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Free: 5 Secrets To Fast Healthy DinnersGet It Now This post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free. (Full disclosure) For a long time, I was a little intimidated by oven baked bone-in chicken thighs. I’ve been making juicy baked chicken breast for years and years, but chicken thighs were a newer thing. I didn’t like meat with bones growing up, so it took some time to come around. Let’s just say I’m glad I did, because this crispy baked chicken thighs recipe has become one of my favorite ways to make chicken! The good news is, baking chicken thighs is easier than you might think. This recipe is pretty much foolproof, so you can do it whether you’ve never oven baked chicken thighs or done it a hundred times. Chicken is one of my favorite dinner protein options, so I’ve got no shortage of options here on Wholesome Yum! If you love chicken thighs, be sure to try my air fryer chicken thighs, baked balsamic chicken thighs, garlic chicken thighs, or cilantro lime chicken next time. Why You’ll Love This Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for oven baked bone-in chicken thighs, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below. Chicken Thighs:I prefer to use organic chicken, but the most important thing is that your chicken thighs are bone in, with skin. This is imperative for extra crispy baked chicken thighs! This recipe won’t work with boneless skinless chicken thighs, since we’ll be placing butter underneath the skin. If you want to use boneless skinless thighs, try my recipes for balsamic chicken thighs, creamy garlic chicken thighs, or Mediterranean chicken instead, all of which use the boneless version. Compound Butter Underneath The Skin:Butter underneath the chicken skin ensures super juicy chicken thighs and adds loads of flavor, while the skin protects the butter and fresh herbs from the high heat of the oven.
Seasoning Over The Skin:Seasonings over the skin ensure that the skin has lots of flavor, and we use oil instead of butter here since it has a higher smoke point and will be exposed to direct heat.
This section shows how to make baked chicken thighs in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
TIP: You can use other versions of compound butter here. I’m using the simplest version with garlic, salt, and fresh herbs.
TIP: Run your hands under the chicken skin to separate it from the chicken underneath, so that you can easily spread the compound butter.
TIP: Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken thighs are done. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F.
I recommend baking chicken thighs at 450 degrees F, because the high temperature will make the skin super crispy and the inside juicy. You can also bake them at 400 or 425 degrees F, but it will take longer. I actually don’t recommend oven baked chicken thighs at lower temperatures like 350, or even 375. Not only does it take longer, but in my testing the meat was less tender and the skin less crispy. Oven baked chicken thighs at 450 degrees F will take 22-28 minutes, but it’s best to use a meat thermometer to cook it perfectly. No, baking frozen chicken thighs is not recommended, as they do not cook evenly. Some parts will be dry by the time everything cooks through. Thaw your chicken thighs before baking.
Serve up these crispy oven baked chicken thighs with an easy side dish:
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
Serving size: 1 chicken thigh Nutrition Facts Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above. Calories 446 Fat 35.4g Protein 29.9g Total Carbs 0.7g Net Carbs 0.5g Fiber 0.2g Sugar 0.1g Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy. © Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂 What temperature should I cook chicken in a convection oven?Cooking a whole chicken in a convection oven can be a great way to give it a golden, crispy exterior while maintaining a tender and juicy center. In general, whole chickens should be cooked for about 15 minutes per pound (about 0.45 kg) in a convection oven heated to 375°F (190°C).
What temperature should I bake boneless skinless chicken thighs?Whether they're on a sheet pan, in a skillet, or in a saucy marinade, the best temperature for cooking boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the oven is between 400°F and 450°F, with 425°F being the temperature we rely on most often.
Should I use the convection setting for chicken?Set your oven for convection baking, if you have it. The chicken will cook more evenly and the skin will brown up and become perfectly crispy. Roasting a chicken on a rack allows the heat to circulate around the chicken to help with browning the skin and more even cooking.
Is it better to bake chicken thighs at 350 or 400?The higher the temperature when baking chicken thighs creates that golden brown outer skin that protects the dark meat from over cooking and tenderizes the inside making it even more flavorful and tender. I like to bake chicken thighs at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 to 40 minutes long.
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