How to Perfectly Roast Chicken Thighs Every Single Time
Updated: Nov. 10, 2023
You have to know exactly how long to bake chicken thighs to get the juiciest, crispiest chicken dinner ever!
Poor chicken thighs. While skinless, boneless chicken breast gets all the love, those thighs sit in the refrigerator untouched. It’s true that chicken breast is quick and cheap, but it’s also missing the wow factor of chicken thighs: flavor!
Plus, our best chicken thigh recipes to get you started.
Top Tips for Baking Chicken Thighs
Because chicken thighs have more fat from their skin and dark meat, they have loads of flavor. Your chicken thighs should come out of the oven browned, crispy and bursting with juicy goodness. It can be intimidating to know how long to bake chicken thighs, so we’re taking the guesswork out of it.
Pat the Skin Dry
The first step to preparing your chicken thighs is also the most important. Make sure the outer skin is as dry as possible. Moist skin causes steam, making your cooked thighs mushy. Pat them dry for crispy skin.
Psst: Did you know chicken skin isn’t so bad for you?
Prep the Night Before
Save time and get more flavor by preparing your chicken thighs the night before you bake them. By allowing them to sit with the vegetables and seasonings overnight, you’ll have nothing to do at dinnertime but pop the sheet pan in the oven. Just be sure to keep an eye out for the most common sheet pan dinner mistakes.
Know How Long to Bake Chicken Thighs
You don’t want to overbake and risk dry thighs, so roast only until a thermometer inserted in the chicken reads 170°-175°. It usually takes about 40 minutes. And, yes, you really need a meat thermometer.
Here are more baked chicken recipes you’ll love. Check out these boneless chicken thigh recipes, too.
How to Roast Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds red potatoes (about 6 medium), cut into 3/4-inch pieces
- 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed, divided
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 6 bone-in chicken thighs (about 2-1/4 pounds), skin removed
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach (about 6 ounces)
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the baking pan
Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, onion, oil, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat.
Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray.
Step 2: Mix the seasonings
In a small bowl, mix paprika and the remaining salt, rosemary and pepper. Sprinkle chicken with paprika mixture; arrange over vegetables.
Step 3: Bake
How long do you bake chicken thighs at 400°? It depends. Roast until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175° and vegetables are just tender, 40-45 minutes. Be sure to use a thermometer to make sure your chicken is fully cooked.
The best part of a baked chicken dinner is biting into the crispy skin. Up the flavor and crunch by broiling the chicken thighs for one minute after they are cooked through. Once they are golden brown, remove from the oven.
Step 4: Let the Chicken Rest
Remove chicken to a serving platter. Cover with a piece of aluminum foil to keep warm. While the chicken is resting, top the vegetables with spinach. Roast until vegetables are tender and spinach is wilted, 8-10 minutes longer. Stir vegetables to combine; serve with chicken.
You can toss chicken thighs with any of your favorite vegetables and seasonings for a quick sheet pan dinner any night of the week. Serve with a light side dish like this Veggie Chopped Salad and you’re ready to go.
Whatever you do, just be sure to break out of your chicken breast rut today. Juicy flavor is waiting for you!
Find More Ways to Cook Juicy Chicken Thighs
Grilled Huli Huli ChickenHawaiian-inspired grilled chicken thighs are addictively sweet and savory. After a simple marinade, the chicken is seared on the grill. "Huli" means "to turn," and as the thighs cook, you'll turn them often, brushing with more delicious sauce. Serve with your favorite barbecue side dish.
Thai Chicken ThighsThis mouth-watering chicken tastes as good as Thai takeout but is easy to make in the slow cooker. Spicy peanut sauce (made with items you've already got in your pantry) sets the dish apart.
Mango Chicken Thighs with Basil-Coconut SauceCoconut lovers, rejoice! Here's a savory dinner recipe that showcases the sweet, creamy richness of coconut milk. This tasty curry—not too spicy and studded with sweet mangos and fresh basil—will appeal to even the less adventurous eaters in the family.
Sweet and Spicy Peanut ChickenOne of our favorite slow-cooker chicken thigh recipes, this calls for a quick homemade peanut sauce made with pepper jelly and savory soy sauce. Chopped peanuts and red peppers add a welcome crunch to the creamy sauce and tender chicken. Serve with rice and steamed broccoli.
Savory Mustard Chicken and Stuffing WafflesA twist on the southern favorite of chicken and waffles, this meal makes a delightful breakfast for dinner. The crispy chicken thighs may be deep-fried in a skillet or cooked in an air fryer.
Chicken MoleThis mole sauce contains a surprising ingredient: chocolate. The deep, earthy flavor of the chocolate grounds the bright tomato sauce, which is fragrant with cinnamon, cumin and ancho and chipotle chiles. The classic Mexican dish is tasty on its own or served with rice, beans and tortillas.
Za’atar ChickenSweet, spicy and fragrant, this is the chicken recipe to make when you want to experiment with za'atar. The stew pot will smell delicious thanks to the addition of dried fruits, olives, cumin and oregano. Don't like olives? Swap in capers or skip.
Chicken Thighs with Shallots & SpinachThis top-rated chicken dinner is one of our quickest, from prep to table in about 30 minutes. A creamy green side dish even cooks in the same pan. Serve over a bed of rice as a base.
The Ultimate Chicken Noodle SoupHomemade chicken soup is a recipe everyone should know. It's the best food when you've got a cold, or when you just are very, very cold. This recipe is classic and simple, but you can use it as a springboard for making other soups, like egg and lemon soup.
Sheet-Pan Tandoori ChickenMarinating chicken in yogurt tenderizes the chicken (thanks to the acid) and imparts a bright flavor. It's a perfect match for the Indian-inspired seasonings in this simple recipe. Serve with rice or flatbreads.
Chili Sauce ChickenThere's no rule that prohibits grilling all year round! This spicy, garlicky chicken is an obvious match with summer foods like corn on the cob, but it's also the perfect tangy main dish to enliven winter foods like mashed potatoes and stewed greens.
Southwestern Chicken & Lima Bean StewThis rich, vegetable-forward southwestern stew is sure to delight diners of all ages. Serve with crispy tortilla strips and a dollop of sour cream or guacamole.
Spinach-Pesto Spiral ChickenIdeal for a dinner party, these elegant chicken rolls are full of flavor and look impressive on a platter. While you can go the extra mile and make homemade pesto, store-bought is a quick, tasty alternative.
Chicken Sliders with Sesame SlawWhile sliders are a winning choice for a potluck appetizer, they also make a five-star dinner. Serve the sandwiches with slaw and watch your family dinner finish in record time.
Greek Orzo ChickenOrzo is a tiny pasta shape popular in Greek recipes. While it's delicious—like a cross between a grain and a noodle—you can swap in couscous, rice or another grain if you prefer.
Originally Published: April 25, 2019
