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This three ingredient recipe for bone-in chicken thighs will become your go-to method for baked chicken with perfectly crispy skin, juicy meat, and lots of flavor in every bite. Learn the steps for preparing this basic, mouth-watering chicken thigh recipe that will have everyone asking for seconds!

Close up view of golden brown baked chicken thighs on a sheet pan, with a fork inserted into one of them.

Baked bone-in chicken thighs are so good! They emerge from the oven with puffy, deliciously crispy skin that’s super-tasty. This recipe is simple as can be, one of the easiest chicken thigh dinner recipes you can make, next to easy marinated chicken thighs. This recipe is perfect for busy nights when you don’t have too much time to cook but still want delicious chicken dinner ideas.

Bone-in chicken thighs with skin have an unbeatable rich and savory taste that comes from the combination of the meat, skin, and seasonings baked in a hot oven. Baked whole chicken legs (with leg and thigh) are another good choice.

Once you’ve moved beyond how to bake chicken breasts, it’s time to try this method. Especially if you’re a fan of air-fryer chicken thighs or simply looking for foolproof, everyday baked chicken thigh recipes

What you’ll love about this recipe:

BASIC: You just need chicken thighs, seasoning and oil to make crisp-skinned chicken thighs with tender meat. Pair them with some veggie side dishes (crisp, chunky roasted potatoes, for example) for a delicious home-cooked meal.
QUICK: Bone-in chicken thighs with skin bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, less than half the time of a perfectly roasted whole chicken.
INEXPENSIVE: Chicken thighs with bone and skin cost less per pound compared to boneless chicken breasts or thighs — plus they offer so much more flavor.

Eight chicken thighs with skin arranged on a sheet pan around a dish of seasoning. — Make the best bone-in chicken thighs with just three ingredients.

Ingredients needed for the recipe

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs: Chicken thighs naturally contain more fat than white meat parts (breasts), which adds flavor and helps keep the chicken moist while it cooks. Unlike baked chicken breasts, chicken thighs are much less likely to dry out or become overcooked. Chicken thighs with bone and skin are often sold in packages in grocery stores. You’ll need 6-8 individual pieces for 4-6 servings, totaling about 3 pounds.
Seasoning: Along with salt and black pepper, use 2 tablespoons of whatever chicken seasoning blend you enjoy to enhance the flavor of the chicken thighs. I like everything seasoning sprinkled on chicken because it’s an all-in-one mixture that literally has a little bit of “everything” — garlic powder, dried onions, salt, pepper and crunchy seeds. Some of my other favorite spice blends for poultry include grilled chicken rub, herbs de Provence, Italian seasoning, curry spices, or Southwest mixes.
Olive oil: Olive oil helps to crisp up the skin and also adds flavor.

Prep and cooking steps

1. Pat the chicken as dry as possible on all sides with paper towels. TIP: This step is important for achieving crispy skin.
2. Arrange the chicken on a quarter-size sheet pan (about 13″x9″). If your pan isn’t nonstick, line it with parchment or foil for easy clean-up. Sprinkle salt, pepper and seasoning on both sides of the chicken thighs.

3. Note: Some seasoning blends already contain salt, so adjust the amount of total salt to taste. The seasoned chicken can be prepped and stored in the fridge up to one day ahead.
4. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil. Bake chicken thighs at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.

Crisp-skinned roasted chicken thighs on a sheet pan, with a spatula in the process of serving. — Juicy, delectable chicken thighs with crispy golden-brown skin and plenty of pan juices.

After 25 minutes, you can use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature is about 165 degrees.
Make ahead and reheating: Baked chicken thighs will keep refrigerated up to 5 days, or frozen in an airtight container for 1 month. It’s best to reheat the chicken in a 350 degree oven until heated through — microwaving will make the skin less crisp.

What to serve with bone-in chicken thighs

Make an easy dinner and serve the chicken thighs with side dishes like quickly sauteed broccoli, 5-minuted steamed Brussels sprouts, potatoes or rice.