This is my go-to recipe for baked boneless chicken thighs! It's so easy, making it perfect for weeknight dinners.
Simply apply olive oil and spices to the chicken pieces and bake them for 30 minutes in the oven. It's as easy as can be and so delicious.
Chicken is easy and affordable, but it can get boring, especially when you make it often, as I do. That's why I'm always trying new ways to make it more interesting.
This recipe for baked boneless chicken thighs is amazing. It's full of flavor! I make it often because it has a winning combination of a truly easy recipe that's also delicious. Even the leftovers are good, although I prefer to enjoy them cold rather than risk drying the chicken out when reheating it.
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Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- Fresh chicken: I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs in this recipe. It's one of my favorite chicken parts because it's cheap, readily available, easy to cook and eat, and wonderfully juicy!
- Olive oil: I love cooking with this delicious oil. If you prefer an oil with a higher smoke point, you can use avocado oil instead. But it won't be as flavorful as olive oil.
- To season: I use quite a few spices and recommend using them all. They add wonderful flavor! I use kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
Variations
The best way to vary this recipe is to experiment with different spices. While the spice combination used here is pretty much perfect, a generous pinch of dried thyme or oregano is always a welcome addition. I tried both and enjoyed them.
You can also use melted butter or ghee instead of olive oil. Melted butter is especially good. You can use salted or unsalted butter - I tried both, and both work equally well.
Instructions
Oven-baking is my favorite way of preparing boneless chicken thighs. It's easy, but you don't sacrifice any flavor. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:
Season the chicken. Your first step is to place the chicken pieces in a large bowl and add olive oil and spices.
I use my hands to ensure the thighs are well-coated:
Arrange in a baking dish. Arrange the chicken in a rimmed baking dish. A 9 X 13-inch pan works well.
Bake. The last step is to bake the chicken in a 400°F oven until cooked through. Depending on how hot your oven is, this should take about 30 minutes.
Expert Tip
If you buy them in pre-packaged trays at the supermarket, boneless chicken thighs come in various sizes, as shown in the photo below. It's OK to bake them all together until the biggest ones are cooked through. The small ones will still be juicy and delicious!
Recipe FAQs
I don't recommend it. Chicken breasts are drier than thighs. They're also typically larger and thicker. They require a different cooking temperature and a different cooking time. Here's a good recipe that was written specifically for baked chicken breast.
The good news is that chicken thighs are juicy and won't dry out easily. I do recommend leaving the visible fat on and not trying to trim it. It helps protect the chicken from drying out. I also recommend being generous when coating the chicken with oil or butter.
You can trim the fat, but I don't, as shown in the photo below. Most of it melts away during baking, and what remains is delicious. As explained above, the fat also helps protect the chicken from drying out in the oven.
Serving Suggestions
Since I bake the chicken in a 400°F oven, I like to serve it with a side dish I can cook in the same oven. So, I often serve it with any of the following:
Storing Leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. I usually shred them and add them, cold, to a salad such as this arugula salad.
If you'd like to reheat them, it's best to do so gently, in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. The chicken will dry out if you reheat the leftovers too aggressively, especially in the microwave.
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Recipe Card
Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ½ teaspoon of any other salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl.
- Add the olive oil and spices. Use your hands to coat the chicken pieces.
- Arrange the seasoned thighs in a single layer on a rimmed baking dish, such as a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. If there's some residual oil and spice mixture in the bowl, brush it on the chicken pieces.
- Bake until the thighs are cooked through, juices run clear, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the largest thigh reads 165ºF. In my oven, this takes about 30 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- If you buy them in pre-packaged trays at the supermarket, boneless skinless chicken thighs come in various sizes. It's OK to bake them all together until the biggest ones are cooked through. The small ones will still be juicy and delicious!
- You can trim the fat, but I don't. Most of it melts away during baking, and what remains is delicious. The fat also helps protect the chicken from drying out in the oven.
- You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. I usually shred them and add them, cold, to a salad. If you'd like to reheat them, it's best to do so gently, in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. The chicken will dry out if you reheat the leftovers too aggressively, especially in the microwave.
Nutrition per Serving
Made this Recipe?
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Karen
Made these chicken thighs last night. Me & my husband loved them! Thank you for this quick & easy dinner!
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm glad you and your husband enjoyed this recipe, Karen! Thanks for the review.
Felipe C Sierra
Loved the combo of spices. I added baby Dutch yellow potatoes cut in half.
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe and its flavors, Felipe! Thank you for the review.
Andria Nowlin Beckham
My chicken was undercooked after 30 minutes at 400°F. Baked for another 20 minutes.
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Andria,
Thanks for the feedback! Baking time can change depending on the thickness of the thighs and how hot or cool your oven runs. That's why it's so helpful to check with an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked through.
Donna
I'd like to use this recipe for chicken tenderloins. Can you suggest the change in cooking time?
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Donna,
This recipe should work for chicken tenderloins. I would check their temperature after 20 minutes - an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the largest one should read 165ºF.
Michele
This recipe was great. I cut it in half to cook for two and otherwise followed it as written. My husband and I loved it--it was so easy and so tasty! I'm not a great cook, so this helped me build some confidence. It will be added to the dinner rotation. Thank you!!
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm so glad you and your husband enjoyed this recipe, Michele! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
Jenny
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I plan to try it this week. Wondering if the cayenne makes it spicy at all, or if I should leave it out for my 6 year old?
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Jenny,
It's very little cayenne for two pounds of chicken, so the dish is not spicy. However, if you plan to serve it to a kid, I would skip the cayenne - the chicken is very flavorful without it.
Jenny
Thank you so much! I will try that 🙂
Jenny
Just came back to say I've made this 3 times now for friends and it's fantastic! The chicken is so flavorful and tender, and I always make extra for leftovers 🙂 Thank you!
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Jenny,
Thank you for taking the time to write this feedback! I appreciate it. I'm so glad you and your friends have been enjoying this recipe.
Nina Sorentino-Messina
Delicious and full of flavor. My family loves this chicken dish. Thank you for sharing.
Vered DeLeeuw
You're very welcome, Nina! So glad your family likes it.
Heidi
5-star rating is for several reasons: SO EASY, tasty, my son said, "that chicken was REALLY good"! thank you for the recipe!
Vered DeLeeuw
You're very welcome, Heid! Thanks for the comment!
Mav
Great recipe!
I have a question, my chicken didnt turn out as nicely browned as the one you made. Any tips for that, without overcooking the meat?
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Mav,
Try increasing the oven to 425°F. Start checking for doneness after 25 minutes.
Heidi
I took my chicken out a little early (temp at 157) and then broiled them for 1-2 minutes to get that color! just be very careful you need to keep an eye on them because they can burn quickly under the broiler! great recipe!