Baked Chicken Thighs

These baked chicken thighs are crispy, juicy and packed with so much flavor. They’re made with just a few pantry staple ingredients and delicious with rice or my gluten free risotto and your favorite veggie.

Low effort but flavorful meals are my absolute favorite to make during the week. I usually don’t have the time or energy to make anything elaborate, but I love having recipes that are quick, flavorful and high in protein. These baked chicken thighs are exactly that and are one of my favorite recipes to meal prep for the week since chicken thighs store so well in the fridge.

This recipe only takes about 10-15 minutes of actual prep time and you end up with perfectly juicy meat and crispy skin every time! You can serve with a side of my roasted red pepper sauce for dipping and my green goddess salad for some veggies. This recipe is very versatile and you can easily mix up the spices and herbs used get a totally different flavor profile. You can chop up the cooked chicken and toss in a salad or stir fry for a quick and healthy meal. I love lemon pepper seasoning, other herbs like basil or parsley etc. Try my air fryer chicken thighs or gluten free chicken wings next!

Tips before we get started!

• Chicken thighs tend to be fattier than chicken breasts, I like to just trim off the extra fat before cooking, but you want to otherwise keep the chicken thighs whole with the skin on and bone in.
• You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer, but you will want to decrease the bake time by about 10 minutes. Just check them with a meat thermometer for the most accurate way to test they are done!
• Bake time will vary depending on the exact size of your chicken thighs. Keep an eye on them and use the thermometer to check for doneness.

How to make baked chicken thighs

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. This will ensure the thighs get nice and crispy!

Melt the butter in a small dish and whisk in the spices, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.

Coat each thigh in the seasoning mixture and use your hands to rub it in. The butter may start to harden on the cold chicken, so try to work quickly.

Place each chicken thigh on the wire rack.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 Fahrenheit. You can broil for a few minutes at the end to get the skin extra crispy, but I find it gets plenty crispy without this.

Let cool for a few minutes, then serve with rice, veggies etc! Try my sheet pan harissa chicken next!

Serving suggestions

There are so many ways to serve these air fryer boneless chicken thighs! I love them with my gluten free parmesan risotto and asparagus on the side, but they’re also great on top of my massaged kale salad, or with my air fryer brussels sprouts.

Other ideas are to serve with pasta such as my spicy vodka pasta, but would also be great diced up and serve with my caesar pasta salad. Other ideas:

• Roasted Veggies or air fryer carrots
• Rice or quinoa
• Sweet potato wedges
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Can I use boneless chicken thighs?

Yes, you can, but you will want to decrease the bake time by about 5-10 minutes because boneless, skinless chicken thighs cook faster than bone-in ones. Since there is no skin, they will not get the same type of crispiness, but will still be delicious!

However, I do not recommend using frozen chicken thighs, whether they are skinless or not. The seasonings will not stick well to frozen meat so if your chicken is frozen, thaw before cooking!

How to store

Store any leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to reheat in the air fryer or oven just until warm through the center. Chicken thighs don’t dry out the way chicken breasts do so they stay juicy for longer!

Chicken breast is white meat, while chicken thighs have dark meat. Both are high in protein, but chicken thighs have more fat, which makes them more moist than chicken breasts. This helps prevent them from drying out! It also makes them harder to over-cook and means they store well in the fridge.

More easy chicken recipes!

• Air Fryer Orange Chicken
• Greek Chicken Bowls
• Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

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