These Baked Bone in Chicken Thighs have skin so crispy you won't believe they're baked! With perfectly seasoned crispy outside and juicy tender inside, this simple main course is ready to devour in just 40 minutes!
Whether you're eating chicken as an entree with a delicious side like jalapeño cheddar cornbread or your favorite salad and mashed potatoes, a big batch of crispy, perfectly seasoned bone in chicken thighs make the perfect dinner!
While boneless skinless thighs have their place, they can't compare to the crisp, flavorful skin and juicy, tender meat of skin-on and bone in thighs. This recipe works perfectly in the oven but can also easily be made on the grill for a more smoky-flavored summertime favorite.
Decide how many you need for dinner, and then toss in a few more thighs - trust me! These leftover chicken thighs are perfect for my favorite crescent chicken rolls ups!
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ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
1. Ultra-crispy seasoned skin without using the deep fryer.
2. You can make these in the oven or on the grill. Perfect for all seasons!
3. Customizable rub for however smoky or spicy you want it!
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
Butter and this homemade seasoning mix add the perfect rich, smoky, and savory flavor to these chicken thighs.
- Chicken thighs - Bone-in, skin-on work best for juicy, flavorful meat and a crunchy exterior.
- Butter - adds a deep richness and helps the seasoning stick.
- Onion Powder - adds a subtle onion flavor to the mix.
- Garlic powder - adds a hint of garlic and adds to the savoriness of the rub.
- Oregano - for an earthy, almost minty note that balances out the other spices.
- Thyme - for a slightly minty and citrusy layer.
- Smoked Paprika - adds a subtle smokiness to the rub.
- Salt and Pepper
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list and instructions!
📋 Variations
- While this seasoning is perfect for bone in thighs, you can also follow this rub recipe for drumsticks or boneless and skinless thighs.
- These thighs are great when grilled! Just preheat the grill to 450 degrees F and grill for 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F.
- For a healthier version, use olive oil instead of butter. Just be sure to use one or the other, as it helps the seasoning stick and increases the crispiness of the skin.
- For even more flavorful chicken thighs, rub the spice mixture on and let it marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
- For ultra-crispy golden brown skin, turn the broiler on high during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Smoked paprika adds a hint of smokiness, almost like the chicken was sitting out on the grill. For a spicier rub, swap smoked paprika for hot paprika, or tame everything down by using sweet paprika instead.
🔪 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a small bowl, mix all of the dry herbs together. Set aside.
Step 2-4: Place each piece of chicken on a rack on top of a baking sheet. Melt the butter in a dish and then baste it directly on top of the meat, as well as on top of the skin.
Step 5-7: Add about 1 Tablespoon of the dry seasoning to each piece of chicken, ensuring the rub is put directly on the meat and on the skin. Use your hands to spread the rub evenly over the entire piece of chicken.
Step 8: Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the internal temperature measures 165°F. When done, remove the chicken thighs from the oven and allow to cool for 3-5 minutes before serving.
After just 30 minutes, you'll have chicken ready for dinner that's crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside and ready to serve!
🙋 Recipe FAQs
No! Bake them uncovered. Covering them in foil will cause the skin to become soggy, not crispy like we want it.
Metal is a better conductor of heat, so it tends to work better when you're looking to quickly cook chicken so the outside crisps up. Don't forget to use a metal baking rack for the crispiest skin!
💭 Expert Tips
- The key to getting ultra-crispy chicken thighs is to use a wire rack above your baking sheet. The rack helps air flow all around the chicken so that every side is crispy, and you're not left with a crispy top but soggy bottom. On that note, avoid overcrowding the pan so each piece of chicken has at least 1-2 inches of space around it.
- When adding the rub to the skin, really get it under the skin and all over the skin. You can't add too much.
- Since the chicken is cooked at such a high temperature, it's likely to splatter some. Make sure to have the chicken on the middle rack of the oven.
- This dish takes around 30 minutes to cook, but since every oven is a little different, just be sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, either place it on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-20 minutes until warm, or cook in the microwave in 30 second increments until heated. You can also freeze the leftover chicken for up to 4 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. Defrost before using.
If you tried these Baked Bone In Chicken Thighs or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love hearing from you! And, please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!
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Baked Bone In Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs bone-in and skin-on
- 1 Tablespoon melted butter
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- In a small bowl, mix 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper together. Set aside.
- Put each piece of chicken on a rack on top of a baking sheet.
- Melt the butter in a dish and then baste it directly on top of the meat, as well as on top of the skin.
- Add about 1 Tablespoon of the dry seasoning to each piece of chicken, ensuring the rub is put directly on the meat and on the skin. Use your hands to spread the rub evenly over the entire piece.
- Put the pan in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the internal temperature measures 165°F.
- When done, remove the chicken thighs from the oven and allow to cool for 3-5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- The key to getting ultra-crispy chicken thighs is to use a wire rack above your baking sheet. The rack helps air flow so that every side is crispy, and you're not left with a crispy top but soggy bottom. On that note, avoid overcrowding the pan so each piece of chicken has at least 1-2 inches of space around it.
- When adding the rub to the skin, really get it under the skin and all over the skin. You can't add too much.
- Since this dish is cooked at such a high temperature, it's likely to splatter some. Make sure to have the pan on the middle rack of the oven.
- The chicken takes around 30 minutes to cook, but since every oven is a little different, just be sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, either place it on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-20 minutes until warm, or cook in the microwave in 30 second increments until heated.
- You can also freeze the leftover chicken for up to 4 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. Defrost before using.
Nutrition
This recipe was adapted from Downshiftology.
Monica
So delicious and so easy to make! I love the extra flavor from using bone-in thighs, and so does my whole family. Yum!
Amanda Mason
I'm so glad to hear you all loved it so much! Yes - using bone-in is key to flavor and juicy chicken!
Amy Liu Dong
It looks so good and I bet the taste is amazing too! I will make this as our dinner later!
Amanda Mason
Please let me know how it turns out! I can't wait to hear!
Jamie
Wow! Another chicken recipe that will gonna loved and enjoyed by many! This looks incredibly delicious and very enticing too! It was perfectly baked too!
Amanda Mason
So glad you loved it!! It's a family favorite, for sure!
Amy Liu Dong
This one looks so good! I’d love to make this for our dinner later!
Amanda Mason
Let me know how you like it! I can't wait to hear!!