Name: Orange Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 6-8 chicken thighs (bone-in); 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 teaspoons honey; 1 orange

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

Infuse chicken thighs with the flavor of orange, honey, and simple seasonings to enjoy the most delicious baked chicken dinner!

Prep this recipe for chicken thighs with oranges in 10 minutes and let the oven do all the work.

top view of chicken thighs with oranges in a baking dish

Orange Chicken Thighs

Baked chicken thighs are one of our favorite proteins at home, as dark meat always turns out so flavorful. So I decided to combine them with the flavors of my baked orange chicken, add a little sweetness, and make these delicious chicken thighs.

Unlike my quick orange marinade, with this recipe, you don’t have to wait. Just coat the meat with the seasonings, and let it bake. So easy!

Ingredients

To infuse your bone-in chicken thighs with tons of flavor, you’ll need salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, olive oil, honey to balance out the citric flavor, and an orange (you’ll use the zest, half an orange for the juice, and the other half to slice into half moons).

How to Bake Chicken Thighs with Oranges

Here is how to bake delicious chicken pieces with oranges:

While the oven preheats, combine the seasonings in a bowl. Remove any excess fat from the chicken and pat it dry so the seasoning sticks easily to the meat.
Coat the chicken with the seasonings. You can make this a day ahead, and refrigerate the chicken covered with plastic wrap (remove it from the fridge 20 minutes before baking).
Bake the chicken with some orange slices and orange juice for 45 to 50 minutes. Allow it to rest before serving with your favorite chicken thigh sides.

close up of chicken thighs with oranges in a baking dish

Why Chicken Thighs Need to Rest

When the chicken thighs are done, let them rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the chicken to absorb the cooking juices evenly, keeping the meat tender and moist.

Orange Chicken Thighs

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 50

Total Time: 1

Infuse chicken thighs with the flavor of orange, honey, and simple seasonings to enjoy the most delicious baked chicken dinner!

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin

Ingredients

6-8 chicken thighs, bone-in
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 orange

Instructions

Prep:

Preheat the oven to 450F with the oven rack positioned in the middle.
In a large bowl, combine the salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, olive oil, and honey. Zest the orange into the bowl, and combine.
Remove any excess fat from the chicken thighs, keeping the skin on. Pat them dry with a paper towel. Transfer the chicken thighs into the large bowl and toss to coat them with the seasoning. This can be done up to a day ahead, covered with plastic wrap, and stored in the refrigerator. Remove the thighs from the fridge for 20 minutes to allow them to come to room temperature before roasting.
Transfer the thighs into a rectangular baking dish, skin side up. Juice half of the orange into the baking dish, and slice the other half into half-moons, placing them between the chicken thighs.

Bake:

Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 175F. Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.