Baked Chicken Thighs

Baked chicken thighs are delicious and such an easy meal to make. Another amazing advantage is how budget-friendly it can be when you shop around. They are tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. When done correctly, the skin will be crispy and golden brown, while the meat will be cooked through; and did I mention juicy? It’s worth mentioning again! The perfect way to cook chicken thighs for sure!

The purpose of preheating the sheet pan

Preheating a sheet pan is the ideal way of starting that nice golden brown color on this skin, which turns into flavor. Browning the meat not only looks pretty but opens the door to a world of enchantment. I love the idea of NOT dirtying additional dishes and still obtaining the flavor I need. Of course, we still need the help of the very hot temperature of the oven and broiler setting to achieve that crispy browned skin. Having said that, a HOT sheet pan helps by getting the job started.

Marinating

How long do I marinade for? this is a question I get very often.

1. Let it sit in the marinade for about 15 minutes at room temperature. As a result; the chicken will warm up to room temperature, while it sits in the marinade. Just so you know, baking the chicken while it’s still cold, won’t allow it to bake evenly. Thats why; letting it sit at room temperature before baking is a great idea. Keep in mind: there is a temperature danger zone which allows bacteria to grow. This means you don’t want to leave the chicken out for too long or under hot temperatures.
2. Marinade for two hours on the fridge
3. Marinade overnight in the fridge

Note: If you are marinading for a long time; in the fridge, pull the chicken out 15 minutes before baking. That way, it’s not too cold when baked.

Accompaniments:

This is such a versatile recipe. It can be accompanied with a delicious Mexican rice, refried beans, a salad, and salsa. As if that was not delicious enough, baked chicken thighs would just be out of this world when adding a fresh guacamole and horchata. To make the excitement even more incredible, could you just imagine some freshly made corn tortillas on the side? absolutely unbelievable!

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Baked Chicken Thighs

4.75 from 24 votes

By Villa Cocina

Baked chicken thighs are easy, affordable, and incredibly flavorful. Tender and juicy inside with crispy, golden skin, they’re the perfect way to enjoy chicken thighs every time!

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 55 minutes mins

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Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

Servings: 8 servings

• 8 chicken thighs (4 lbs), bone-in, skin-on

Marinade

• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp ground ancho chile
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground onion
• 1 tsp ground garlic 
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric 
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander 
• 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Baking spray

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 425 F degrees and place a sheet pan in the oven to preheat as well. 
• Make the marinade: In a small bowl , whisk the marinade ingredients until well combined. Set aside until needed. 
• Prep the chicken: Trim excess skin with kitchen scissors or knife, don’t cut too much, just trim. Make a few small cuts/indentations through the skin and transfer the chicken into a large bowl. 
• Pour the marinade into the chicken and toss to coat. Let them to sit out for 15 minutes, so they can come up to room temperature. This step allows them to cook evenly.
• Bake: Remove the sheet pan from the hot oven, spray with non stick spray and carefully lay the chicken thighs, skin side down. You should hear a sizzle. Bake in the center rack of the oven for 20 minutes. Then, remove the sheet pan from the oven, flip the thighs and continue to bake them until completely cooked. You’ll know they are ready when they reach a safe internal temperature of 165 F degrees, which will take approximatly an additional 15 minutes. Finally; as a last step, turn on the broiler for three minutes on high or just until the skin browns beautifully (keep an eye on them.) By now the chicken should have taken a total of 35-45 minutes to fully cook. 
• Once ready remove from the oven, let the chicken thighs rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy with your favorite side dishes, see above for options.  

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Course: Main

Cuisine: American, Mexican