Chicken thighs 😌—juicy, forgiving, impossible to mess up. Here are great go-to ways plus one rock-solid recipe.
Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs (Skin-On, Bone-In)
Ingredients
- 4–6 chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Optional: pinch cayenne or chili flakes
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Pat thighs very dry (key for crispy skin).
- Rub with oil and all seasonings.
- Place skin-side up on a rack over a sheet pan (or straight on pan).
- Bake 35–45 minutes until skin is crispy and internal temp hits 175–185°F (thighs love higher temps).
- Rest 5 minutes. Destroy.
Flavor Switch-Ups (same cook time)
- Honey garlic: brush with honey + soy + garlic last 10 min
- Lemon herb: lemon zest, thyme, rosemary
- BBQ: sauce in last 10–15 min
- Cajun: Cajun seasoning + butter finish
- Air fryer: 380°F, 18–22 min, flip once
Pro Tips
- Thighs are better at higher temps than breasts.
- Bone-in = more flavor, less drying.
- If skin isn’t crisp enough, broil 1–2 min (watch closely).
If you want, I can do stovetop crispy + oven finish, braised thighs, or a one-pan dinner with veggies next 🔥
