Find out how to bake chicken thighs that are bone-in and skin-on and for how long to come out juicy and tender, just like our oven baked chicken breast. Our baked bone in chicken thighs require 5 ingredients and are seasoned with a flavorful Mexican spice rub. It makes an easy dinner idea, and you can even freeze some for later. Show
Are you tired of dry and bland baked chicken thighs? Well, our recipe and method are foolproof and will grant you the best results, so that you can have flavorful, juicy, and tender chicken thighs that your entire family will love. It requires only very basic skills such as brushing the chicken thighs with olive oil, seasoning well, and baking at 425° F for up to 35 minutes, depending on the weight of the breast. And there you’ll have the best chicken thighs recipes ever: juicy and tender inside, with a tasty and golden exterior. It’s perfection! You can find many more easy, minimum ingredient recipes like this one in my book, The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook. INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONSAll you need in order to cook chicken thighs in the oven are 5 ingredients:
HOW LONG TO BAKE CHICKEN THIGHS AT 425°FThe time will depend on the weight/size of your chicken thighs, as well as the temperature that you bake it in the oven. High temperatures work best to seal the juices in and give it a ‘seared’, golden exterior. I would say that 400-450 F temperatures work the best! I often bake chicken thighs at 425° F degrees (220°C). It has produced some of the juiciest thighs ever! At 425° F degrees (220°C), the baking time will depend on the size/weight as follows:
How Long To Bake Chicken Thighs (Different Temperatures)There are 3 main factors that affect how long you bake chicken thighs for:
The oven temperatures and baking times below are for bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs. 350°F (175°C)45 to 55 minutes375°F (190°C)40 to 50 minutes400°F (205°C)35 to 45 minutes425°F (218°C)30 to 40 minutes
Notice there is a 5-minute range between small, medium, and large size chicken thighs. E.g.: At 400°F (205°C), small chicken thighs bake in 35 minutes, medium ones in 40 minutes, and large ones in 45 minutes. The same time differential may apply to other oven temperatures and size/weight of the chicken thighs. But as always, for a more accurate result, check the internal temperature, which should be at least 160°F (71°C) when coming out of the oven. After resting for 3-5 minutes, the temperature will rise about 5 degrees F, or close to 3 degrees C, reaching the desired temperature of 165°F or 74°C needed for safety purposes according to the FDA. Make sure to cook chicken thighs of similar sizes in the oven for even results. If you are baking chicken thighs from frozen or with a stuffing, be aware that it will take longer for them to cook. Again, the best way to find out whether they are fully cooked is by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thighs--but make sure to not touch the bone. HOW TO COOK BONELESS CHICKEN THIGHS IN THE OVENBaked boneless chicken thighs often require about half the cooking time of bone-in chicken thighs. You can quickly adapt our recipe to use boneless chicken thighs, following the same prep of patting the chicken dry, brushing with oil, and pressing the seasonings on the thighs. Then, bake boneless chicken thighs for 15-20 minutes (depending on the size of the thighs) and test for a minimum internal temperature of 160° F. If they don’t reach that temp, no worries! Just add 5-minute baking intervals as needed to reach the minimum temperature. CAN I USE CHICKEN BREAST, LEGS, OR CHICKEN WINGS INSTEAD?Yes, you can! Follow the same prep but remember that the time will vary according to whether the piece is bone-in (requires more time to cook) or boneless (cooks faster), the oven temperature, and also their weight/size. Keep in mind that smaller parts of the chicken cook faster! The best way to tell when they are fully cooked is to use the meat thermometer. They need to reach an internal temp of at least 160°F (71°C). After resting for 3-5 minutes, they’ll be able to reach 165°F or 74°C. SHOULD I RINSE CHICKEN BEFORE BAKING?There is no need to rinse chicken before cooking our oven baked chicken thighs. By rinsing you are getting rid of some of the chicken flavor and may contaminate your sink and work surfaces. Just pat the chicken dry and prep as required in our recipe. STEPS TO COOK CHICKEN THIGHS IN THE OVENTo make perfectly baked chicken thighs, follow these 4-5 steps:
Baking perfect chicken thighs is a combination of high temperature and cooking time. How to Bake Chicken Thighs
NOTE: If you want, you can glaze your chicken thighs! To do this, sauté 3 minced garlic cloves with 2-3 tablespoon of butter on medium heat for about 1 minute. Then, stir in ¼ cup of honey and 2 tablespoon of Dijon mustard and let it cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Then glaze the thighs with the sauce. WHY ARE CHICKEN THIGHS DRY AND TOUGH?There are the main factors that may have caused your chicken thighs to be dry and tough:
HOW TO SEASON CHICKEN THIGHSThere are several different pre-packaged seasoning blend options out there, such as taco, barbecue, and Cajun seasoning. But you can make your own at home. One of my favorite homemade seasonings is this one: just mix together 4 teaspoon of paprika, 2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar (skip the sugar if you are on a keto diet, or sub with dried herbs such as oregano or thyme or Italian seasoning), 2 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. If you want to add a kick, add ½ teaspoon chili powder or cayenne. Of course, you may also use any dry rub of your choice, about 3 tablespoon for 4 medium/large thighs. Whatever seasoning you choose, make sure to pat dry the thighs, brush with oil, and then season them well. Press the seasoning on with your hands to get it to stick on each side of the thighs. HOW TO SERVE BAKED CHICKEN ThighsOur oven baked chicken thighs go well over mashed potatoes, pasta, and rice. These roasted carrots and parsnips, roasted delicata squash, Brazilian potato salad, and Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts make great side dishes. In fact, you can serve them with almost anything! How to Reheat Chicken without Drying it OutThere is more than one way to reheat chicken thighs. Two of my favorites are the microwave and oven in order of convenience:
STORAGEStore baked chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months! This is one of those easy freezer meals that you will want to make again and again. MORE CHICKEN RECIPES TO ENJOY:
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FOLLOW US on INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, and FACEBOOK for more easy and delish recipes and updates. Print SAVESaved Recipe! Pin 4.67 from 3 votes How to bake chicken thighs (and how long)Find out how to bake chicken thighs that are bone-in and skin-on and for how long to come out juicy and tender. It makes an easy dinner meal, and you can even freeze some for later. Course:Main Course Cuisine:American Keywords:baked bone in chicken thighs, how to bake chicken thighs Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 35 minutes Total Time 45 minutes Servings 4 thighs Calories399 kcal Author Denise Browning Cost $ 1.50 per person Equipment
Ingredients
US Customary - Metric Instructions
Recipe VideoRecipe NotesNOTE: Honey and parsley are optional ingredients. Therefore, they are not calculated in this recipe. If you want, you can glaze your chicken thighs! To do this, sauté 3 minced garlic cloves with 2-3 tablespoon of butter on medium heat for about 1 minute. Then, stir in ¼ cup of honey and 2 tablespoon of Dijon mustard and let it cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Then glaze the thighs with the sauce.How to Reheat Chicken without Drying it OutThere is more than one way to reheat chicken thighs. Two of my favorites are the microwave and oven, in order of convenience:
NutritionCalories: 399kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 684mg | Potassium: 334mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 784IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 2mg ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely. Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice. How long do thighs take to cook at 350?Checking baked chicken thighs with a meat thermometer gives the best reading to find out if the chicken thighs have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Baking Chicken Thighs at: 350°F – 50-55 minutes. 375°F – 45-50 minutes.
How long does it take to oven bake chicken at 350?Cooking tips
Bake a 4-oz. chicken breast at 350°F (177˚C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165˚F (74˚C).
How long to bake skinless chicken thighs at 350?Boneless Chicken Thighs takes around 25-30 minutes to bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven, while bone-in chicken thighs take approximately 30-35 minutes, however, you always want to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure that it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of the thickness of ...
Is it better to bake chicken thighs at 350 or 375?The key to achieving perfectly cooked chicken thighs is baking them at 375F (190C) or until the internal temperature reaches 175F (80C). The oven's temperature is just right for the chicken to cook evenly and get that golden brown glow.
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