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Crispy Oven Baked Chicken with juicy meat and crisp, flavorful skin can be on your dinner table with about 5 minutes’ worth of effort!
This crispy chicken is made in the oven without any breading at all; the only ingredients you need are the chicken, a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper.
Crispy Baked Chicken
I am so very happy to have finally recreated our favorite chicken recipes, without the mess on the stove-top and with minimal cleanup.
I’ve been making these Pan Fried Chicken Thighs and Pan Fried Italian Chicken Thighs at least once a month ever since I first made them several years ago. The recipes are crazy easy and my whole family loves pan-fried chicken. (Who doesn’t?!)
Crispy Oven Baked Chicken
If you haven’t tried that very simple cooking method yet, you should, because you simply have to taste it to understand how amazing a single piece of chicken can be.
Over the past few years, I’ve tried a few different methods to recreate that flavor and crispiness in the oven and I am giddy to have finally nailed it.
I’m dubbing this the easiest dinner recipe ever because it requires no prep, no marinade, no special anything at all in advance.
How To Make Crispy Chicken in the Oven
Grab your chicken, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then bake. Seriously. That’s all the effort it requires.
Once you have that chicken in the oven, I highly recommend taking just FIVE minutes to stir together a batch of Corn Pudding.
Pop it in the oven and it will be ready when the chicken is. You’ll have dinner ready to go all at once and your family is sure to love it!
You’ve literally just gifted yourself an hour to crash on the couch, read a book, watch a show, and in general ignore everything else; while the chicken sizzles in the oven and fills the house with delicious smells.
This Oven-Baked Crispy Chicken will fool everyone into thinking you are actively cooking dinner. I realize that it almost sounds too good to be true, but the chicken really is amazing without anything extra needed at all!
Chicken Recipes
Want a few more dinner ideas that require almost no effort at all? This Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner is an all in one meal that family and friends all rave about every time they make it.
Southwest Chicken Salad with Spicy BBQ Ranch Dressing is a fantastic salad that is sure to satisfy the heartiest of appetites.
Chinese Beef and Broccoli Soup by The Food Charlatan comes together in minutes and this Cheesy Ranch Chicken and Potatoes by Taste and Tell is a kid-favorite that requires little more than slicing the potatoes.
These Stir Fry Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables happen in my kitchen on a regular basis. Once you’ve tried them, they’re going to be on regular rotation for you too.
This Southwest Beef and Potato Skillet by Aggie’s Kitchen is on regular rotation in my house as well. I LOVE the easy weeknight dinners.
Oven Baked Chicken Recipe
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking tray or half sheet pan with foil and place all the chicken pieces on it, skin side down.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper and flip each piece skin side up. Drizzle about a teaspoon of oil over the skin on each piece of chicken and rub lightly to coat. Sprinkle again with salt and pepper.
- Bake for one hour, until most of the fat has rendered out of the chicken and the skin is golden brown and crisp.
- Remove from the oven and let rest about 5 minutes before serving.
Oven Baked Crispy Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 – 8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: ground paprika and/or granulated garlic
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking tray or half sheet pan with foil and place all the chicken pieces on it, skin side down. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and flip each piece skin side up. Drizzle about a teaspoon of oil over the skin on each piece of chicken and rub lightly to coat. Sprinkle again with salt and pepper.
- Bake for one hour, until most of the fat has rendered out of the chicken and the skin is golden brown and crisp. Remove from the oven and let rest about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 10/9/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/11/21}
Been making these for about 3-4 months now and always a big hit with my family minus my would have been monster in law! But then again she never likes anything I make because it’s got too much spices on / in it!
I’m trying this tonight and will let you know how it comes out😊
I tried this tonight and it was a HIT!!!! I use Pinterest for all my reipies now and have only left a couple of reviews but I really wanted people to know that this is a keeper. My oven cooks really hot so 20 minutes in I turned it down to 375 and only cooked for 50 min. The family LOVED it. I feel that getting this one down could open the doors to variations. THANK YOU!!!
I followed this instruction since I thought 400 for an hour was too hot. Perfect!! Thank you!
Made this recipe for my family and I think we now have a favorite! Also roasted red potatoes with zucchini as a side, perfect match!
Chicken thighs are just the best, right? So flavorful and cheap. This recipe looks beautifully simple! You sure know how to get it done Mary.
Looks delicious and I like the reduced mess aspect of the dish
Thank you for allowing me to print out the recipe. Some of the sites use videos and go so fast . I am too old to keep up. Other sites that allow you to print the recipes are so full of pictures you need to use 5-6 sheets of paper. That’s too wasteful for a widow on SS.
What area of the oven space…er where do I put the rack? Top? Middle? bottom?
Chicken thighs yum yum yum!
I have the same question! was therevever an answer?
You’ll want to use the middle oven rack. Enjoy!
I am sure it has been thought of, but I have some killer dry rubs that can be used with this recipe. Also, I love my grill for thighs but sometimes weather doesn’t permit, etc. so the oven is “close enough”. Interesting, my rule of thumb is one hour on charcoal, too!
I tried to print this recipe and I got 3 pages printed and no recipe. You need to fix that! A good waste of ink!
Wow, the crispy chicken looks so delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe. I will try to make it at the dinner.
OMG!!!! I made that oven baked crispy chicken and it was awesome loved it
Also delicious with only lemon pepper and sea salt prepared the same way!
I’ve used caesar salad dressing where you”ve used olive oil. It adds a lovely subtle taste.
Hi! I just wanted to know if it would still taste as great.. if i used boneless and skinless chicken thighs?
You cook boneless thighs this way, but the cooking time will be greatly reduced and you won’t have the crispy skin to add flavor.
This really is a family meal must-do! The ease of preperation, and the hands free time for the side dishes, truly make this a 5 star!