Best oven baked chicken thighs

The most delicious chicken thighs ever, crispy on the outside and so juicy on the inside, what more can you ask for? This recipe is so simple and easy to make and it only requires a few simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your kitchen.

As a mom, I love quick and easy meals that feed the family, especially those picky eaters. And this chicken thigh recipe is no joke so simple to make, and tastes delicious. If you love chicken recipes, you will want to try this one.

I love chicken and it’s such a staple in our household, and sometimes chicken can be dry especially if baked in the oven. When I first tried this recipe I was pleasantly surprised at how juicy tender the chicken turned out, the meat was literally falling off the bone(It might have something to do with extra fat on the chicken thighs or the skin locking all the flavors in).

Ingredients you will need to make the most delicious crispy baked chicken thighs

1. Bone-in Chicken Thighs /Skin on – The bone in and skin on helps from drying out the chicken, the skin will give you that delicious crispy skin, and unlike chicken breast, chicken thighs have more fat which equals more flavor and juicy meat.
2. Tomato Paste – Adds so much richness and enhances the flavor.
3. Oil – Avacado Oil or Olive Oil is best.
4. Seasoning (Smoked Paprika, Salt, Black Pepper)

How to make the best oven-baked chicken thighs?

 

1. Pat chicken thighs with paper towels and cut out any extra fat. Preheat oven temperature to 400°. Season chicken with a pinch of salt, pepper, and smoked paprika, for extra flavor season the meat under the skin.
2. In a small bowl combine 2 tbs of oil and 2 tbsp of tomato paste, mix well, and using gloves coat each piece of chicken with oil and tomato paste mixture.
3. Place chicken thighs skin side up in a baking dish and bake them uncovered in the oven at 400° for about 40 mins or until internal temperature reaches 165°. (Baking time  will vary on the thickness of the chicken and your oven)
4. For extra crispiness, broil on high for a minute.
5. Garnish with parsley or basil (optional) and Enjoy.

I told you this was an incredibly easy chicken thigh recipe. All you have to do is basically season the chicken and let the oven do the cooking.

This recipe is the perfect chicken dish and can be served as a main meal with pasta, rice, potatoes, salad, or veggies. Or you can use this recipe as a side dish.

Also, don’t throw out the bones, you can use them to make broth and make a delicious soup.

Useful Notes

The tomato paste can be lumpy and hard to spread when cold, to avoid this warm up the tomato paste with a little bit of oil in a small frying pan then mix in your oil and massage chicken thighs with this mixture.

This recipe has very basic seasonings, I do recommend not skipping the smoke paprika it gives a very nice smoky flavor. But of course, you can add any of your favorite seasonings like Italian seasoning, garlic powder, or even a little bit of red pepper flakes if you like heat.

Can I use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead?

Although I do prefer skin-on chicken thighs, of course, you can use boneless skinless thighs  (you might miss out on the delicious crispy skin) but I would cut the cooking time to 25 to 30 minutes or until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165° on the meat thermometer.

How to store this recipe?

If you have leftover chicken you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. If you wanted to freeze leftovers, I would allow the chicken to completely cool down and remove the bones, the bones will take up room in your fridge and make reheating a little harder. Freeze up to three months.

How to Reheat

If frozen make sure your chicken is completely thawed out.

Best way to reheat chicken thighs using the oven or air fryer. If using the oven, grease the bottom of your cooking dish, preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and bake uncovered for 15 minutes until the chicken is hot. In the air fryer place chicken thighs in a single layer on the lowest rack and reheat at 400° for 5 minutes or until hot (or follow your air fryer reheating instructions).

Cooking used to intimate me, but I am so passionate to show beginner home cooks, that cooking at home is not that complicated. We often tend to overthink, but it’s all about reading and following instructions carefully, and if you make mistake then that’s a good thing because that’s how we learn and improve.

If you enjoyed this incredible easy oven-baked chicken thighs recipe, I would love for you to review it or share it.