Description
Oven Baked Chicken Thighs: Juicy chicken thighs marinated in garlic, herbs, and lemon, baked to crispy perfection. Easy, flavorful, and family-friendly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds (1.4 kg) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (approximately 6–8 thighs)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) brown sugar (helps with caramelization)
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) paprika (sweet or smoked)
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) onion powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) salt
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 g) cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the chicken Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and position a rack in the middle. Remove the chicken thighs from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before cooking to take the chill off and pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels. Place them in a large bowl.
- Step 2: Season the chicken In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, pepper, cayenne (if using), and brown sugar. Drizzle olive oil over the chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture generously over the chicken, massaging it into every nook and cranny.
- Step 3: Arrange and bake Line a baking sheet with a wire rack on top. Arrange the seasoned thighs skin-side up on the rack and bake for 35-40 minutes until the skin is crispy and internal temperature reaches 175°F (79°C).
- Step 4: Rest and serve Remove the chicken from the oven, let it rest for 5-10 minutes, and serve with your favorite sides. Optional: broil for extra-crispy skin before serving.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 110mg