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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 chix this way for decades, try adding some smoked paprika next time.
Sounds great!
My daughter…BROKE HER ARM…WE LOVE !!!! Ur recipe!!!
sorry about the break? Glad you love the recipe though!
Thank you Mary for taking the time to share this delicious recipe with the world.
Good morning,
I see that your chicken recipes use thighs, which i like.
My husband prefers chicken breasts.
Can it be substituted?
Thanks
Donna – yes you could use chicken breasts instead. You just might have to adjust the cooking time depending on their size is all.
You were right ! Absolutely the best !
Perfectly crispy chicken is hard to beat. So happy you enjoyed it, Paula.
How about using chicken legs? how long do you think they would need to bake for.
I would suggest about 45 minutes at 375, Debo. The cooking instructions from this recipe should help you: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/honey-soy-chicken-recipe/
Tried this recipe tonight and it was such a hit with everyone! It’s hard to find recipes that everyone in this 7 person household like, but even the 2 kiddos LOVED this chicken!! I made it with Mac & cheese, rolls, and corn. Definitely adding it to the dinner rotation. Thank you so much!
I’m so glad the chicken was a hit with everyone, Lauren. Mac ‘n’ cheese and corn are great sides for this recipe. I hope the dish continues to stay a staple in your kitchen for a long time; enjoy, and happy cooking!
Tried to find a good recipe for crispy skin in the oven. Works great! Added some garlic powder and onion powder to the salt and pepper. Will be making chicken thighs like this from now on.
I’m thrilled that the chicken was a hit, Janet!
Hi,
Can I use boneless chicken for this? That’s what I have right now.
Hi, Hena. Boneless chicken should work in a pinch. I’d recommend keeping an eye on the recipe near the end, since it may not require quite as long to cook.
I love this recipe! I’ve tried so many recipes looking to get that crispy skin, none were exactly what I wanted BUT this one is perfect!
I’m so happy to hear that the chicken was a hit, Tina!
My family has been looking for this crispy chicken recipe for years. My mother used to put it in an egg wash, no breadcrumbs, the foil and the butter in the bottom and then at the last minute, she would put a pot of butter on the top of it will this work the same way to make it crispy we can make the chicken, but we just cannot make it crispy.
I’ve never tried it that way, Susan. You might try it as written here and see if that helps.
Hi, does bone in chicken freeze well ? Thanks!
The chicken will freeze nicely, however the skin won’t be as crisp when it thaws and is reheated.
Was awesome …thank you for that recipe …very easy
I’m thrilled that you like it, Susan!
Does anyone have a substitute for aluminum foil. The stuff is poison and especially when used in the oven. Not silicone (which is just as bad). Heavy metal is hard to get rid of in the body.
You don’t have to use foil at all, Cate. You can cook the chicken directly on the pan.
parchment paper is great to use! I use it all the time to bake meat and veggies.
I’m going to make 4 – roasted 1/2 whole chickens would this recipe work? I’d like to have the skin crispy enough to eat. Thanks
That should work nicely.
Thank you for this recipe!! It is so easy and perfect for a weeknight dinner, too! My family absolutely loves it, and it’s great how crispy the skin is. I’ve also made it with some garlic and onion powder and Italian seasoning added, and it comes out great that way, too! I make this for dinner at least twice a month.
I’m so happy to hear that you love the chicken, Kat!
skins didn’t crisp up, however, chicken was juicy and well cooked.
That’s odd the skin didn’t crisp. Did you bake it the full amount of time in the recipe, Sheila? Was it uncovered the entire time?
Wonderful recipe, so easy and crispy! Just wondering, the best way to reheat left overs? Thanks!
I’m so glad you like the chicken! The air fryer works great, but I also use the microwave. It won’t be quite as crispy, but still delicious.
For a whole hour? I have another recipe that i’ve used for years and the chicken cooks in 30 minutes…. Same thighs. Does it not overcook? I’d love to try this but i’m scared about the timing…
I’d suggest checking the chicken at the 30 min mark, if you’re nervous. However, I cook this exactly as written here and the chicken thighs have never been overcooked. I don’t think that 30 minutes is going to be enough time for the skin to crisp.
I used the baked method and it was awesome. I will definitely be fixing this on a regular basis.
do you think instead of using the oil, I could spray with Pam and have same results .
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe!
As long as you spray them well, it should work fine, Wanda.
I will NEVER ♡ EVER fry another piece of chicken!!! Soo good, quick and easy!! 😋
Thank You!!!!
I’m glad you love it!