Crispy Southern Baked Chicken Thighs
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Our Southern baked chicken thighs will leave your taste buds wanting more. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside with a flavorful seasoning blend, they’re perfect for Sunday dinner or an easy weeknight meal.
Each piece of juicy chicken is coated with a simple homemade spice rub and cooked until golden brown. And the best part is you can get that yummy crispy skin without frying.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
Cooking with chicken thighs, like this easy oven baked BBQ chicken thigh recipe, also helps us cut down on grocery costs. And dark meat has more flavor compared to chicken breasts. It’s also a great option when you need to feed a crowd, but want something that is quick and easy.
Fried chicken, like this delicious KFC chicken recipe, has always been a family favorite. But during the week I don’t have time to cook (and clean up!) a big meal.
This chicken recipe is great when you want that old-fashioned fried chicken taste without all of the oil and hassle that comes along with making it.
More recipes with chicken thighs…
Southern Baked Chicken Thighs Ingredients
- chicken thighs – we used bone-in chicken thighs with skin because it helps the meat stay juicy.
- baking powder – makes the skin crispy.
- spices: seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, black pepper.
- olive oil – for crisp skin and to help the seasoning and baking powder adhere to the chicken.
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Southern Style Baked Chicken Thighs
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, place a wire rack on top and set aside. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Combine the seasonings, baking powder, and spices in a small bowl.
Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and place in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil to cover the chicken, then rub the seasoning mix onto the chicken.
Place chicken on the wire rack on the baking pan with the skin side up. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees F.
Allow the chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Tips for Making Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
- We recommend using a rimmed sheet pan since this cut of chicken releases a lot of juices during the cooking process.
- Don’t skip the step of patting the chicken dry. This removes the excess moisture and allows the skin to crisp, versus being steamed and soggy.
- The wire rack keeps the chicken pieces from sitting in the juice, which helps to keep the crispy coating. If you aren’t using a rack, grease the pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is 170 degrees F.
- Recipe can be doubled or tripled for larger families or meal prepping.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs can also be used, but they require less cooking time. Check for doneness around the 25 minute mark.
- Chicken wings: you can follow this same recipe and make wings instead. Keep in mind you’ll need to adjust the cooking time if you’re cooking other cuts of chicken.
- Oil: other oils can be used, they just need a high smoke point so the outside of the chicken doesn’t burn before the inside has finished cooking.
- Spicy: add a dash or two of cayenne pepper to the spice rub.
- Other seasonings: feel free to add other favorites such as chili powder or onion powder.
What to Serve With Crispy Chicken Thighs
Enjoy your oven-baked fried chicken with potato salad, cornbread casserole, and a pineapple casserole for dessert.
This easy dinner recipe also goes great with a simple veggie side dish, dinner salad, California pasta salad or zesty pasta salad.
How to Store Leftover Southern Style Chicken Thighs
Keep leftovers in an airtight container for 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze for 2-3 months.
To reheat, bake at 375 degrees F until warm. If you are reheating from frozen, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat normally.
This Southern baked chicken thighs recipe is a must-try if you’re looking to satisfy your comfort food cravings. With a crispy texture and tender juicy meat, this flavorful dish is sure to please.
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Southern Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin on
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet (optional). Set aside.
- Mix the baking powder, seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and black pepper in a small bowl.1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Use a paper towel to pat the chicken dry. Drizzle olive oil over the top and rub the spice mixture over the chicken thighs, coating both sides of the thighs with oil and seasoning mix.4 chicken thighs, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Place the chicken on the baking sheet skin side up. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 170 degrees F. Allow the chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- We recommend using a rimmed baking sheet because the chicken releases a lot of juices and it will keep them from overflowing into your oven.
- If you don’t use a wire rack, spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray before baking.
- You can use boneless chicken thighs but they will require less cooking time.
- An instant-read thermometer works best to ensure the chicken is fully cooked.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
To reheat: preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake until hot. If reheating from the freezer, we recommend thawing the chicken thighs in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat per the instructions.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
