Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs are the ultimate solution for a flavorful and easy weeknight dinner. These oven-baked chicken thighs are perfectly seasoned. They are coated in a rich garlic butter sauce, which makes the meat juicy and tender. Ready in just 45 minutes, these chicken thighs with crispy, golden skin is perfect for busy families looking for a delicious and easy dinner.
I’m so excited to share this family favorite with you today! This is my go-to chicken thighs recipe because my son and husband absolutely love it. They even fight over the crispy skin on top! 😂 Every time I make it, they go back for seconds, which makes me so happy.
I’ve made this chicken countless times, and I figured it was finally time to share it with you. What I love most about this recipe is that you only need three key ingredients to make the juiciest, most flavorful chicken thighs.
Chicken Thighs – I use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs to get a crispy outside while keeping the inside moist and tender. Of course, if you only have boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts, you can use those too. However, after making this recipe many times, I’ve found that keeping the skin and bone in makes the chicken much juicier and more flavorful.
Garlic – I like to use crush fresh cloves because freshly crushed cloves have a stronger, more vibrant flavor and aroma compared to store-bought pre-ground cloves.
Butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter because it lets you control the salt level and enhances the natural flavors of the ingredients.
How To Cook Chicken Thighs
- I always use a paper towel to pat dry the chicken thighs.
- Season both sides of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
- Add olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken thighs in a single layer and cook until skin is golden brown.
- On the side of the pan, melt the butter.
- Add in the garlic and stir to combine. Make sure it’s not on high heat as you don’t want the garlic to burn.
- Place it in the oven and bake chicken thighs for 30 minutes or until they are done. If your chicken thighs start darkening excessively while in the oven, cover them with foil until they are fully cooked.
- Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thighs to make sure your garlic butter chicken thighs are perfectly cooked without overcooking them. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
1. The baking time for boneless chicken thighs is about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken thighs.
2. For bone-in thighs, it cooks in about 25 and 30 minutes.
To Store: Transfer the baked chicken thighs to an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4 days.
To Freeze: Simply allow it to cool and then transfer it to a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: Thaw it in the fridge overheat and then, I like to reheat in the oven until warmed through. If you reheat it in the microwave, the skin will be soggy.
Roasted Vegetables – They’re great side dish to go with any kind of protein, especially with this baked chicken thighs. Or you can always serve it with mashed potatoes.
Roasted green beans or roasted sweet potato are good side dishes to go with these baked chicken thighs.
Broccoli salad – Such an easy and flavourful salad.
More Chicken Thigh Recipes
Grilled Chicken Thighs
35 mins
Chicken Thighs with Potatoes
1 hr 10 mins
Baked Chicken Thighs and Rice
1 hr 30 mins
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
4 hrs 10 mins
Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F degrees. Move oven rack to center. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towel and season all over with salt and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet (10-inch) over medium heat. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and sear until the skin is golden and crispy. It takes about 5 minutes to cook them through at this point. Flip your chicken over once the skin is crispy. If your chicken thighs releases a lot of fat, dispose it using a spoon.
- Place butter in the same skillet. When the butter melts, add minced garlic. Stir the garlic around the pan for 30 seconds.
- Place the whole skillet in the oven and bake for 30 mins for until chicken gets the internal temperature at 165°F. When the chicken is cooked, spoon some of the garlic butter sauce over the top of each chicken thigh. Top with parsley before serving.
Notes
- If you do not have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the chicken thighs to a baking dish (baking sheet or sheet pan) to bake.
- After you’ve baked the chicken thighs, let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in tender and moist meat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Delicious
happy you liked it!
Question for boneless thighs – you say to skip the oven but how long should we leave it on the stove in the cast iron then? Let it simmer in the garlic butter until internal temp hits 165?
yes absolutely!
A simple delicious dinner. Will definitely be making this again!!
Awesome! This is a recipe that my family loves a lot too.
I wish I could properly explain how absolutely amazing this recipe is. You just have to make it and see. It is my go to chicken recipe ♥️
So happy you liked it 😉
I wish I could properly explain how absolutely amazing this recipe is! My go to chicken dish ♥️
I know, right? It’s my go to chicken dish too 😉
This is the BEST way to cook chicken thighs!!! My whole family loves it and it was very simple. Thank you–will be my go-to from now on!!
I’m thrilled to hear that you and your family loved the chicken thighs prepared this way! It’s fantastic that you found the recipe simple and it’s going to be your go-to. Thanks for sharing your positive experience, and happy cooking!
Love cook
Sooo good! Made these last night. Came out so juicy and flavorful! Thank you for the recipe!
You’re very welcome. Happy you liked it 😉
Delicious. Have made this many times.
Awesome!
Really delicious and easy. Could this be adapted for an air fryer?
Yes you can 😉
Was very tasty! It reminded me my Mother cooking back home.
Awww how sweet! I love to hear that 😉
So freakin fast, easy and awesome!! Any friends/family thinks I did something spectacular. Really didn’t do much! Thanks for an awesome easy recipe!
Awww your comment made my day! Happy you enjoyed this recipe 😉
Recommendations if I use boneless chicken thighs? I have those on hand inst as of bone in.
I’ve made this several times, but with boneless/skinless thighs, and it is one of my favorite recipes!!
We also love it so much!
Absolutely delicious. Great flavor and very juicy. It was so simple and quick too!!
Awesome! Happy you liked it.
Excellent recipe. A really delicious meal, that I served with mashed yukon golds and sautéed zucchini. I did add a couple of things…I added one more garlic clove, and before putting it in the oven, I added about 1/4 cup of white wine, and quartered baby bellas. It was a huge hit, and NOT the last time I’ll make it. I also set a timer, and basted it with the butter every 10 minutes. Delicious!
Thank you! I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed the recipe and made some delicious additions. Your choice of serving with mashed Yukon golds and sautéed zucchini sounds fantastic!
Your recipe doesn’t include the oven temperature.
It does, it’s on the recipe card box below the post!
Very tasty but the first time I made it following instructions, the garlic got burnt and now I add the butter and garlic after 20 minutes in the oven.
Can bone in chicken breast be used instead of thighs?
Yes you can!
Winner, winner chicken dinner! The husband loved it (and I did, too).
Aww So happy to hear that 😉
Not crispy. Nothing special
Sorry to hear that. Did you bake it at the temperature that I recommended?
I am so excited to make this tonight!!!
Please let me know if you liked it!