Crispy baked chicken thighs are easy to whip up and toss in the oven on a busy weeknight. These chicken thighs turn out juicy and tender on the inside, with a crispy, lightly seasoned crust on the outside.

Crispy baked chicken thighs on a baking sheet.

Oven baked chicken thighs are a family favorite dinner recipe. These chicken thighs are seasoned with a variety of spices that turn into a crispy crust in the oven. The entire family will love them!

Bone-in chicken thighs turn out extra juicy and flavorful from being cooked on the bone. If you're unfamiliar with cooking chicken thighs, don't worry - it's easier than you think!

Serve these chicken thighs with mashed potatoes or a chopped salad for a complete meal. They're ready in less than an hour, making them perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients and substitutions

Chicken - You'll need about 3 pounds of bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe. This recipe can be made with an equal weight of drumsticks (like in my baked chicken drumsticks recipe), boneless chicken thighs, or chicken breasts. The cooking time will vary based on the cut of chicken used. I recommend using a meat thermometer for accurate cooking.
Seasoning - Onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, paprika, pepper, and cayenne pepper add flavor to your chicken. Brown sugar can be substituted with granulated sugar.
Olive oil - Can be substituted with any cooking oil you keep on hand.

Tips for crispy chicken

Pat your chicken dry with a paper towel before beginning. Excess moisture on the chicken will prevent it from getting crispy in the oven.
Trim off excess fat around the edges - these bits take longer to crisp up in the oven.
Prepare your baking sheet with an oven-safe cooling rack on top. This way your chicken won't be sitting in excess grease as it bakes.
Optionally, turn on the broiler for 1-2 minutes after your chicken has finished cooking. This will help crisp up the skin even more.

Preparing your baking sheet

For this recipe, I highly recommend using an oven-safe cooling rack to bake your chicken. Using this method helps your chicken to bake up crispy because the thighs won't be sitting in grease while they cook.

First, cover your baking sheet with foil. Then, place an oven-safe cooling rack on top. I do not recommend using a cooling rack coated in nonstick material.

I use this cooling rack from Amazon in the oven frequently and it works great. Plus, it's easy to pop in the dishwasher along with the dinner plates.

Preparing chicken thighs on a baking sheet.

Skin on or off?

Leaving the skin on your thighs insulates the chicken as it bakes, which helps prevent the meat from drying out. The skin also helps to keep your chicken juicy and gives some leeway if you over-bake them slightly.

You're welcome to use skinless chicken thighs if you prefer. Or, if you're trying to cut calories, feel free to remove the skin once it has finished baking.

If you plan to serve your chicken without skin, I suggest rubbing your spices underneath the skin before baking.

Baked chicken thighs lined up on a baking sheet.

What to serve with chicken thighs

Great side dish ideas to serve with baked chicken thighs:

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4.45 from 38 reviews