Go Back
–+ servings
Baked chicken thighs on a white platter.
Print Recipe
5 from 43 votes

Best Baked Chicken Thighs

Everyone loves baked chicken thighs and my recipe using a seasoning oil makes the best tender, juicy chicken thighs with crisp skin that your whole family will love.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 647kcal
Author: Chef Dennis Littley

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken thighs skin on bone in
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika or smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard optional

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
  • Allow the chicken thighs to come to room temperature while you prepare the seasonings.
  • Add the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and black pepper to a small mixing bowl.
  • Using a fork, blend the spices together.
  • Add the olive oil to the spices and blend them together.
  • Using a pastry brush (or your hands) coat the chicken thighs with the seasoning oil mixture. Make sure to coat the entire thigh.
  • Place the chicken thighs in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet, making sure to leave room between them.
  • Bake the thighs for 40 minutes at 400 degrees on the middle rack of your oven.
    Depending on the size of the chicken thighs, this time can vary.
    If the chicken is not done but is getting too dark, loosely drape a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the chicken.
  • *Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is at least 165 degrees. At this temperature and time, they should be well above that internal temp

Notes

Can I use different seasonings on the thighs?
Absolutely! Use your favorite premade seasoning blends or create your own blend using the spices with the flavor profiles you enjoy eating.
Some of my favorite spice blends for seasoning baked chicken are Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, old bay, barbecue seasoning, and jerk seasoning.
Should you cover the thighs while baking?
No, you really shouldn't cover the chicken thighs during the baking process. Leaving the chicken uncovered will help the skin get brown and crispy.  And covering the chicken will steam the chicken rather than roasting it.

Nutrition

Calories: 647kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 26g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 222mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 562mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 1041IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg