My baked boneless chicken thighs come out juicy and golden with a savory spice rub and an easy method that’s totally hands off! Here’s how long to bake them and seasoning tips.
So I’ve found the secret to weeknight chicken recipes and it is this: chicken thighs! Every time I make them, my family gobbles them down: they’re so juicy and almost impossible to overcook.
My favorite way to cook chicken thighs is my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe, but I know everyone doesn’t have an air fryer. So I’ve created one that works just as well in the oven! It’s totally hands off, which is so much easier for weeknight dinners (in my opinion).
Why I Think Boneless Thighs Are Perfect For Weeknights
Here’s why I’ve started buying boneless thighs for weeknights:
- Chicken thighs are dark meat, which means more fat than breasts: this keeps them extra juicy when you cook them and they taste so much better than breasts
- Boneless thighs cook faster: my Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs that are bone-in have a bake time of closer to 40 minutes. These are done in 25 to 30 minutes.
- They’re budget-friendly and high protein. Enough said!
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
Basically just your chicken and my super fun, super delicious seasoning blend is all you need:
- Boneless chicken thighs: The easiest to find here is boneless skinless chicken thighs, and they’re what I use. They cook quickly and don’t have a lot of extra fat.
- Garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika: The savory seasonings in my spice blend. The smoked paprika adds a subtle smokiness that’s pretty irresistible (though you can substitute standard paprika: it’s just not quite as tasty!).
- Curry powder and dried thyme: This is my secret! The curry powder adds a warmth to the flavor, and the dried thyme adds intrigue. If your kids are wary of different flavors, you can omit these and it still tastes good!
- Olive oil: My go-to heart healthy oil for baking.
How Long to Bake Them
Bake boneless chicken thighs at 425°F for 25 to 30 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches at least 170°F. If you’re baking or roasting a vegetable at the same time and need to use a lower oven temperature, here’s how long this will be:
| Oven temperature | Approximate bake time |
|---|---|
| 350°F | 30 to 35 minutes |
| 375°F | 28 to 32 minutes |
| 400°F | 25 to 30 minutes |
| 425°F | 25 to 30 minutes (my favorite!) |
| 450°F | 20 to 25 minutes |
How to Bake Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
This is truly beyond easy and totally hands off! Here’s an overview of the process (or jump to the recipe):
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Season the chicken. Add thighs, olive oil, and spices to a bowl and stir. Arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until a thermometer reads at least 170°F when inserted in the thickest part. If you’d like an extra brown top, you can broil for the final 1 to 2 minutes.
- Rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.
Flavor Variations
I am obsessed with the seasoning blend down in the recipe card, but here’s what else you can do:
- Italian: Omit the curry powder and thyme and add 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
- Greek: Finish with lemon juice and serve with tzatziki sauce.
- Honey garlic: Brush with honey garlic sauce during the last 5 minutes, or make honey garlic chicken thighs.
- Marinated: Soak the thighs in my chicken thigh marinade for 30 minutes before baking.
- Off the oven: The same rub works for grilled chicken thighs.
These are my grilled chicken thighs with tzatziki, and I love to served baked the same way
Ways to Serve Chicken Thighs As Part of A Meal
Sliced, these thighs go with almost anything. The pairings that show up most at my table:
- Tzatziki: Serving with tzatziki is my favorite way, which is a recipe that will be in my new cookbook!
- Roasted veggies: Roasted sweet potatoes or my best roasted vegetables can share the oven at 425°F.
- Grains: Add cilantro lime rice, easy couscous, or seasoned quinoa.
- Salads: Add to a Greek chicken salad or Caesar salad for a simple dinner.
- Sauces: A spoonful of chimichurri sauce turns leftovers into something new.
- Bowls and tacos: Build a chicken rice bowl or add them to chicken tacos.
For more ideas, try my 50 side dishes for chicken.
Storage and Reheating
You can keep leftover cooked chicken thighs for up to 4 days refrigerated. They’re great cold or you can heat them up in a 350°F oven, a skillet over medium heat, or an air fryer.
According to my research, you can also freeze baked boneless chicken thighs for up to 3 months — my family always eats them too fast to have leftovers though! If you try it, let me know.
Dietary Notes
This baked boneless chicken thighs recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and Mediterranean diet friendly.
Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs
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My baked boneless skinless chicken thighs come out juicy and golden with a savory spice rub and an easy method that’s totally hands off! Here’s how long to bake them and seasoning tips.
- Author: Sonja Overhiser
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Mediterranean Diet
Ingredients
- 8 large boneless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds), skin optional, excess fat removed
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon each curry powder and dried thyme (see Notes)
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- In a large bowl toss the chicken thighs with the olive oil, spices, and kosher salt.
- Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 170°F, about 25 to 30 minutes. If you’d like an extra brown top, you can broil for the final 1 to 2 minutes.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes, then slice it. Leftovers store up to 4 days refrigerated.
Notes
Seasoning: The curry powder adds a warmth to the flavor, and the dried thyme adds intrigue. If your kids are wary of different flavors, you can omit these and it still tastes good!
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/nLpV6yS
