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Best Crispy Lemon Herb Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe

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This crispy lemon herb baked chicken thighs recipe delivers perfectly juicy meat with crackling-crisp skin, thanks to a simple drying technique and a bright lemon herb mixture. It’s a weeknight-friendly dish that feels special enough for company.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 kg or 3.3 lbs total)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (30 ml)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (6 g)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (2 g)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder (3 g)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder (3 g)
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (45 ml)
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 12 g)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped (3 g)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (3 g)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (3 g)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (28 g)

Instructions

  1. Prep the chicken (30 minutes before cooking, or up to 24 hours ahead): Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels. Place them on a plate, uncovered, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Position the rack in the upper third of the oven.
  3. Make the seasoning: In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. In another small bowl, mix together the lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, rosemary, and thyme.
  4. Season the chicken: Remove the thighs from the fridge. Rub them all over with the olive oil. Sprinkle the dry seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each thigh, getting some under the skin if possible.
  5. Apply the lemon herb mixture: Spoon or brush the lemon herb mixture over the chicken, focusing on the meaty side. Try to get some under the skin too.
  6. Arrange on the baking sheet: Place the chicken thighs skin-side up on a wire rack set inside your baking sheet, leaving at least an inch of space between each piece.
  7. Bake for 35-40 minutes. For extra crispiness, switch to broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully.
  8. Add the butter finish: About 5 minutes before the chicken is done, brush the melted butter over the skin. Sprinkle the fresh parsley over the top.
  9. Check for doneness: The chicken is ready when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (without touching bone) reads 165°F (74°C). Let the chicken rest on the pan for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the drying step—water is the enemy of crispy skin. Use a thermometer to ensure doneness. Space the thighs out to avoid steaming. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Watch the broiler carefully if using it.

Nutrition

Keywords: crispy lemon herb baked chicken thighs, baked chicken thighs, lemon herb chicken, crispy chicken thighs, easy chicken dinner

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/best-crispy-lemon-herb-baked-chicken-thighs-recipe/