Name: Italian Baked Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 lbs); 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or olive oil); 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 2 teaspoons onion powder; 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste; 1 teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, crushed in hand; 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon paprika

By Polly Conner

February 28, 2021

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Italian Baked Chicken Thighs–The most amazing, flavorful, oven baked chicken thighs you’ll find! With just a handful of simple seasonings, these chicken thighs turn out crispy on the outside and amazingly tender and juicy on the inside. Baked chicken thighs are so easy to make, and we show you how to turn them into a make ahead freezer meal too!

Main image for italian baked chicken thigh post

Reader, beware. You are about to encounter one of the most amazing chicken thigh recipes on the Internet. It’s not only amazing in flavor and texture, but it’s amazingly simple! This is one of those recipes that will become part of your regular meal rotation. They are just SO. DANG. GOOD.

What’s in Italian Baked Chicken Thighs?

As promised, the ingredients are simple. Here is what you’ll need on hand:

Bone-in, skin on chicken thighs (Bone-in thighs turn out much more juicy than boneless.)
Olive oil or avocado oil
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Italian seasoning
Poultry seasoning
Paprika
Salt & Pepper

Aren’t they pretty? OK, enough cuteness. Mix those ingredients all together.

Seasonings for Italian Baked Chicken Thighs

After lining a baking sheet with foil (for easier cleanup), lay out your chicken thighs and drizzle oil over them. Rub the oil in on all sides. Yes, your pretty hands will get dirty. After a nice visit from the oil-fairy, you’ll dress those chicken thighs up with your seasoning mix. Use about half on one side and the other half on the other.

WASH YOUR HANDS NOW, K?

Raw chicken thighs on a foil lined baking sheet

How to Freeze Chicken Thighs

As self-proclaimed freezer cooking evangelists, we can’t help ourselves from sharing how to turn these chicken thighs into a freezer meal. Again, it’s SO easy.

Freeze For Later: Place the seasoned, raw chicken thighs and all of the ingredients into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Seal and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw using one of these safe methods for thawing chicken and then cook as directed.

Want to cook your frozen chicken thighs in the Instant Pot instead FROM FROZEN? No sweat. We will show you how to cook frozen chicken thighs in the Instant Pot here.

Can I Use Boneless Chicken Thighs?

You totally can, but just decrease the baking time to 25-30 minutes. Check the internal temperature to make sure it gets to 165°F.

While boneless chicken thighs are an option, having a skin-on, bone-in thigh really helps keep the chicken moist and juicy. It’s also hard to get that desired crisp if you don’t have a skin on it.

How do you store baked chicken thighs?

Baked chicken thighs can be refrigerated for four to five days. If you won’t be eating them during that time, you can freeze the leftovers for future use.

Tongs grabbing an Italian baked chicken thigh

What to Serve with Chicken Thighs

Since these have a salty, savory taste, here is what I’d recommed:

Corn: Either Microwaved Corn or Grilled Corn would be delicious.

Potatoes: Boiled Baby Potatoes or Twice Baked Potatoes would be amazing.

Fresh Fruit

Dinner Rolls: Try making your own using our Wheat Dinner Rolls recipe (for the bread machine).