Baked Chicken Thighs Old Fashioned 5 Star Recipe Wellplated Com

While boneless skinless chicken breast might occupy the default setting in your grocery shopping approach (people rarely complain about juicy Grilled Chicken Breast), it is well worth picking up a pack of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs every now and then instead. Old fashioned baked chicken thighs are equally as make-ahead friendly as they are last-minute healthy dinner material. (Though for the fastest method for preparing chicken, try Pan Fried Chicken Breast.)

I recommend 60 minutes of marinade time, but you can reduce it to 30 minutes if you need a shortcut.On the opposite side of the timeline, you can completely prep them the night before and pop them into the oven when it’s time for dinner.

Today, I’m giving you my best 5-star baked chicken thighs recipe with dried Italian herbs (feel free to swap for fresh herbs if you have them), garlic, and lemon. This is one tasty (and healthy) baked chicken thighs recipe you can serve with pride.

How to Make the BEST Baked Chicken Thighs

I find it best to bake chicken thigh recipes like this one at a high temperature—425 degrees F. Since chicken thighs are lean, they don’t benefit from low, slow cooking the way tougher, more marbled cuts like Slow Cooker Pulled Pork do. A shorter cook time with high heat is the move.

The Ingredients

Chicken Thighs. Flavorful and succulent, chicken thighs are a fantastic, healthy ingredient (try them in Chicken Cacciatore). I used bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, which are healthy, affordable, and nearly impossible to mess up.

Italian Marinade. A mixture of olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning (which contains oregano, basil, marjoram, and more), dried rosemary, salt, pepper, and lemon. It imparts light and bright Italian flavor onto the chicken and helps make it extra juicy.

Onion. My special trick for this recipe is to thinly slice an onion and scatter it around the chicken thighs as they bake. Once roasted, the onions become deliciously caramelized and sweet. Vinegar. A small but impactful addition that makes the flavor of the onions pop. Either sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar will work here. Fresh Herbs. Fresh parsley, tarragon, or thyme is the perfect finishing touch.

The Directions

More Ways to Season Baked Chicken Thighs

Below you’ll find my go-to Italian baked chicken thighs recipe variation, but this recipe is versatile. Feel free to vary the seasonings according to your craving. Or, you can make a sheet pan Rosemary Chicken Thighs, which include veggies on the same pan. Note that baked boneless skinless thighs will cook faster than bone-in chicken thighs (boneless, skinless chicken thighs take about 20 minutes to cook at 425 degrees F), so you’ll want to check them very early and often. If using boneless thighs, be sure to marinade them since the meat doesn’t have the skin or bone to help insulate and flavor it. The best (and I’d say only true) way to tell if your chicken is cooked properly is to use an instant-read meat thermometer inserted at the thickest part.

This is the absolute best one and well worth the purchase price. It reads temps instantly and is spot-on accurate.This inexpensive model still works well and can save your dinner.

Chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees F, but its temperature will rise after it is removed from the heat. I remove my chicken 5 to 10 degrees early (155 to 160 degrees F) and let it rest.

Resting allows the meat to come to a safe temperature.Resting is necessary so that the juices have time to reincorporate into the chicken.

BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs. Season the thighs with your favorite BBQ spice blend. Bake per the time and temperature suggested in the recipe (with or without the onions). Serve with Barbecue Sauce.Old Fashioned Chicken Thighs. Keep it simple with salt, pepper, and paprika. Serve with Easy Drop Biscuits and your favorite gravy.Southern Baked Chicken Thighs. Season the chicken with a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, seasoned salt, a little cayenne, and dried rosemary. Curry Baked Chicken Thighs. Season the thighs with curry powder, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and salt. (This variation would be scrumptious with Turmeric Rice.)

Storage Tips

To Store. Place chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. To Freeze. Freeze chicken thighs in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve with Baked Chicken Thighs

This versatile protein pairs well with just about any side dish!

Sautéed Vegetables. Sautéed Carrots, Sautéed Brussels Sprouts, and Sautéed Cabbage can all be prepared on the stove while the chicken thighs bake.Mashed Potatoes. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes are two classic comfort pairings.Rice. Try this Lemon Rice for a brighter flavor or cauliflower rice for a low carbohydrates option.Salad. A green salad such as fiber-packed Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad makes this a complete meal.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Baking Dish. This baking dish is ideal for making baked chicken thighs. Measuring Spoons. These double-sided magnetic spoons are incredibly easy to store. Citrus Juicer. My go-to tool for juicing lemons and limes.

I hope this recipe is just the helping hand (er, thigh) for many of your weeknight chicken recipes to come.