The BEST Crispy Bone-in Chicken Thighs
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This is one of the best bone in chicken thigh recipes – it features deliciously juicy meat, crispy skin, and flavorful seasoning. It’s everything you could want in an easy weeknight dinner! These bone in chicken thighs also require a short prep and cook time, so you can have them ready before the entire family gets hungry.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick and easy – These bone in chicken thighs require minimal ingredients and are ready in 40 minutes!
- Crispy – These boned chicken thighs are made with olive oil to help create the crispiest skin.
- Juicy – Since you’re cooking these bone in chicken thighs with their skin on, you can expect juicy bites of meat.
- Flavorful – A simple yet yummy seasoning blend helps create delicious bone in chicken thigh recipes (like this dish!).
- Crowd pleaser – Simple, easy, and yummy, everyone in the family will love this recipe for bone in chicken thighs in the oven.
- Freezer friendly – The best part about this recipe is that you can double or triple it and toss the leftovers in the freezer for a future meal.
- Inexpensive – At £0.84 per serving, this chicken thigh dish is easy on the wallet.
Here are a few more recipes you can make with chicken thighs during the week: Easy Chicken Thigh Curry, One Pot Chicken & Rice and Lemon and Thyme Chicken Thigh Tray Bake.
Why use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs?
Bone in chicken thighs offer the tastiest dish. The skin on the chicken thighs crisp up, creating a delightful texture against the cooked thigh meat. As you cook these bone in chicken thighs in the oven, the flavour from the bone spreads to the rest of the thigh meat, creating an even more delicious dish.
Baking Bone-In Chicken Thighs
Here are some tips for creating the best bone in chicken thigh recipes.
Best way to get super crispy skin?
You can achieve super crispy skin on bone in chicken thighs by leaving the foil off for the last section of cooking time. Adding olive oil to the skin will also help create a crispy texture.
What sort of pan to use when baking?
You can use a few different types of pans when creating baked bone in chicken thighs: a baking sheet or cast iron pan. Both will help you create delicious, crispy bone in chicken recipes. However, you’ll notice crispier skin when using a cast iron skillet since the pan holds the heat well and stays hot more evenly.
How long to bake chicken thighs?
The answer to the question, “How long to bake bone-in chicken thighs?” depends on the temperature of your oven and how large your bone in chicken thighs are. If you’re unsure how long to cook bone in chicken thighs, the notes below will help guide you.
180°C/350°F – It will take about 40-50 minutes to cook bone in chicken thigh recipes.
200°C/400°F – You’ll notice a shorter cook time when creating chicken thigh bone in recipes at 400F. It will only take about 35-45 minutes at this temp.
210°C/425° F – At 425F, expect chicken thighs to bake for 25-30 minutes.
230°C/450°F – I wouldn’t recommend cooking chicken thighs above 230°C / 450° F because it can cause the outside to cook too quickly and the inside to remain raw. It will take about 22-28 minutes to fully cook chicken thighs at this temperature.
How to take internal temperature reading with instant-read thermometer?
To more accurately check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer, put the thermometer in each chicken thigh. Place the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. Ensure the thermometer does not touch the bones, which can skew the reading. The chicken is done when the internal thermometer reads 165F.
Can you overcook chicken thighs?
Yes, you can overcook chicken thighs. Overcooked chicken thighs typically have a rubbery, hard-to-chew consistency. If you’re unsure how long to cook chicken thighs, refer to the above notes for guidance, and use an internal thermometer.
Can you make this recipe with boneless thighs?
You can make bone in chicken thigh recipes with boneless thighs instead. You’ll notice a slightly different flavour when using boneless skinless chicken thighs. You will need to adjust the cook time when using boneless chicken thighs.
How long to cook boneless thighs?
I recommend cooking boneless thighs for about 25 minutes. Like other chicken thighs with skin recipes, the time will depend on the protein’s size.
You can tell the chicken thighs are done when their internal temperature is 74°C /165°F.
Ingredients
Bone in Chicken Thighs
I love tossing bone in chicken thighs in the oven, as they have the tastiest flavour. However, you can also use this recipe for boneless chicken thighs, chicken drummies, or chicken breasts. You will need to adjust the bake time for different cuts of meat.
Italian Seasoning
Using Italian seasoning for bone in skin on chicken thighs helps create a delicious flavour. If you prefer a different seasoning blend in bone in chicken thigh recipes, you can use that instead. Herbs de Provence is also a great blend for a baked chicken thighs recipe.
Olive Oil
You can use butter or avocado oil instead if you don’t have olive oil on hand for bone in skin on chicken thigh recipes. Both will help create yummy, crispy skin.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
Here are a few ways to change up your bone in chicken thighs! Instead of using Italian seasoning, try using your favourite spices or a premade chicken seasoning blend. Additionally, you can use mixed herbs in this recipe for bone in chicken thigh in oven.
For a bit more heat, use chilli flakes instead of chilli powder. Finally, you can use lemon instead of lime if you don’t have any on hand.
If you prefer using the air fryer instead of the oven, cook these chicken thighs in the air fryer for about 25 minutes at 180°C/350°F. Ensure you preheat the air fryer for a few minutes before putting the chicken thighs into the appliance.
How to make Bone-in Chicken Thighs
Preheat oven to 200°C Fan/ 220°C Conventional or 400° F
- Start by adding the seasoning to a bowl (Image 1).
- Combine the olive oil, seasoning (except chilli flakes), lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl (Image 2).
3. Pat the chicken skin dry with a paper towel (Image 3).
4. Combine olive oil, seasoning (except chilli flakes), lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Using an oil brush, coat the chicken thighs thoroughly with the oil/seasoning blend (Image 4).
5. Cover with foil (ensuring the foil doesn’t touch the chicken) and pop in the oven for 10 minutes (Image 5).
6. After 10 minutes, remove the foil and baste with the rendered chicken fat (Image 6).
7. Roast the chicken thighs for a further 20-25 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken thighs), until the chicken is fully cooked and the skin is crispy (Image 7).
8. Top with fresh parsley, chilli flakes and an optional extra squeeze of lemon juice (Image 8).
Make Ahead Instructions
After baking bone in chicken thighs, you can keep them in the fridge for 4-5 days. Once the thighs have cooled, pack them in airtight containers to make them easier to put in your lunch bag. Reheat them in the air fryer for the best results.
Freezer and Storage Instructions
Place cooled bone in chicken thighs in an airtight bag or container before putting them in the freezer. If you plan on making multiple batches, freeze each batch separately. Or, freeze the chicken thighs in smaller servings to make it easier to reheat them later. You can keep chicken thighs in the freezer for up to two months.
To reheat frozen chicken thighs, let them defrost in the fridge overnight. Then, you can reheat them in the oven or air fryer. Preheat your appliance to 400F. Then, heat the thighs for about 5-15 minutes, or until heated through.
How To Reheat
You can reheat these bone in chicken thighs in the microwave for a quick meal. However, this may cause the skin to get soggy or not be as crispy. If you have a few extra minutes, toss the chicken thighs into the air fryer for about five minutes at 180C/380F. This method will ensure the skin stays crispy.
Here are some other tasty chicken recipes for you to try; Honey Soy Chicken Salad, The BEST Teriyaki Chicken Bowl and Creamy Spiced Thai Chicken Noodle Soup
Tips for the best result
Avoid rinsing the chicken
Rinsing chicken in the sink means spreading the bacteria around. Additionally, rinsing bone in chicken thighs leaves you with a less flavourful dish. Skip this step for the best bone in chicken recipes.
Select chicken thighs which are the same size
The key to creating yummy chicken thighs is to select pieces which are about the same size. Having same-size chicken thighs means they will be done at about the same time. This also helps prevent undercooked or overcooked thighs.
Dry the chicken before seasoning
The crispiest chicken thighs require minimal moisture on the outside. Ensure you pat down the skin of the thighs with a paper towel before adding seasoning and oil for the best results.
Use the chicken juices to flavour the thighs
One of the best ways to ensure your chicken thighs are flavourful is by basting them with the juices about halfway through. This also helps keep the thighs juicy as they cook.
Rub in the spices
Rubbing or patting in the spices helps them stick to the chicken skin. If you simply toss the chicken in the seasoning, it will likely fall off while they cook.
Use a thermometer on each chicken thigh
Since chicken thighs can vary in size (even if you select similar ones), it’s best to check each thigh individually. With this recipe, you may need to remove the smaller thighs and cook the larger ones for a few extra minutes.
Check the temperature with a thermometer
Even if you cook chicken thighs for the noted time in the recipe, they may not be fully done in the centre. Always use a thermometer to check the internal temp to ensure they’re properly cooked before removing them from the oven.
If you have leftover chicken after making this recipe, try making these other yummy chicken dishes: Wagamama’s Chicken Ramen, Marry Me Chicken, or Garlic Butter Chicken.
What to serve with Bone-in Chicken Thighs
Bone in chicken thighs are a delicious entrée that you can serve with most side dishes. They work well with salads, roasted veg, bread, potato salad/mashed potatoes, pasta, etc. It’s quite a versatile main dish, which is why I enjoy making it often. You can also adjust the seasoning to better fit the flavour of the sides. For example, adding a herb mixture instead of Italian seasoning to the thighs makes them pair well with roasted garlicky potatoes.
FAQs
Ensure the skin is dry before seasoning them to get crispy bone in chicken thighs. Ensure you pat the skin dry with a paper towel, and you should have deliciously crispy skin every time.
Overcooking chicken thighs will create a rubbery texture. Ensure you check them with a thermometer as they cook to avoid keeping them in the oven too long
When making recipes for chicken thighs bone in, it’s best to cover the thighs with foil for the first section to help keep the skin from burning. It will crisp up after you remove the foil for the remaining bake time.
When baking chicken thighs, keep them skin up. Unlike cooking thighs in a pan, you don’t need to flip thighs in the oven.
While you can cook thighs at 180°C /350°F , I have found the best results when cooking them at 200°C/400° F The higher temperature helps create crispy skin and lock in the chicken juices, creating a moister, more delicious dish.
I prefer cooking bone in chicken thigh recipes at 400F because it helps create juicy chicken bites.
Bone-in chicken thighs are typically juicier and more flavorful than chicken breast. Plus, they don’t dry out as easily while cooking. Of course, you can always use chicken breast instead if you want a leaner recipe. However, you’ll need to adjust the cook time slightly.
You can check the notes above if you’re wondering, “How long to cook chicken thighs bone in?”. As a quick summary of how long to cook bone in chicken thighs, they will need to cook for about 22-50 minutes, depending on the oven temperature.
Try making these yummy starter or side dishes along with these bone in chicken thighs for a more filling meal: Creamy Tomato Basil Bisque, Creamy White Beans with Parmesan (Cannellini Beans) and Israeli Couscous (Pearl Couscous Recipe)
If you tried this Crispy Bone-in Chicken Thighs recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
The BEST Crispy Bone-in Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 kg bone in, skin on chicken thighs (£3.30)
- Fresh parsley (£0.60)
- Juice of half a lemon (£0.30)
Cupboard Essentials
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper
Method
Preheat oven to 200°C Fan/ 220°C Conventional or 400° F
- Pat the chicken skin dry with a paper towel.
- Combine olive oil, seasoning (except chilli flakes), lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Using an oil brush, coat the chicken thighs thoroughly with the oil/seasoning blend. Cover with foil (ensuring the foil doesn't touch the chicken) and pop in the oven for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, remove the foil and baste with the rendered chicken fat. Roast for a further 20-25 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken thighs), until the chicken is fully cooked and the skin is crispy.
- Top with fresh parsley, chilli flakes and an optional extra squeeze of lemon juice.
Notes
- Skip rinsing chicken to avoid bacterial spread and enhance flavour in bone-in thighs.
- Choose chicken thighs of similar size for consistent cooking and prevent undercooked or overcooked results.
- Pat down chicken skin before seasoning for crispiest thighs.
- Baste thighs with their juices halfway through cooking for added flavour and juiciness.
- Ensure thorough cooking by using a thermometer on each thigh, as sizes may vary despite initial selection.
Nutrition
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