Baked Chicken Thighs, Basic Recipe

Perfectly baked chicken thighs: this is a basic recipe for baking chicken thighs at 200°C/ 400°F in the oven. All you need are the thighs, oil, salt, pepper, and paprika.

This is the simplest recipe for baking chicken thighs in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit. All you need are the thighs, a touch of oil, and the most basic spices. What you get are incredibly delicious, crispy baked chicken thighs, perfect for any day of the week.

I think you would agree with me that thighs or drumsticks or chicken, in general, is something that most people like. Soft, tender meat, not much fat, crispy skin when everything goes well, and some potatoes and veggies on the side; my family and I couldn't be happier.

So I bake chicken a lot. Check out the Roasted Chicken with Vegetables, the Baked Chicken with Sweet Potatoes, or the Baked Chicken Cutlets.

Recipe ingredients

• This is a very basic, simple recipe for making oven-roasted chicken thighs. Just the thighs, sweet paprika powder, salt, and pepper.
• Of course, you can go from here. You can add more spices to taste; you can add some potatoes or vegetables; your decision. Try this Roasted Chicken Thighs and Potatoes recipe, for instance.
• I sometimes use dry herbs or different sorts of curry; sometimes, I use smoked paprika, cumin, or coriander. Experiment, and you will find your favorite seasoning soon enough.

• Chicken: You can use either thighs or a mixture of thighs and drumsticks. I usually buy whole legs (quarters), which I divide at the joint; they cost less than buying the already separated parts.

How to divide chicken legs at the joint?

• Take the chicken thigh in one hand. Hold on to the drumstick with the other hand. Bend the leg against the joint so that it dislocates.
• Use a good large knife and make sure to find the right spot where to cut. If you get it right, going through the joint will be very easy. If you encounter resistance, then you are not at the right spot. Move the knife a few millimeters more to the right or to the left and try again.
• Remove the excess fat and the excess skin from the inner side of the thigh with a sharp knife.
• If you wish, you can also remove the back part still attached to the thigh. You will need a good, strong knife to do that.

Tip:

Don't discard the back parts. If the chicken was fresh (and not frozen and defrosted), freeze the backbones and use them to make chicken stock. If the parts are thawed, then you will have to make the stock immediately.

How to bake chicken thighs in the oven?

This is my basic way of baking chicken thighs; very simple, quick, and totally fool-proof. The resulting thighs are absolutely delicious; you will love every bite of them.

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with baking paper or aluminum foil.
• Season: Place the meat portions in a large bowl or on a plate (1), pour the oil over them, and massage them with your hands until everything is coated in oil.
  • Sprinkle them with the spices and rub them well all over. Alternatively, place them directly on the tray skin-side down, and generously sprinkle the underside with salt, pepper, and paprika (or use other spices you like). Turn the pieces skin-side up and generously sprinkle the skin with the spices as well.

How long does it take to bake chicken thighs in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius (400°F)?

• Bake the chicken thighs for 40 minutes to 1 hour or until the juices run clear and the skin is golden brown and crispy. The exact baking time depends on the size of the portions. 
• Check that the meat is cooked through with an instant-read thermometer; the internal temperature should be 165°F/74°C.

Expert Tips

• Don’t wash the chicken. According to USDA (the link opens in a new tab), that will only spread bacteria and increase the risk of foodborne infection. Bacteria will only be destroyed during the cooking process.
• Dry the parts with a paper towel before rubbing them with oil and spices. This step will help the seasoning adhere to the thighs.

What to serve with oven-baked chicken thighs?

• Serve the oven-roasted chicken thighs with Sweet Chili Dip and Potato Wedges, and any kind of vegetables or salad you like.
• I love to make a nice tomato salad with lots of onions and parsley/basil in it. Or our favorite green salad with yogurt dressing. Simple White Cabbage Salad, either simple or German Cabbage Salad or Coleslaw are great as well.
• And in winter, why not try these delicious baked chicken thighs on Stewed Cabbage or with Irish Potato and Cabbage Dish - Colcannon?

More baked chicken thighs

Recipe

Baked Chicken Thighs, Basic Recipe

Perfectly oven-roasted chicken thighs, a basic recipe for baking chicken thighs in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

4.67 from 9 votes

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Course: Poultry

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 618kcal

Author: Adina

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Ingredients 

• ▢ 8 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on, Note 1
• ▢ 2 tablespoons oil olive or vegetable oil
• ▢ sweet paprika powder Note 2
• ▢ fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with baking paper or aluminum foil.
• Coat with oil: Dry the thighs with a paper towel. Place them in a large bowl, pour the oil over them, and massage the chicken with your hands until everything is coated in oil.

  8 chicken thighs + 2 tablespoons oil
• Spices: Sprinkle the thighs with the spices and rub them well all over. Alternatively, place them directly on the tray skin-side down, and generously sprinkle the underside with salt, pepper, and paprika (or use other spices you like). Turn the pieces skin-side up and generously sprinkle the skin with the spices as well.

  sweet paprika powder + fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Turn the chicken pieces skin-side up and generously sprinkle the skin with the spices as well.
• Bake for 40 minutes to one hour or until the juices run clear and the skin is golden brown and crispy.

Notes

1. Chicken: You can use 4 thighs and 4 drumsticks instead of only thighs. 
2. Seasoning: Use anything you like, not just salt, pepper, and paprika. For instance: chicken seasoning or dry rub, all-purpose seasoning, Cajun or Italian seasoning, ras-el hanout, curry powder, or a mix of spices you have in your cupboard (garlic/onion powder, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, chili powder, red pepper flakes, etc.)

Nutrition

Serving: 2thighs | Calories: 618kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 61g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 31g | Cholesterol: 333mg | Sodium: 982mg

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