These oven baked chicken thighs roast to perfection in 30 minutes and have a delectably crispy skin and a juicy inside. It’s a delicious dinner any day!
As a mom with a busy life, I love simple recipes just like these quick and easy oven baked chicken thighs. And with three men in the house, meat is a must. I’ve recently joined my boys to get as much protein into our diets as possible, and this recipe helps make that goal “easy peasy”.
I love how crispy the outside skin becomes and how it deliciously contrasts with the super juicy and tender meat on the inside. The recipe requires only four super simple ingredients (I guarantee you already have them!), but even though it’s simple, the taste is so good. It’s also all done in one pan, which means fewer dishes. I call that a double win!
Hot tip: Baked chicken thighs are so versatile — serve them with a variety of sides to make a full meal. Roasted potatoes, air fryer asparagus, a garden salad, or Caesar salad are a few ideas to get you started.
How to Make Quick Oven Chicken Thighs
Oven baked chicken thighs have got to be the easiest and most foolproof meat dishes to cook. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone can go wrong with this recipe!
- Season the chicken thighs: Pat dry the bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs with a paper towel, then season it with the garlic parsley salt, black pepper, and paprika.
- Bake chicken thighs: Add the thighs skin-side up to a baking dish and bake in the preheated oven. Drain some of the excess juice toward the end of baking to allow for more crisping. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Garnish & serve: Remove the chicken from the oven, let the chicken rest, then sprinkle the tops of the chicken with your favorite chopped herbs. Enjoy with your favorite sides and/or sauces.
Hot tip: Patting the chicken thighs dry makes the crispy skin possible. If you want extra crispy, drain the extra juice from the baking dish towards the last 5-10 minutes of baking.
Tips for the Best Baked Chicken Thighs
Ok, there really are not many tips I can give you other than just follow the recipe. But — here are a few nevertheless to keep you on the straight and narrow.
- Use bone-in thighs: I really love bone-in chicken thighs because I feel like they have much more flavor than their boneless, skinless counterparts. The skin locks in moisture and the bone gives extra flavor. However, if you choose to go boneless, I still recommend skin on to achieve the crispy exterior.
- Check the internal temperature: Check the internal temperature of the thighs with an instant read thermometer. Chicken is done when the innermost part reaches 165°F. Bone-in and larger pieces of chicken often take longer to cook.
- Adjust the temperature: You can easily speed up or slow down the cooking time by varying the temperature. With a higher temperature, the chicken become crispier on the outside while a lower temperature results in a juicier and more tender chicken. Chicken at a lower temp like 350°F take about 35-40 minutes, whereas at 400°F, it may take around 25-30 minutes.
- Add more chicken seasonings/spices (optional): I like the simplicity of just three spices, but feel free to add more of your favorites. Garlic powder (for extra garlic flavor), onion powder, and even Italian seasoning are some reader favorites.
Did you know? I don’t use any extra virgin olive oil (or any oil) in this recipe because I find the chicken produces it’s own juices well on its own. If you feel like you need oil, go ahead and use a bit!
Storing & Reheating Thighs
If you happen to have leftover chicken, GREAT! The leftovers store and reheat super well when you store them correctly.
- Refrigerator: Store cooked and cooled thighs for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Freezer: If you prefer to freeze the thighs, cool them completely, then place them in an airtight container. Freeze for up to four months. Thaw overnight in the fridge when ready to eat again.
- Reheat: Reheat the chicken in the oven at 325°F, on a skillet on the stove over medium heat, or in the microwave until it’s warmed through.
More Chicken Thigh Recipes
- Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs (30 Minutes!) – Crispy skin-on chicken thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs — Just as easy as the baked thighs!
- Rice Stuffed Chicken Thighs — Stuffed with rice and veggies
- 5 Minute Grilled Chicken Thighs — For when you’re craving the smoky grill flavor
- Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Veggies — One pan chicken and veggie dinner
Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken thighs bone in, skin on
- 1 tbsp garlic parsley salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pat dry the chicken thighs with a paper towel.
- Season the chicken with garlic parsley salt, pepper, and paprika. Add the seasoned chicken thighs to an oven safe pan with the skin side facing up.
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Toward the end of cooking, you can drain some of the juice from the pan to make the thighs extra crispy.
- Garnish with your favorite herbs and serve immediately.
Do you have to serve immediately or can you meal prep it?
Chicken is always great to have meal prepped in my opinion. This will last in the fridge up to 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat in microwave, air fryer, or oven. Enjoy!
Awesome recipe! Easy! Thank you!
Glad to hear you enjoyed it and found it easy! Thanks for sharing Anne.
This was so easy and delicious. Moist and tender. Just added garlic. Other than that would not change a thing. Thank you🙋
Hey Peggy, Garlic is always a nice touch! Thanks for sharing your feedback! 🙂
What changes would I make for skinless boneless thighs?
Hi Yoli, for boneless and skinless chicken thighs you will need to reduce the cooking time by 10 minutes. The chicken will be less crispy since its skinless but still great otherwise. Enjoy!
You would have thought I invented chicken when my family ate it! 😆 Great recipe, thanks for sharing! And bonus points for it being so incredibly easy!!
Thank you so much for the kind words, Lacy! I am delighted to hear this recipe was such a hit! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
Hi, just checking - do you use any oil at all?
Hi Melissa- no, not in this recipe! Enjoy!
When you are baking that chicken at 400°, always bake the chicken thighs with the skin up right
Yum - I love chicken thighs! Great recipe my family really loved them and they were so easy to make!
So glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for your feedback, Melissa.
It's amazing what 4 ingredients can do to a recipe! Super tasty & crisp! Chicken is my favorite choice of meat & will definitely make use this recipe again!
Right?! Simple, easy and delicious! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Such a simple mix of spices! And yet the chicken turns out so perfectly tender and delicious! Love this easy recipe! I usually have all these ingredients on hand all the time!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thank you for your feedback!
would it be even better if you added parmesan cheese to the herbs. plus maybe a little real butter. ?
You can definitely do that if you wanted to, Christina! It'll add more calories for sure!