This recipe for the Perfect Baked Chicken Thighs shows you how to cook juicy chicken, whether you're using boneless or bone-in chicken thighs.
Tips for perfect baked chicken thighs
Before we get started, I thought I would go over the secrets to getting your chicken thighs just right! These tips apply to both boneless, skinless and bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Keep reading to see more specific instructions on the differences between the two, or to get cooking!
- Whether you use boneless or bone-in thighs depends on your preference. For juicier meat, opt for bone-in. For a leaner dinner, go for the boneless. Personally I prefer boneless as they are less messy to eat and still end up being very tender
- Use a parchment-lined baking sheet as the chicken will produce some juices – you can lay the chicken flat on the sheet or use a wire rack to drain some of the fat
- Don't add extra oil! It's not needed with chicken thighs as they contain enough fat on their own. Parchment paper will prevent them from sticking to the baking sheet
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reads 165°F
- You can use the broiler setting on your oven once the chicken are done cooking to get a crispy outside
- Let your chicken thighs rest for 5 to 10 minutes after they are baked to ensure they hold their juices
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How long does it take to bake chicken thighs?
The time it takes to cook chicken thighs will vary, based on the oven temperature and whether the thighs are boneless or bone-in.
In general, it does take a few minutes longer to cook bone-in chicken thighs than it does to cook boneless chicken thighs. For this baked chicken thighs recipe, the oven temperature is the same for bone-in and boneless – 425 F. It takes about 20 minutes to cook boneless thighs and 25 minutes for bone-in chicken thighs.
Regardless of what type of chicken thigh you use, always make sure the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165F degrees.
Check the temperature by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken. Be sure that the probe of the thermometer isn't touching any bones.
Baking boneless chicken thighs
With boneless chicken thighs, there's a bit less preparation needed. Just coat the chicken in the spice rub, add to the baking sheet with the tops facing up as pictured below. Bake for 12 minutes, then flip and cook another 8 minutes. Let your thighs rest for 5 minutes then you are ready to go!
Because boneless, skinless thighs emit less fat and juices, you can cook your veggies on the same sheet pan as the chicken. I suggest a blend of broccoli, zucchini and sliced carrots. They can be stirred just once when you go to flip the chicken over.
Baking bone-in chicken thighs
Bone-in chicken thighs require slightly more work but not by much! You'll want to pat the skin dry on the thighs then coat in the spice rub just like you do with boneless thighs. This time, you will place the thighs SKIN DOWN and bake uninterrupted for 25 minutes.
How to get crispy skin
If you want crispy skin, you'll throw the chicken SKIN UP under the broiler on high for 1-2 minutes. You will have to pay close attention here and make sure the chicken doesn't burn. I've seen some recipes that say 5 minutes on broil but that is far too long – you need to keep a close eye to make sure you get the perfect crispy skin. This part of optional but makes the chicken so good!
Is it okay to leave the skin on?
Because chicken skin is very fatty, some people prefer to remove it. It really comes down to your personal preference on texture and meat. I was raised not eating a lot of fat or skin so I'm still getting used to more tender cuts of chicken and meat. However, it can be beneficial to leave the skin on because there's often more flavor. This is because the extra fat helps to keep moisture inside of the meat as it cooks.
Also, chicken bones release moisture. As a result, when you cook boneless, skinless chicken thighs, keep in mind that they tend to dry out more quickly. You really have to watch your cooking time with boneless thighs.
How to reduce fat content
Dark meat chicken gets a bad rap for fat content, but it can still be super healthy for you and part of a well-rounded diet. If you want to reduce the amount of fat with chicken thighs, first of all, you will want to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Use the instructions listed below.
However, you can go even further by using a wire rack so any extra fat from the chicken drains from the rack onto the baking sheet. You can employ this method with either boneless or bone-in chicken thighs.
How do you store baked chicken thighs?
Baked chicken thighs can be refrigerated for four to five days. If you won’t be eating them during that time, you can freeze the leftovers for future use.
Freezing chicken thighs
- Allow the meat to cool to room temperature.
- Divide the leftovers into portions and place them into airtight meal prep containers or freezer-safe bags.
- Cooked chicken can be kept in the freezer for up to three months.
Reheating chicken thighs
If reheating after refrigerating, make sure to sprinkle a bit of water overtop and lay a damp paper towel over the chicken. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.
If reheating from frozen, you can do the same water and paper towel trick (this reduces the leftover chicken taste), then microwave on defrost mode for 6-7 minutes.
In both cases, this reheat time is for 2 chicken thighs at a time.
What to serve with baked chicken thighs
These juicy, tender chicken thighs would be delicious served with a healthy salad, rice, your favourite vegetables, roasted potatoes or even a simple pasta dish.
In the last 10 minutes of cook time, I usually add a blend of mixed vegetables to the baking sheet. In this case, I used broccoli, sliced carrots and zucchini. Toss the veggies with about 1 tsp of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
The veggies can be roasted for 10-20 minutes depending on how crisp you like your veggies. Sometimes it's easier to just throw them on the pan with the thighs and stir halfway through, but if you like them less cooked I would recommend adding them during the last 10 minutes of cook time.
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How to bake chicken breast
Once you've mastered chicken thighs, you'll want to try your hand at chicken breasts! If you're looking for the perfect baked chicken recipe and a bunch of spice blend ideas, check out my how to tutorial for baked chicken.
Other chicken thigh recipes to try
If you love tender, juicy baked chicken thighs, here are other chicken thigh recipes to try:
- Garlic Sesame Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Shawarma Meal Prep Bowls
- Korean Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
- More Healthy and Delicious Chicken Thigh Recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on storing the leftovers in the fridge
- I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen
- Get a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through
- Use these Ziploc bag holders if you're marinating the chicken then freezing it
More baked proteins
Perfect Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
BONE-IN, SKIN-ON THIGHS
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
BONELESS, SKINLESS THIGHS
- 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Spice blend for both types of chicken thighs
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper
Optional Mediterranean sheet pan meal
- 2 Yukon gold potatoes chopped
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 1 red onion chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 lemon sliced (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives
- 1/2 cup parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup feta crumbled
Instructions
BONE-IN, SKIN-ON THIGHS
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Mix together spice blend in a small bowl. Pat chicken thighs dry then cover with spice blend.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add chicken thighs, skin facing down. Bake for 25-35 minutes depending on your size of thigh, then flip over and broil on high for 1-2 minutes if you're looking for extra crispy skin (optional…watch closely to make sure they don't burn!) The chicken should register an internal temperature of 165 F. Serve and enjoy!
BONELESS, SKINLESS THIGHS
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Mix together spice blend in a small bowl. Rub chicken thighs with spice blend.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add chicken thighs with bottom area facing down. Bake for 12 minutes, then flip and bake 8 more minutes. The chicken should register an internal temperature of 165 F. Serve and enjoy!
IF MAKING SHEET PAN MEAL
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Toss potatoes, red pepper and red onion with olive oil, lemon juice and season with salt and pepper on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Rub chicken thighs with spice blend, then place on sheet.
- Add lemon slices, then bake for 35-38 minutes if using skin-on, bone-in thighs. If using boneless, skinless thighs, bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and mix garlic into veggies, then garnish with kalamata olives, parsley and feta. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Elizabeth says
Yup 2nd time I’m makin this
no wonder they say less is more , definitely true fit here
wonderful , my picky daughter even liked it
and that’s hard to do ! lol
thank you for sharing
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed!
Alex says
Fast easy & delicious!!
Taylor Stinson says
I’m glad you enjoyed!
Chelsea says
This was spot on! Thank you. I used boneless thighs and a chicken rub (from traeger) and it’s perfect.
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed!
Robin says
Loved your informative video! Going to make these boneless skinless thighs tonight. I’ll check out your other recipes! Thanks…
Celeste says
461 calories???
Virginia says
Watching your video, I realized that there is another way of applying rub to chicken – tossing the chx in it. What a concept! This is the first recipe I have found where chicken really did turn out crispy. Also it was the first time I used parchment paper. I thought it was for chefs and cooks that had a lot of experience in high-end cooking. Such is not the case. It’s a very good thing. Finally, my husband & I loved the recipe and broccoli came out great. Thank you for this.
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed 🙂
Troy King Jr. says
Tastes amazing, make sure you season to taste though if you want to go for more POPPIN’ flavors. But this serves as a great template. I would recommend adding a bit of cayenne and smoked paprika.
Barbara says
Great video
Shay says
Perfect, simple dinner for a busy weeknight. Thanks for sharing!
Kim says
Quick, simple and tasty!
Jess says
Hi. Debating with my boyfriend. He thinks the chicken should be cooked on a wire rack but I say directly on the baking sheet. Does it matter? Who wins?!!
Taylor Stinson says
I personally like the baking sheet because there’s less mess and I have not noticed a difference in the crispiness of the chicken but I suppose it’s all a matter of personal preference 😉 But in my opinion, you win LOL