Wishing tonight’s dinner was simple, cheap, and fairly tough to mess up? Bonus factors if it’s wholesome? Time to make Baked Hen Thighs! These baked hen thighs have crispy pores and skin, juicy meat, and loads of taste.
Why You’ll Love This Baked Hen Thighs Recipe
- By no means Dry or Rubbery. Whereas baked boneless skinless hen breast would possibly occupy the default setting in your grocery purchasing method, it’s properly price selecting up a pack of bone-in, skin-on hen thighs once in a while. Darkish hen thigh meat is juicier and much much less susceptible to drying out than white breast meat, which implies cooking these crispy baked hen thighs is stress-free!
- Packed With Vitamins. Whereas many assume chicken is more healthy, that is hardly the case. Hen thighs are filled with diet. In comparison with chicken, darkish meat has extra iron, zinc, vitamin B-12, thiamine, and different vitamins too. (Sure, darkish meat has extra fats than white, however it’s nonetheless a really lean, wholesome protein.) Carry on the hen thigh recipes!
- Tremendous Flavorful. Baked bone-in hen thighs (and Baked Hen Legs) have extra taste and are juicier than boneless skinless hen thighs as a result of the bone flavors the meat from the within and helps retain moisture (it’s why you’ll be able to skip brining when making Baked Bone-In Hen Breast, however it’s vital for juicy boneless Grilled Hen Breast or Air Fryer Hen Breast).
- Funds-Pleasant. Making oven-baked hen thighs for dinner is a discount! Per pound, darkish meat is cheaper than chicken, and bone-in hen is cheaper than boneless.
5 Star Evaluation
“Adopted to a tee and it was completely scrumptious!!! Served some mashed candy potatoes on the aspect!! Love your recipes!!”
— Kara —
Extra About These Simple Baked Hen Thighs
Immediately, I’m supplying you with my greatest 5-star, juicy hen thighs within the oven recipe with dried Italian herbs (be at liberty to swap for recent herbs when you have them), garlic, and lemon.
Old style baked crispy hen thighs within the oven are equally as make-ahead pleasant as they’re last-minute wholesome dinner materials. (Although for the quickest technique for getting ready hen, attempt Pan Fried Hen Breast.)
- I like to recommend 60 minutes of marinade time, however you’ll be able to cut back it to half-hour in case you want a shortcut.
- On the alternative aspect of the timeline, you’ll be able to utterly prep them the evening earlier than and pop them into the oven when it’s dinner time.
That is one tasty (and wholesome) baked hen thighs within the oven recipe you’ll be able to serve with satisfaction.
Find out how to Make Hen Thighs within the Oven
The Elements
- Hen Thighs. Flavorful and succulent, hen thighs are a unbelievable, wholesome ingredient (attempt them in Hen Cacciatore). I used bone-in, skin-on hen thighs, that are wholesome, inexpensive, and almost inconceivable to mess up.
- Italian Marinade. A combination of olive oil, paprika, garlic, Italian seasoning (which accommodates oregano, basil, marjoram, and extra), salt, pepper, and lemon. It imparts mild and vivid Italian taste onto the hen and helps make it further juicy. This vivid Hen Marinade is one other marinade you should use for hen within the oven.
- Onion. My particular trick for this recipe is to thinly slice an onion and scatter it across the hen thighs as they bake within the oven. As soon as roasted, the onions develop into deliciously caramelized and candy.
- Recent Herbs. Recent parsley, tarragon, or thyme is the right completion.
The Instructions
- Marinate. Mix the marinade substances and marinate the hen thighs for no less than half-hour or refrigerate for as much as 12 hours.
- Season the Onions. Place the onions on a sheet pan and toss to coat with oil, salt, and pepper.
- Prepare. Nestle the hen thighs into the onions pores and skin aspect up.
- Prepare dinner. Bake hen thighs for quarter-hour, stir the onions, and bake for 10 to twenty extra minutes, or till the inner temperature of the hen reaches 165 levels F. Let relaxation on the pan for five minutes.
- End. Stir the onions and broil 1 to 2 minutes to crisp the hen pores and skin. Garnish with herbs, then serve scorching and ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- BBQ Hen Thighs within the Oven. Season the thighs together with your favourite BBQ spice mix (similar to smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic and onion powder). Bake per the time and temperature recommended within the recipe (with or with out the onions). Serve with Barbecue Sauce.
- Previous Normal Hen Thighs within the Oven. Hold the style pure and easy with salt, pepper, and paprika. Serve with Simple Drop Biscuits and your favourite gravy.
- Southern Hen Thighs within the Oven. Season the hen with a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, seasoned salt, somewhat cayenne, and dried rosemary.
- Curry Hen Thighs within the Oven. Season the thighs with curry powder, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and salt. (This variation could be delicious with Turmeric Rice.)
Storage Ideas
- To Retailer. Place baked hen thighs in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish within the oven at 350 levels F or within the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze hen thighs in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Meal Prep Tip
As much as 12 hours upfront, dry and marinate the hen thighs as directed in Step 1. Refrigerate till you’re able to bake.
Leftover Concepts
De-bone and cube your hen thighs, then toss them into your favourite pasta (this Pesto Pasta or Mushroom Pasta could be tasty) or reheat on the bone with Do-it-yourself Fried Rice for a tasty baked hen thighs with rice dish. Leftovers additionally make a unbelievable addition to a salad.
What to Serve with Baked Hen Thighs
Recipe Ideas and Tips
- Don’t Cowl the Hen. Some hen thighs within the oven recipes require overlaying with aluminum foil. This isn’t certainly one of them. When baking hen thighs with the pores and skin on, you’re making an attempt to realize crispy hen thighs within the oven. Due to this fact, leaving them uncovered ensures a crispy pores and skin that turns completely golden. YUM!
- Stick With Excessive and Brief. AKA the alternative of low and sluggish. I discover it greatest to bake bone-in hen thigh recipes like this one at a excessive temperature—425 levels F. Since hen thighs are lean, they don’t profit from low, sluggish cooking the way in which more durable, extra marbled cuts like Gradual Cooker Pulled Pork do. A shorter cook dinner time with excessive warmth is the transfer for hen thighs within the oven.
- Or Alter the Temperature As Wanted. If wanted, you’ll be able to regulate the oven temperature all the way down to as little as 400 levels F to accommodate different dishes—say you’re cooking the hen thighs within the oven similtaneously a pan of Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Roasted Butternut Squash. Merely prolong the cooking time by a couple of minutes (or go for 415 levels F—proper in between). Or, you can also make a sheet pan Rosemary Hen Thighs, which embrace veggies on the identical pan.
- Know When Baked Hen Thighs Are Carried out. One of the best (and I’d say solely true) strategy to inform in case your hen is cooked correctly is to make use of an instant-read meat thermometer inserted on the thickest half. Hen must be cooked to 165 levels F, however its temperature will rise after it’s faraway from the warmth. I take away oven-baked hen thighs 5 to 10 levels early (155 to 160 levels F).
- Don’t Neglect the Relaxation. Resting permits the meat to come back to a secure temperature. Resting is important in order that the juices have time to reincorporate into the baked hen thighs.
- 2 1/4 kilos bone-in, skin-on hen thighs about 4
- 3 garlic cloves minced, about 1 tablespoon
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 small lemon zest and juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 1/2 teaspoon floor black pepper divided
- 1 yellow onion halved and thinly sliced lengthwise
- Chopped recent parsley or tarragon or thyme plus extra for serving
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Pat the hen dry and place in a big bowl or massive ziptop bag. In a small bowl, mix the garlic, 2 tablespoons oil, paprika, Italian seasoning, lemon zest and juice (zest the lemon proper over the bag or bowl), 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pour over the hen and switch to coat the hen evenly ( or seal the bag and switch to coat). Let sit at room temperature for no less than half-hour or cowl and refrigerate for as much as 12 hours (let come to room temperature previous to baking).
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When able to bake, place 1 rack within the middle of the oven and 1 rack within the higher third (about 6 inches from the highest). Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the onions within the middle.
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Drizzle the onions with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Toss to coat, then unfold into an excellent layer.
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Take away the hen from the marinade; shake off and discard any extra marinade. Clear some areas within the onions for the hen thighs, then nestle them in, spacing them evenly all through the pan.
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Bake the hen thighs for quarter-hour. Take away the pan and toss the onions to advertise even cooking (I exploit a fork to stir them round a bit). Return to the oven and bake for 10 to twenty extra minutes (that’s 25 to 35 minutes whole), till the inner temperature of the hen reaches 165°F. Let relaxation on the pan for five minutes.
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Stir the onions as soon as extra. Place the rack on the higher third rack and broil 1 to 2 minutes to crisp the hen pores and skin. Watch fastidiously, so nothing burns. Sprinkle throughout with parsley. Serve the hen scorching, with the yummy, jammy onions full with juices spooned alongside.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate hen thighs in an hermetic storage container for as much as 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish within the oven at 350 levels F or within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze hen thighs in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Serving: 1(of 4)Energy: 598kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 36gFats: 47gSaturated Fats: 11gPolyunsaturated Fats: 9gMonounsaturated Fats: 23gTrans Fats: 0.2gLdl cholesterol: 213mgPotassium: 587mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1056IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 3mg
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Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Not essentially. Hen meat, particularly darkish meat, can look pink even when it’s cooked by. Once more, the very best, most secure strategy to know in case your hen is cooked to temperature is to make use of an instant-read thermometer.
In case your hen thighs are dry, it’s as a result of they’re overcooked. When you can’t return, you’ll be able to cowl your mistake by serving hen thighs within the oven in sauce. Attempt the honey Dijon mustard sauce from my Pecan Crusted Hen or go all out with Mushroom Gravy.
If you happen to favor lean chicken hen breasts over hen thighs within the oven, right here is my recipe for the BEST Baked Break up Hen Breast. You should use the marinade from this recipe in case you like.
Hen thighs within the oven recipes get robust when both baked too lengthy or once they’re not correctly marinaded earlier than cooking. To keep away from robust hen thighs, be certain that to drag them once they attain the correct inside temperature (see the field above for ideas) and ensure to marinate for no less than half-hour (or longer). Marinading hen helps break down the muscle fibers, so the hen is tender as soon as baked.
Positive! See my Air Fryer Hen Thighs for ideas (the onions you’ll be able to roast individually or saute on the range in case you like).
Extra Wholesome Hen Recipes
Listed below are extra of my very favourite simple oven baked hen recipes to attempt subsequent:
