Description
This recipe for 30-minute oven baked boneless skinless chicken thighs offers a juicy, flavorful, and easy-to-make meal perfect for weeknight dinners. Coated in a blend of smoky and savory spices, these chicken thighs bake to tender perfection using a simple cast iron skillet or baking sheet.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 6–8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, fat removed
Spice Mix
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Fat
- ¼ cup avocado oil or butter
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it reaches the optimum temperature for baking the chicken thighs evenly and getting a nicely caramelized exterior.
- Prepare Spice Mixture: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, Kosher salt, and ground black pepper until thoroughly combined to create a flavorful spice rub.
- Coat Chicken Thighs: Add the boneless skinless chicken thighs to the bowl with the spice mixture and toss well, ensuring each piece is evenly coated on both sides with the spice blend for maximum flavor absorption.
- Arrange for Baking: Place the coated chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet or on a foil-lined baking sheet, spreading them out in a single layer to allow even cooking. Pour the ¼ cup of avocado oil or melted butter evenly over the chicken to keep the meat moist and enhance browning.
- Bake the Chicken: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, flipping the chicken thighs once halfway through the cooking time to promote even cooking and browning on both sides. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 165°F (74°C), indicating the chicken is fully cooked.
- Serve: Remove the chicken thighs from the oven and let them rest briefly. Serve hot alongside your choice of sides such as a simple Italian salad and mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
Notes
- Do not reuse photos from this recipe without permission. If sharing, please rewrite in your own words or link back to the original post.
- Using a cast iron skillet helps achieve a crispy crust and retains heat well but a foil-lined baking sheet works just as well.
- Ensure chicken thighs are cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- You can substitute avocado oil with melted butter for a richer flavor.
- Adjust seasoning to taste if preferred less spicy or sweeter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh (approx. 150g)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
