How To Bake Chicken Thighs?

Learn how to bake bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and how long to bake them, so they come out moist and soft, much like oven-baked chicken breast. Ingredient baked bone-in chicken thighs are seasoned with a delicious Mexican spice rub. It’s a simple meal concept that you can even store for later.

Baked Chicken Thighs are a delectable and straightforward main course. The skin on these chicken thighs is delightfully crispy, and the meat is exceptionally delicious! They’re delicious with mashed potatoes or scalloped potatoes on the side.

When you’re ready to bake chicken thighs, place them on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Leave them there for thirty to forty minutes, turning them once, until they’re done. Be sure not to move them during the cooking process to ensure even cooking. Once the thighs are cooked, they’ll release their natural juices and be moist and crispy on the outside.

Baking chicken thighs is to remove the skin before serving. It’s better to remove the skin before serving, as it will cause the skin to burn. This process can be repeated for other chicken parts, but remember that the breasts and thighs should be removed from the oven 5-7 minutes before the resting time is up. In the end, your meal will be a delicious combination of both flavors.

How To Bake Chicken Thighs?

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F and sprinkle salt and pepper on the skin to make the most flavorful chicken thighs. After that, place the thigh pieces on the pan, skin-side down, and cook for 30 minutes. The thighs should be cooked through but still have a pink color near the bone when you take an instant-read thermometer and insert it.

You should see an internal temperature of 165 degrees F or 74 degrees C. Before baking, make sure the chicken thighs are completely dry. A moist surface is the enemy of crispness, so you want to keep the skin on them as dry as possible. You can also season them with sauce, which contains oil and conducts heat, and the sauce also adds flavor. The best time to bake chicken thighs is for twenty-five to thirty minutes at 425degF, or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.

And there you have it: the most excellent chicken thighs recipes ever, with a juicy, sensitive interior and a delectable, golden skin. It’s flawless!

Ingredients

All you need to cook chicken thighs in the oven are five ingredients:

• Chicken thighs –  Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are the star of our dish. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted instead. Just be aware that the cooking time will need to be adjusted. Boneless chicken thighs take half the time to bake as bone-in chicken thighs.
• Olive oil –You can use any vegetable oil, although ones with a neutral flavor and a high smoking point are best.
• Taco seasoning –Although I use a pre-packaged seasoning blend, you can make your own at home by combining 4 tsp paprika, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp brown sugar (omit the sugar if you’re on a keto diet, or substitute dried oregano or thyme), 2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, 12 tsp ground cumin, and 1 tsp black pepper. 12 tsp chili powder or cayenne pepper, if you like things spicy. You may also use any dry rub–about three tablespoons on four medium/large thighs.
• Salt and pepper — If your taco seasoning contains salt, leave it out. The thighs will taste better with freshly ground black pepper!
• Honey —It’s not required, but it will aid in the caramelization of the chicken skin during baking. If you’re on a keto diet, leave it out or replace it with sugar-free honey.
• Lemon —  It will bring up all the flavors together!
• Parsley — You may use cilantro, another herb of choice, or skip this ingredient.

Instructions

How Long To Bake Chicken Thighs At 425°F?

The time will vary depending on the weight and size of your chicken thighs and the oven temperature. The best way to seal in the fluids and give it the golden exterior is to cook it at high heat, and temperatures between 400 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal!

I frequently bake chicken thighs at 425°F (220°C). It has resulted in some of the most succulent thighs ever! At 425° F degrees (220°C), the baking time will depend on the size/weight as follows:

• Small chicken thighs (3 to 4 oz) — 30 minutes
• Medium chicken thighs (about 5 to 6 oz) — 35 minutes
• Large chicken thighs (about 8 oz) — 40 minutes.

To bake chicken thighs at 425 degrees F, you should first brine the thighs, making sure that they are similar in weight. After bringing, leave the thighs in the pan for about five minutes. This resting time allows the meat to retain moisture and re-distribute its juices. It would be best to allow the chicken thighs to cool for about 15 minutes during the resting process.

How Long To Bake Chicken Thighs (Different Temperatures)?

Three key elements influence how long chicken thighs should be baked:

Whether they’re bone-in or boneless, they’re delicious (Bone-in thighs bake in double the time required for boneless thighs), The thighs’ weight and size (smaller thighs bake faster than larger ones),
The temperature at which the chicken thighs are baked (they will bake faster in higher temps and longer in lower temps).

The oven temperatures and baking times below are for bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs.

• 350°F (175°C) 45 to 55 minutes
• 375°F (190°C) 40 to 50 minutes
• 400°F (205°C) 35 to 45 minutes
• 425°F (218°C) 30 to 40 minutes

There is a 5-minute difference in cooking time between small, medium, and giant chicken thighs. Small chicken thighs, for example, take 35 minutes to bake at 400°F (205°C), medium chicken thighs take 40 minutes, and large chicken thighs take 45 minutes. Other oven temperatures and the size/weight of the chicken thighs may result in the same time difference.

However, check the internal temperature, which should be at least 160°F (71°C) when removed from the oven, for a more precise result. According to the FDA, the temperature will climb about 5 degrees F, or close to 3 degrees C, after resting for 3-5 minutes, reaching the recommended temperature of 165°F or 74°C for safety considerations.

For consistent results, roast chicken thighs of equal sizes in the oven. If you’re baking frozen chicken thighs with stuffing, keep in mind that they’ll take longer to cook. Inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest portion of the thighs–but not touching the bone–is best to determine whether they are thoroughly done.

How To Cook Chicken Thighs In The Oven?

To make perfectly baked chicken thighs, follow these 4-5 steps:

1. Brine – Brining your chicken thighs is a good idea if you have the time. Because the brine penetrates the meat, it will be more moist and tasty. The brine recipe from my roast turkey can be used! You can also purchase them brined. If you’re usually in a rush like me, you may skip this step and still get excellent results. Instead of bringing, you can marinate the chicken thighs for almost the same results. Fill a large mixing basin halfway with lukewarm water and stir in a handful of salt until it essentially dissolves. After that, add the thighs and set them aside for 15 to 4 hours. Place the bowl in the fridge and cover if bringing for several hours. After that, take the thighs out of the brine and rinse them with cold water to remove the salt. Then, using paper towels, thoroughly dry the area. They won’t receive a proper sear if you don’t do it!
2. Brush – with olive oil or neutral vegetable oil with a high smoke point.
3. Rub –Taco seasoning, Italian seasoning, barbeque seasoning, or Cajun seasoning are examples of seasoning blends. You can make your own at home as well. Take a look at the recipe notes!
4. Roast/Bake –High temperatures are preferred, such as 425°F (220°C). It will seal in the moisture and give the chicken thighs a beautiful golden finish.
5. Rest–Allowing the thighs to rest for 3 to 5 minutes before serving is essential, and this will aid in the retention of moisture.
   A combination of high temperature and cooking time is required to bake excellent chicken thighs.

Why Are Chicken Thighs Dry And Tough?

There are the main factors that may have caused your chicken thighs to be dry and tough:

• You didn’t take the chicken out of the fridge for at least 20 minutes before cooking it: this is crucial for even cooking!
• The thighs had been cooked too long: After achieving an internal temperature of 160° F (71°C), remove them from the oven.
• You didn’t let the chicken thighs rest for 3-5 minutes after baking them before cutting them. The resting time allows the juices to re-distribute and the moisture locked in.

How To Season Chicken Thighs?

There are several different pre-packaged seasoning blend options, such as taco, barbecue, and Cajun seasoning. But you can make your own at home.

This is one of my favorite homemade seasonings: Combine 4 tsp paprika, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp brown sugar (omit the sugar if on a keto diet, or substitute dry herbs such as oregano, thyme, or Italian seasoning), 2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, 12 tsp ground cumin, and 1 tsp black pepper in a mixing bowl. 12 tsp chili powder or cayenne pepper can be added for a kick. Of course, you may use any dry rub you choose for four medium/large thighs, roughly 3 tbsp.

Brush the chicken thighs with oil before baking. Then, sprinkle them with spices and seasoning. Press the thighs with your hands to adhere to the seasoning. You can also use a pastry brush to brush the chicken thighs with butter and herbs. To bake the thighs, you can use the oven’s top broiler for cooking the thighs at a higher temperature. This step is optional, however.

Conclusion

Once the chicken thighs have reached the desired internal temperature, they can be served immediately. To make chicken thighs taste delicious, you should brush them with olive oil before roasting, and you can also brush them with lemon juices. You can sprinkle the chicken with chili powder or cayenne to add more flavor. After baking, you should allow the thighs to rest for at least five minutes. As long as they have 165 degrees, they are ready for frying.

Before baking, be sure the thighs are thoroughly dried. The moist surface will prevent the chicken from cooking properly. When baking, add some sauce to the thighs, and the sauce will add flavor to the thighs. During this time, you can continue to bake them. Ensure that they reach a temperature of 165 deg F. Once they are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to rest for a couple of minutes before serving.