Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 2

Microwave the stick of butter in a microwave-safe bowl until melted (about 30-60 seconds).

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, sea salt and black pepper until the ingredients are well combined to make the garlic butter sauce.

Step 4

Remove the chicken from its packaging and pat the thighs dry using a paper towel if there is any excess liquid.

Step 5

Transfer the chicken thighs to a large casserole dish or baking dish in a single layer.

Step 6

Spoon the garlic butter mixture over the thighs, spreading it so that the full surface of the skin is coated with garlic butter herb mixture. Note: if you like salty food like me, sprinkle some sea salt over the chicken either before or after dousing the thighs with the butter mixture.

Step 7

Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and spoon the juices over the thighs (baste the chicken). Turn the heat up to 425 degrees F and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes for crispy chicken skin, or until the chicken skin is golden brown and reaches your desired level of crisp. For even crispier skin, move the oven rack to the shelf that’s third from the top (if it isn’t there already) and broil for 3 to 5 minutes or until the chicken skin is extra crispy.

Step 8

Chicken thighs are considered fully cooked once they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F; however, I find the taste and texture is best when they are cooked to 180 degrees or higher. Unlike chicken breasts, bone-in thighs have superior texture when they are cooked slightly longer. Nevertheless, feel free to cook the thighs to your desired doneness, provided the internal temperature is 165 or over. To check the temperature, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh and wait until the numbers stop moving to get an accurate read.

Step 9

Serve garlic butter chicken thighs with your favorite sides and enjoy! Steamed or roasted veggies and white rice or brown rice are great options to soak up some of the sauce. I like to spoon the juices from the pan over rice. Serve with lemon slices so that you can drizzle fresh lemon juice over the tender chicken thighs if you'd like.