will need 40 minutes. At 350F, they will need around 50 minutes. While the lower temperature takes longer, it decreases the risk of them drying out. More on the best temperatures for baking chicken thighs here.
How Long to Bake Chicken Thighs
How long it takes to cook chicken thighs in the oven depends on the oven temperature and whether you are using bone-in, skin-on. Cuts without skin and bones take significantly less time but aren’t as juicy and lack delicious crispy skin.
To make it easier, you can reference the correct baking times according to temperature and cut of chicken in the charts below:
bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs baking chart
| Oven Temp | Average Time | Internal Temp |
|---|---|---|
| 350F (175C) | 50-55 min | 175F (80C) |
| 375F (190C) | 45-50 min | 175F (80C) |
| 400F (200C) | 40-45 min | 175F (80C) |
| 425F (218C) | 35-45 min | 175F (80C) |
boneless, skinless chicken thighs baking chart
| Oven Temp | Average Time | Internal Temp |
|---|---|---|
| 350F (175C) | 40 min | 175F (80C) |
| 375F (190C) | 30-35 min | 175F (80C) |
| 400F (200C) | 20-25 min | 175F (80C) |
| 425F (218C) | not recommended | 175F (80C) |
Read everything you need to know about baking boneless, skinless chicken thighs here.
It’s important to keep in mind that oven temperatures will vary. Some will run hot, while others can have uneven heating. This will affect the time it takes the chicken to cook through and why it’s important to cook chicken according to internal temperature and not time.
Dark meat is cooked through at 175F. Having a meat thermometer on hand is helpful and the most accurate indicator of removing the chicken from the oven.
How To Season Baked Chicken Thighs
You can use any combination of salt, spices, and dried herbs to season chicken thighs. You’ll want to drizzle the thighs lightly with olive oil first, then sprinkle on the seasonings and rub them into the chicken. And, if you’re wondering, the combination of olive oil and dry spices is how you get crispy, golden chicken skin.
I like to combine the mixture of spices and herbs in a small bowl, so every piece gets an even amount. And unlike marinades, you can bake the chicken immediately after seasoning.
What to Serve with Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
Now that you know how to make juicy baked chicken thighs, you can turn them into a complete meal by serving them with delicious sides, like Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Roasted Fall Vegetables, or Southern Mashed Potatoes.
Other tasty sides that go great with chicken are Peas and Carrots with Potatoes, and Cilantro Lime Rice. Amazing!
Oven-Baked Chicken Thighs
Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
- Salt & black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the olive oil, garlic, and Italian seasoning to form a paste.
- Generously season the chicken thighs with salt and black pepper. Place the chicken thighs in a baking dish, skin-side up. With a spoon or basting brush, distribute the garlic mixture over the top of the chicken thighs.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 175F.
- Remove the chicken thighs from the oven and, using a spoon, drizzle some of the garlic sauce over the chicken and serve.
Carla says
Best baked chicken thighs I’ve ever made!
Jackie says
Juicy and full of flavor. We love this one.
Fran says
Best chicken thighs ever!!!
Erica says
Chicken Thighs are my favorite. Thanks for the details, this looks super easy.
Kimber says
I always have trouble with baked chicken thighs, you cleared up soooo many of my problems when I try to bake them!
Kimmy says
So easy to bake tasty chicken thighs. I appreciate your step by step method!