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Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

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This recipe delivers golden, crackly skin with juicy, tender meat using a simple oven-baking technique. Perfect for quick, easy, and satisfying weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 to 2 pounds / 700–900 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (adjust to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme or oregano (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to remove all moisture.
  3. In a mixing bowl, toss chicken thighs with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, thyme (if using), and lemon zest until evenly coated.
  4. Arrange the chicken on a wire rack placed over a rimmed baking sheet, skin side up, spaced apart for air circulation.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes. Halfway through (around 20 minutes), check and rotate the pan for even cooking. If not using a rack, carefully flip the thighs at this point to crisp the underside.
  6. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should read 165°F (74°C). Juices should run clear.
  7. Optional: Broil for 2-3 minutes if the skin isn’t crispy enough, watching carefully to avoid burning.
  8. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Patting the chicken skin dry is essential for crispiness. Using a wire rack helps air circulate and keeps the skin crispy. If you don’t have a rack, flip the chicken halfway through baking. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before serving to keep it juicy. For extra crispiness, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end but watch carefully to avoid burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: crispy chicken thighs, oven baked chicken, easy chicken recipe, juicy chicken, weeknight dinner, comfort food, gluten-free chicken

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/crispy-oven-baked-chicken-thighs-recipe-easy-juicy-tender-meat/