Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
Baked chicken thighs that are crispy and juicy make for the perfect weeknight meal! This chicken recipe is incredibly easy to make, packed with flavor and much healthier than traditional fried chicken – you’ll love it. Watch the video below!
If you’re looking for a tasty side dish, try my balsamic bacon brussels sprouts, baked sweet potato, mashed cauliflower, garlic sautéed swiss chard, steamed broccoli, or green beans. Lots of options!
Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
As a kid I loved KFC chicken, but my favorite part was the crispy skin that was full of herbs and flavor. In fact, I may have eaten the skin more than the meat!
Today, I no longer eat KFC (for obvious reasons) but I still love tender, juicy chicken with crispy, flavorful skin. And that’s where my baked chicken thighs come in. With a drizzle of avocado oil and a generous amount of dried herbs you can create crispy baked chicken that the whole family will love. And you can feel good knowing it’s healthier.
Can you use boneless skinless chicken thighs in this recipe? Of course. But if you’re going for flavor, I do recommend using bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs. The skin locks in the moisture and bone-in chicken just tastes better. It’s also cheaper. Win win.
How to Bake Chicken Thighs
For easy baked chicken thighs, just follow these steps (and watch my video above).
- Preheat your oven to 425F. A higher temperature makes the skin extra crispy.
- Pat the chicken dry. Use a paper towel to pat the chicken dry and remove any condensation from the fridge.
- Mix the chicken, oil and herbs. In a large bowl mix the chicken, avocado oil and 2/3 of the herb seasoning.
- Place the chicken on a rack. A rack on top of a baking sheet allows the air to circulate around the chicken making it crispier. Sprinkle the remaining seasoning on top.
- Bake the chicken. Bake the chicken thighs for 35-40 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
A Few Extra Tips
Reminder: Don’t Wash the Chicken. It’s a common misconception that you need to rinse chicken once you bring it home from the store. As the USDA says, it would be impossible for water to remove all bacteria and rinsing the chicken only cross-contaminates your kitchen and anything nearby (your sink, faucet, countertop, etc). Rest assured the heat from cooking will kill any bacteria present.
Do Use a Rack if Possible. The rack not only allows the air to circulate, it also raises the chicken up from the edge of any baking sheet. If you don’t have a rack, use a larger baking sheet with space between the chicken so that any juices spread out from the chicken.
Use Lots of Herbs and Spices. It may sound like a lot of herbs and spices in this recipe (7 teaspoons) but trust me, it’s the perfect quantity. That’s just under 1 teaspoon of spices per chicken thigh and coats the chicken with garlic, onion, paprika and herbs for the absolute best flavor.
Don’t Overcook the Chicken Thighs. Most people overcook chicken because they remove it from the oven when the internal temperature reaches 165F. But chicken continues to cook once it’s removed from the oven. So remove the chicken at 160F and after 5 minutes of resting you’ll see that the internal temperature is now 165F. Resting also allows the juices to redistribute inside the chicken.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes to Enjoy
I’m such a fan of chicken thighs and healthy chicken recipes. If you’re looking for more recipe inspiration, give these delicious meals a try!
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Roasted Balsamic Chicken
- Coconut Curry Chicken
- Herbed Honey Mustard Chicken
- Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken
- Grilled Chicken Souvlaki
Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe Video
Want to see how I make this recipe? Watch the video below!
Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
- 2 tbsp avocado oil, (or olive oil)
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425F/220C. Remove the chicken thighs from the fridge and allow them to come to room temperature.
- In a small bowl mix all of the herbs and spices together.
- Place the chicken in a large mixing bowl. Add the oil and 2/3 of the spice blend. Use your hands to coat all sides of the chicken and even under the skin.
- Place the chicken on a rack on top of a baking sheet. Sprinkle the remaining spice mix on top of the chicken.
- Bake the chicken thighs for 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees fahrenheit. You can also turn on the top broiler for 2-3 minutes to make the top extra crispy. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Lisa's Tips
- Use a heavy duty commercial baking sheet that won't warp or bend in the oven. This is the baking sheet I use. And here's a stainless steel rack as well.
Another winner recipe! Quick and delicious! My husband and child who are both picky eaters absolutely love this. And me too! Thank you so much Lisa!
Made this as part of my Sunday meal prep.
Easy, and came out just like the picture!
I had more than 6 thighs so I adjusted the recipe to cover and would make this again.
I may try it on boneless, skinless chicken breasts next time.
Definitely a recipe to repeat!
I’ve made this recipe many times before, and it’s always an absolute winner. Full of flavor! I feel that having a rack on top of the baking sheet is essential to get heat underneath the thighs. There have been times when I’ve taken the thighs out at 165/170° and yet they are super juicy and crispy. Another phenomenal easy recipe from Lisa. Thank you much!
Thanks for leaving a review Marcel and glad you’re loving these baked chicken thighs!
I didn’t have a rack so replaced with parchment paper. Obviously as a result the bottom of the chicken retained the moisture, but the top had perfectly crisp skin that was absolutely perfect and would 100% make this again. Next time with a rack for sure
Lisa OMG Delicious
I’m approaching 80 so I have baked chicken countless times. NEVER has the skin become so deliciously tasty and crispy EVER until this recipe. This eliminates marinating for hours in large 2 gallon bags and numerous flipping while in the frig. I am so pleased. My thanks can’t really convey how amazingly simple and tasty and effortless. Thanks a million
So glad you’re loving these baked chicken thighs!
THIS IS “HANDS DOWN” AMAZING…. this recipe is fool proof and I always make double the recipe because it is so good for meal prep/lunch the next day. BUT … don’t sleep on that spice mix. I use it on boneless chicken breast in the Air Fryer, pork chops in the air fryer… and I don’t want to use anything else. She needs to bottle it!
The spice mix is what really makes these chicken thighs so delicious! Glad this works on air fryer chicken as well :)
I make this biweekly and have never left a rating, it is exceptional! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Yay! Glad you’re loving this recipe Sarah!
Absolutely brilliant. Gorgeously crispy. Definitely saving this recipe. And so easy.
I always have chicken thighs in the freezer. It’s my family go to. My husband and I really loved the taste. Very juicy and the skin crispy.
Happy to hear you’re loving these baked chicken thighs Nancy!
I made these tonight and they were crispy on the outside and super juicy inside, just like we hoped for. What a great, easy way to get yummy chicken thighs!
I know that taste in spices is individual, so for my family we will cut the Paprika in half next time I make it. We felt like it overpowered the other spices. Can’t wait to bake these again with the spice change.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Nancy!
I have three words for this recipe….. YUM YUM YUM !!!!!!!!!!
It’s extremely easy, quick, and delicious.
I made this dish earlier this week and my husband and I truly enjoyed this recipe! Very simple to make but so yummy! Nonetheless, we happily ate the rest of lunch and dinner, can’t wait to make it for our friends!!!! I’m a total fan of your recipes!!!
Is it possible to freeze this and pop into the microwave when we want to eat them?
Yes, you can freeze this if you’d like and microwave to reheat. Just note that it won’t be very crisp after freezing.
Is there any way to reheat leftovers so the skin is crispy?
I would say you can use an air fryer or bake it in the oven for a bit. Otherwise, the skin will naturally soften over time.
This recipe is amazing. I managed to make 10 thighs with the spice mix and they are so crispy and perfectly seasoned. I’ll be making these part of my regular rotation.
Yay!! I’m so happy you loved the recipe, Lissa!
Could this be cooked in an air fryer?
I’m sure it can, but unfortunately I don’t have an air fryer so can’t confirm temperatures.
So simple and so delicious. Boyfriend couldn’t have rated it higher so very happy household!
Wonderful! Glad you and your boyfriend enjoyed these crispy baked chicken thighs :)
So tasty and moist. I will definitely be cooking these again but I will leave out the salt. next time.
Glad you enjoyed these chicken thighs Sharon!
I made this recipe today for lunch and it was super easy!
I did use boneless, skinless chicken thighs but my goodness the chicken still came out super crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. My favourite part of this recipe is how juicy the chicken stays. In the past I’ve always overcooked my chicken and it became dry, I didn’t realise how much a difference was made just by letting the chicken rest.
Definitely a recipe I will be using again on a weekly basis!
Thank you very much Lisa, Best wishes Shae
So glad you enjoyed these crispy baked chicken thighs Shae!
Hi Lisa,
I just cooked this oven bake chicken last night and it was a hit! This recipe is for keeps. Next one on my list to try is the cilantro lime chicken.😊 Thanks again for the recipe we really liked it.
Glad you enjoyed this baked chicken thighs Ruth! Excited for you to try the cilantro lime chicken next :)
Best video I ve ever watched.
Very delicious looking,and I learned so much.
Thank you
KW
Happy to hear you learned tons from this video Kathryn!
fast and tasty!
This recipe is awesome! My family absolutely loved it and I will definitely be making it again and again!! I was wondering if I could do the same recipe with chicken drumsticks or if I should modify it in anyway?
Hi Lisa – yes, you can use drumsticks in this recipe instead!
This is a regular in our meal rotation. Everyone loves them so much! It’s well seasoned (we have played with them a bit after a few times but the recipe, as is, is FANTASTIC) and able to go with any sides: rice & a vegetable, cabbage & noodles, quinoa & veggies, etc.
Because it cooks in the oven, the stovetop is completely open for steamed, blanched, sauteed, etc veggies. We cook rice or quinoa in the rice cooker or instant pot. Noodles, pilafs, etc on the stove. It’s really really versatile. We have also put the tray in the oven longways and a second pan longways to roast vegetables.
It tastes amazing & goes with almost any side.
And that’s the beauty of baking it in the oven :) Glad you’ve found so many ways to use this chicken recipe!
I baked these yesterday and they turned out great. A good tip about lowering the heat in a fan oven. I cooked them at 180 (converted from a conventional oven). I was wondering if I could use the same ingredients for the “baked chicken breasts” as I notice that recipe is slightly different. Thanks Lisa.
Glad that tip helped!
Loved this recipe! Would totally do this again, it was easy and simple. Didn’t know it takes a little to create such a healthy and delicious dinner yum
It’s all about easy and healthy recipes here at Downshiftology :)
I tried this recipe yesterday for the first time and you can always count on the perfection of Lisa´s tips! The chicken was so so good and skin was as crispy as it can get. Highly recommend!! Thank you for this, it was sure not the last time to make it!
So glad you enjoyed these baked chicken thighs Dorothea!
This dish is a WINNER!! I agree with the amount of spices used, it is so flavorful. Super easy and definitely quick. This recipe will stay in my dinner arsonal.
Wonderful! Happy to hear this one has become a new favorite :)
Delicious! Crispy skin and super flavorful spice mix. Will definitely be making this again.
Glad you enjoyed these chicken thighs!
I can’t believe I haven’t made these before now. So delicious.
So glad you finally got around to trying these Fran!
Amazing recipe!! Chicken was luscious and lip-smackingly good!! Both hubby and 4-year old cleaned out their plates. The only change I made was to add a pinch of cayenne and some garam masala to hubby and my portions, for extra heat and spiciness.
I paired with Lisa’s roasted sweet potatoes as well ;)
So glad you and your hubby enjoyed these chicken thighs!
My daughter wanted shake and bake. So I made this instead. She absolutely loved it! She told me this should replace all future shake and bakes and that the spices were perfect. I used lemon pepper, and Italian seasoning for the oregano and thyme :). Thank you!
Hi Krista – I’m so glad your daughter loved the spices in this recipe :)
The baking rack linked to says its only safe to 300F but this recipe calls for baking at 425F, is there a different rack that is safe for higher temps?
Hi Daniela – I just checked the link and it says the rack is safe to 575F. So you’re good!
Chicken really tasted great!! The skin was indeed crispy and juicy in the middle. Made it 2 times already and a hit with my picky eaters!!
Wonderful! Glad this recipe satisfied the picky eaters 😊
I made it and the thighs turned out perfectly. The skin was crispy and thighs were juicy. My 9 yr old picky eater even loved them!! Tasted really good !!
Wonderful! Glad this recipe satisfied even the picky eaters!
This was my first time cooking chicken thighs…ever! My oven did smoke a lot like some of the other commenters, so I got a tad nervous. One major issue, a few of my pieces were still “red” in one place near the bone even though the temp read past 165. What might I try differently next time? Great recipe!
It sounds like your oven might be cooking hot. It’s common for ovens to be up to 50 degrees off in temperature! Next time I’d recommend lowering the temperature a little and cooking them longer. Hope that helps!
The majority of chickens sold in stores today are between six to eight weeks old. When cooked, “the purple marrow—so colored due to the presence of myoglobin, a protein responsible for storing oxygen—leaks into the meat.” This reaction, in effect, stains the bone; the color of the meat adjacent to it will not fade regardless of the temperature to which it’s cooked. FYI, chicken is not bloody, all commercially-sold chickens are drained of their blood during processing. The pink, watery liquid you’re seeing is just that: water. The moisture that seeps from the chicken while it’s waiting for you to buy it mixes with that old rascal myoglobin, causing the pink “juices” that you see pooling around the packaged bird—it’s called myowater.
That same substance is what gushes forth when you cut into a cooking chicken to see if the juices run clear. Unfortunately, that’s a long-held measure of doneness that can’t be trusted. The only way to know if your bird is cooked through: a good quality thermometer.
Delicious recipe. I also had an issue with profuse smoking and splattering, but I realized what I did wrong right after. I substituted avocado oil with olive oil, which has a much lower smoke point. I’m sure others that had the same issue made the same mistake I did lol.
Hi Sonja – thanks for sharing that! Ironically, I used olive oil on my last batch and didn’t have any splattering or smoking, so I’m still thinking it’s the individual ovens and settings. But it’s strange for sure!
I made this a couple days ago. It was delicious, but smoked and spattered quite a bit. Had to clean my oven today. Do you have any tips to make it less messy?
Hi Wendy – are you using a conventional oven or convection oven?
Omg!!! If you are having doubts about how good this chicken is , do not worry !!! It’s so good when you are tying to satisfy that fried chicken craving . Flavorful , crispy and still juicy 😋 just thinking about it makes me want to make it again today 😝 Súper súper yum 🤤
So glad you enjoy these crispy chicken thighs Andrea!
These chicken thighs are incredible! They are juice yet crisp and the seasoning is perfection! This is one of my favorite things to cook.
So glad you love this recipe as much as this community does!
This is the best chicken thigh recepie ever! The chicken is super cruchy & the seasoning is just right! This a a family favorite. I also use this same seasoning blend on chicken fajitas.
A Downshiftology classic recipe :)
Can I use skinless and boneless thighs?
Yes, you can! Just make sure to watch the cooking time as it might cook a bit faster. Also, you won’t get super crispy skin as you would with skin-on thighs.
I made this for dinner tonight and I have to say, this was possibly the juiciest chicken I have ever made. I can’t believe how easy this was but also how good it turned out. I will be making this quite often. Who needs the bucket when you can get this healthier dish with better flavor?
I couldn’t agree more! This homemade version is always the best. Glad you loved it Kyle!
This is one of the very few meals I’ve made that everyone in my family of 6 actually ate AND raved about!!!! Thank you!
Happy to hear you’ve enjoyed this chicken recipe Kristin!
The recipe was great, except I smoked up the house and had to open all windows and doors and run all the ceiling fans. I guess I missed something. Also could not print this form the phone without all the pictures. I had to move the chicken to a covered braiser and lower the oven temp. That helped.
Hi Mark – I’m glad you loved the recipe! When you bake this make sure you’re using a standard oven setting and not a convection oven setting. Also, your oven might cook slightly hotter as it’s common for ovens to be up to 30 degrees off normal. For the printing, there’s a button at the top on mobile that you can uncheck printing the process shots.
loved it. So delicious. Did it exactly as suggested. Even followed the tips in the video. Going to try it with legs with back to see how it works
Happy to hear you loved this chicken recipe! Let me know how it goes with legs :)
What if… you accidentally buy bone-in, skin-on chicken wings? Any idea if this recipe can be used for those? Maybe a lower heat? :)
Hi Emmy- I believe this can work with wings too! But maybe lower the heat a smidge and just keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
Using full chicken wings worked great, and shared recipe with my mom! She made her thighs on the grill and loved your seasoning recipe. Thank you!!
The chicken was so moist and flavorful. Easy recipe to follow and quick to make.
Hi Fawn- So glad you enjoyed these crispy chicken thighs!
This recipe was good and the chicken was moist, but I was really hoping for crispy, crunchy skin. What I got instead was dry and very tough, almost leathery, skin that you couldn’t really bite through easily. If I had used the convection setting I would have thought that to be the reason, but I used the regular Bake. What might have been the problem?
Hmm, it’s hard to say. My skin comes out crispy when I do it. Not as crispy as fried chicken, but certainly crispy enough to bite through. Sometimes it might just be differences in oven temps, as every oven cooks slightly differently.
This recipe is super easy and the chicken is so good, crispy skin and juicy meat, WOW! Thank you!
Hi Sophia- Happy to hear you enjoyed these chicken thighs! Definitely one of my favorite chicken recipes to make :)
This is absolutely wonderfully tasting but I can’t seem to get my skin crispy – what am I doing wrong??
Hi Simone – I’m happy you loved the recipe! It might just be the temperature in your oven. Next time try turning on the top broiler (if you have one) for a couple of minutes. Just keep an eye on them so you don’t accidentally burn the top.