If one is bored of preparing the same type of chicken dishes at home, then a baked alternative makes for a good change of scene. Baked chicken thighs can make the perfect meal for any time of the day and are packed with important nutrients. The dish is packed with flavor and can have the crispiest skin. Moreover, one can also easily prepare many baked chicken recipes from the comfort of one’s home.
1. Garlic, onion chicken thighs
The simple baked chicken thigh recipe requires minimum preparation. One could independently season it with one’s favorite spices, including cayenne and black pepper. The primary ingredients include four chicken thighs, four teaspoons of garlic powder, and four onion flakes. After the meat is seasoned, one must place the chicken thighs in a baking dish, season on both sides and bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is done. The oven must be preheated up to 375°F, following which the chicken must be cooked for about half an hour. One can determine if the chicken is done with the help of an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thicket part of the thigh, near the bone. The temperature here should read 165°F.
2. Greek chicken thighs
One could enjoy the essence of Mediterranean flavors in one’s kitchen with the help of this simple chicken thigh recipe. The dish infuses the tanginess of lemon and olives to create a succulent serving. The key ingredients required include pearl onions, lemon wedges, kalamata olives, lemon juice, garlic, and pepper. Other ingredients added to the pot are fresh thyme, garlic cloves, salt, and chicken thighs. The first step is to crank the oven up to 350°F. While it warms up, one should season the chicken thighs with pepper and salt, heat olive oil in a big skillet, and sear the chicken thighs until the chunks are golden, dedicating about five minutes per side for this. Remove the thighs from the pan, keep them aside, and throw in aromatic fresh thyme sprigs, garlic cloves, pearl onions, and lemon halves. One must toss them around for about five minutes. Next, one should add kalamata olives and some fresh lemon juice to the mix and stir it together to blend the flavor. Now, put the chicken thighs back in, and make sure they sit at the bottom of the skillet so they soak up all the juices. After this, one must put the skillet into the preheated oven and bake it for around 20 minutes. The end result is an appealing and flavorful Greek chicken thigh recipe.
3. Paprika-infused thighs
To make this perfect mildly spicy dish, one would need ingredients including paprika, onion powder, salt, and fresh cracked pepper alongside the chicken thighs. One must place the chicken atop a metal rack placed inside a large-rimmed baking sheet. Pat the meat dry using a paper towel and use kitchen shears to remove excess fat. One should drizzle the meat with olive oil and sprinkle the seasoning mix over it. One could also rub the spices in to better infuse the flavor. One should turn up the temperature and bake until its internal temperature reads 165°F; this will take nearly 30 minutes. One can take out the meat and let it cool down slightly before digging in to appreciate the paprika-textured crisp chicken skin and tender, juicy meat.
4. Baked chicken thighs with apples and onions
This chicken dinner recipe may take a total of one hour to prepare and cook. Blended with apples and onions, it makes an ideal meal for four, especially during the fall months. As for the ingredients, one will need four bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, salt and ground black pepper for seasoning, and two tablespoons of vegetable oil. Other key ingredients include a medium onion (sliced), one cup of apple cider, and two medium apples (sliced). One will also need half a cup of chicken stock, a quarter cup of heavy cream, half a teaspoon of salt, and one tablespoon of cornstarch.
Coming to the recipe, one needs to season both sides of the chicken thighs with pepper and salt. Following this, one must heat oil in a deep oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat and add chicken thighs to hot oil. Cook this until both sides turn brown (about 4 minutes per side), and transfer the meat to a plate and maintain warm. One must add the sliced onions to the skillet and saute until they start appearing brown, followed by pouring in apple cider and chicken stock. One must also scrap the bottom of the pan to loosen browned contents, if any, then stir in the thyme and salt. The pan should simmer for about 4 to 5 minutes before the heat is turned off. The chicken needs to go back into the skillet, and one should apply some sauce over the top and cover it with a lid or aluminum foil. The contents in the skillet should be baked in a preheated oven (350°F) for about 15 minutes before it is removed. After this, one should move the chicken thigh onto the plate and keep it warm.
Meanwhile, the individual should whisk heavy cream and cornstarch together in a small bowl, which should then be stirred into the sauce in the skillet. Next, return this to the oven for baking, uncovered, until the chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear. This takes about 15 more minutes, by which an instant-read thermometer will read 165°F when inserted near the bone. The delicious meal is now ready for one to enjoy.
