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close-up of the best baked chicken thighs
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5 from 6 votes

Easy Baked Chicken Thighs

Make a fuss-free meal with this super simple baked chicken thighs recipe that has only 5 minutes of prep. They'll end up so tender with deliciously crispy skin, and your oven does all the work!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked chicken thighs recipe, chicken thighs baked in oven, recipe for baked chicken thighs
Servings: 6
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken thighs (bone-in skin on)
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika or more, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400F and move the rack to the middle position. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy clean-up.
  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towel. Place the chicken pieces on the baking sheet and coat them on both sides with olive oil. Season them generously with salt & pepper on both sides. Sprinkle the smoked paprika on the skin (and then rub it on).
  • Bake, uncovered, skin side up, for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through. See recipe notes below for more info on timing. Optional: broil for a few more minutes to really crisp up the skin.
  • Let the chicken thighs rest for 5-10 minutes prior to serving them (this ensures they will be juicy and tender).

Notes

  • 2 pounds of chicken thighs serves 4-6 depending on how much people eat/what you serve them with. Cook as many as you need.
  • If chicken thighs are on the small side, test doneness after 25-30 minutes. Go up to 45 minutes before testing doneness if the chicken thighs are very large. Chicken thighs become tender with an internal temperature of 175F, so it's always best to use an instant read thermometer to take the guesswork out.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 117mg | Potassium: 310mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg