Crispy Golden Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe for Dinner Joy

Crispy, tender golden oven baked chicken thighs promise a delightful meal that will make everyone at the dinner table smile.

These juicy chicken thighs combine simple seasonings with foolproof cooking techniques for maximum flavor.

Salt, pepper, and herbs create a magical blend that infuses each succulent bite with rich taste.

Weeknight dinners become extraordinary when you master this straightforward recipe.

The skin turns perfectly golden and crisp while the meat remains incredibly moist and flavorful.

Home cooks of all skill levels can achieve restaurant-quality results with minimal effort.

Serve these mouthwatering chicken thighs alongside roasted vegetables for a complete and satisfying meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Ideas to Change Up the Cream Sauce or Seasoning

• Always pat chicken thighs completely dry before seasoning to achieve a perfectly crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in delicious flavors and creates an irresistible texture.
• Swap heavy cream with coconut milk or unsweetened almond cream and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan for a lactose-free version that maintains rich, creamy consistency.
• Prepare the seasoned chicken and cream sauce up to 24 hours in advance, storing separately in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, simply combine and bake, reducing prep time dramatically.
• Replace traditional sides with cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or roasted vegetables to create a keto-friendly meal that's equally satisfying and nutritionally balanced.
• Use a meat thermometer to guarantee chicken reaches exactly 165°F, ensuring food safety without overcooking and maintaining juicy, tender meat that melts in your mouth.

How to Serve Creamy Chicken Thighs for Maximum Comfort

• Rustic Dinner Plate Paradise: Pair this creamy chicken with fluffy mashed potatoes or herbed rice to capture every delicious sauce drop.
• Bread Lovers' Dream: Serve alongside crusty artisan bread or warm garlic toast to soak up the luxurious Parmesan cream sauce, making each bite absolutely irresistible.
• Green Veggie Companion: Complement the rich chicken with roasted asparagus, steamed broccoli, or sautéed green beans to balance the creamy, decadent flavors and add nutritional variety.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Choose a crisp Chardonnay or light Pinot Grigio to enhance the dish's creamy texture and cut through the richness of the Parmesan sauce.

Keep Leftovers Creamy, Tasty, and Ready When You Are

• Keep leftover chicken in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Seal tightly to lock in moisture and prevent any funky odors from spreading.
• Wrap individual chicken thighs in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags. These delicious morsels will stay fresh for up to 2 months when properly sealed.
• Warm refrigerated chicken in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Cover with foil to prevent drying out, ensuring the meat stays juicy and the creamy sauce remains silky smooth.
• Store cream sauce separately from chicken to maintain optimal texture. When ready to enjoy, gently reheat sauce in a pan, stirring occasionally to restore its original creamy consistency.

FAQs

• Can I use boneless chicken thighs instead of bone-in?

Yes, you can use boneless chicken thighs. Just adjust the cooking time to about 15-20 minutes, as boneless thighs cook faster than bone-in thighs.

• What if I don't have an oven-safe skillet?

Transfer the chicken and sauce to a baking dish before putting it in the oven. Make sure the dish can withstand high temperatures.

• Is it possible to make this recipe dairy-free?

Replace heavy cream with coconut cream and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese. The texture and flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.

• Can I substitute dried thyme with fresh thyme?

Yes, you can. Use one-third the amount of fresh thyme compared to dried thyme, as fresh herbs are more potent in flavor.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 600 kcal

Servings: 4

Ingredients to Get Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Just Right

• Chicken Thighs: Juicy protein base with rich flavor, choose bone-in and skin-on for maximum tenderness and crispy exterior.
• Paprika: Adds warm color and subtle smoky depth to the seasoning blend.
• Garlic Powder: Provides concentrated garlic essence without fresh garlic's moisture.
• Onion Powder: Delivers sweet and savory background notes to the seasoning mix.
• Salt: Essential flavor enhancer that balances and intensifies overall taste.
• Black Pepper: Introduces gentle heat and aromatic complexity to the chicken.
• Olive Oil: Creates golden sear and helps develop rich caramelization on chicken skin.

• Butter: Provides luxurious richness and helps create smooth sauce texture.
• Onion: Adds natural sweetness and foundational flavor to cream sauce.
• Garlic: Brings pungent, aromatic notes that complement chicken's richness.
• Chicken Broth: Develops deeper savory undertones in the cream sauce.
• Heavy Cream: Creates silky, indulgent sauce with luxurious mouthfeel.
• Parmesan Cheese: Contributes nutty, salty complexity to sauce's flavor profile.

• Thyme: Introduces earthy, slightly minty herb dimension to the dish.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Optional ingredient for subtle background heat and excitement.

Tools That Help You Bake Chicken Thighs With Love

• Large oven-safe skillet: Key tool for searing chicken and making the creamy sauce right in the same pan.
• Paper towels: Perfect for drying chicken before seasoning to ensure crispy skin.
• Small bowl: Needed for mixing the dry spice rub.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring sauce and scraping browned bits from skillet.
• Measuring spoons: Help accurately measure seasonings and spices.
• Meat thermometer: Essential for checking chicken's internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Oven mitts: Protect hands when handling hot skillet in and out of oven.

Bake Creamy Chicken Thighs in the Oven With Ease

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 400°F, getting ready for some delicious chicken.

• Season and Sizzle the Chicken

Massage your chicken thighs with a zesty blend of spices, creating a flavor explosion. Get a skillet screaming hot with olive oil and give those thighs a golden sear on both sides until they’re beautifully caramelized.

• Craft the Dreamy Sauce

In the same skillet, dance some butter and onions around until they’re soft and fragrant. Welcome garlic to the party, then splash in chicken broth to lift up all those delicious browned bits. Swirl in heavy cream, sprinkle Parmesan, and add a whisper of thyme and red pepper. Let everything bubble and mingle for a few minutes until the sauce becomes luxuriously thick.

• Bake to Perfection

Nestle those seared chicken thighs into the creamy sauce, then slide the entire skillet into the waiting oven. Bake for about 20–25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and reaches 165°F.

• Serve and Savor

Pull out your masterpiece, let it rest briefly, then drench the chicken in that irresistible sauce. Pair with your favorite comfort sides and prepare for a flavor adventure.

Golden Oven Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Succulent Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs promise rich comfort from Mediterranean kitchens. Herbed cream sauce and tender meat create a delightful dinner that welcomes hungry diners to savor each memorable bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
• ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
• 1 tsp (5 ml) paprika
• 1 tsp (5 ml) garlic powder
• 1 tsp (5 ml) dried thyme or Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp (2.5 ml) onion powder
• ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt
• ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) black pepper
• ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Seasoning Preparation: Create an aromatic spice blend using paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Thoroughly coat chicken thighs with the mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Searing Technique: Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken thighs skin-side down for 3-4 minutes, then flip and sear the other side for 2-3 minutes to lock in flavors and create a golden crust.
3. Flavor Building: In the same skillet, reduce heat and add butter. Sauté diced onions until translucent, then introduce minced garlic. Deglaze with chicken broth, scraping up caramelized bits from the pan’s surface.
4. Sauce Creation: Blend heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, fresh thyme, and optional red pepper flakes into the skillet. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and develops a rich, creamy consistency.
5. Oven Roasting: Arrange seared chicken thighs skin-side up in the sauce, partially submerging them. Transfer skillet to a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven and roast for 20-25 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
6. Resting and Serving: Remove from oven and let chicken rest for 5 minutes to redistribute juices. Drizzle with the velvety sauce and serve alongside rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to complement the dish.

Notes

Optimize Chicken Skin Crispiness: Pat chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels before seasoning to ensure maximum skin crispness and gorgeous golden-brown color.

Balance Sauce Thickness: Control sauce consistency by adjusting cream and cheese ratio – less cream creates thicker sauce, more creates lighter texture.

Prevent Dairy Separation: Simmer sauce gently and avoid high heat to prevent cream from breaking or developing unwanted grainy texture during cooking.

Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free version, or use Greek yogurt for lower-fat alternative without compromising rich flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 530
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 720 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 19 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 5 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 43 g
• Cholesterol: 160 mg