Description
Juicy, tender chicken thighs baked to crispy perfection with a savory garlic parmesan coating. This easy one-pan dinner delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal effort and cleanup. The perfect weeknight meal that’s fancy enough for company!
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2.5-3 pounds)
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
- Lemon wedges (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking dish or rimmed sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easier cleanup (optional but recommended). Lightly grease the pan.
- Prep the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels. This is crucial for achieving crispy skin. Arrange the chicken thighs skin-side up in the prepared baking dish, making sure they’re not overlapping.
- Make the Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and minced garlic. Stir well to combine. Brush or spoon this mixture generously over each chicken thigh, making sure to get some garlic on each piece.
- Season the Chicken: In another small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over all the chicken thighs, pressing it gently onto the skin so it adheres.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when measured at the thickest part of the thigh. The skin should be golden brown and crispy, and the juices should run clear.
- Optional Crisping: If you want extra-crispy skin, turn your oven to broil for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
- Temperature is Key: Always use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken reaches 165°F internally. This guarantees both safety and perfect texture.
- Dry Skin Matters: The drier the skin before baking, the crispier it will become. Don’t skip the paper towel patting step.
- Spacing: Don’t crowd the chicken thighs in the pan. They need space for air circulation to get crispy.
- Cheese Substitutions: While Parmesan is traditional, you can use Asiago or aged white cheddar for different flavor profiles.
- Make it Spicy: Add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the seasoning mixture for a kick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 165mg