Baked Chicken Thighs

4.80 from 10 votes

How to make the best baked chicken thighs. Simple seasonings give excellent flavor and the cold oven technique makes for crispy skin.

Prep Time5

Cook Time45

Total Time50

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: how to bake chicken, keto recipes, oven baked chicken, whole30 recipes

Servings:

Calories: 346kcal

Do not preheat oven. Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil for easier clean-up. Place oven-safe rack over foil. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Place chicken thighs on baking rack. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Then rub each with olive oil on both sides. 10 bone-in chicken thighs, 2 tablespoons olive oil
In a small bowl, stir together seasonings. Rub onto both sides of chicken thighs. 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon ground thyme
Place in oven and set at 400ºF. Bake for 40-45 minutes, turning halfway for even color.
Thighs should no longer pink at the bone and the juices should run clear. Chicken is safe to eat at 165ºF, but chicken thighs are higher in fat and can hold up to baking to a higher temperature so they are fall off the bone tender. Consider cooking til the internal temperature reaches 180-185ºF.

This recipe also works with boneless skinless chicken thighs, but they will take less time to bake and it's fine to cook them in a baking dish rather than on a wire rack.
By placing the chicken thighs in a cool oven, the fat renders as the oven heats up but the skin will crisp when the oven reaches the designated temperature. Also, the baking rack helps the air to circulate around the chicken to promote even doneness.