Baked Chicken Thighs Lemon Thyme (Printable)

Juicy chicken thighs roasted with lemon, thyme, garlic, and potatoes for an easy, comforting dish.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (approximately 2.5 lbs)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1.3 lbs baby potatoes, halved
03 - 1 large red onion, cut into wedges
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Marinade & Flavorings

05 - 2 lemons (1 sliced, 1 juiced)
06 - 3 tbsp olive oil
07 - 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves or 2 tsp dried thyme
08 - 1 tsp sea salt
09 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

→ Garnish

11 - Chopped fresh parsley

# Directions:

01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F.
02 - In a large baking dish, combine halved baby potatoes, red onion wedges, and minced garlic. Drizzle with half the olive oil and toss to coat evenly.
03 - Pat chicken thighs dry and arrange skin-side up atop the vegetable mixture.
04 - In a small bowl, combine remaining olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika if using. Brush this mixture uniformly over the chicken thighs.
05 - Nestle lemon slices around the chicken and vegetables within the baking dish.
06 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until chicken skin is golden, juices run clear (internal temperature reaches 165°F), and potatoes are tender.
07 - Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped fresh parsley and serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one dish, so cleanup is just rinsing a pan and calling it done.
  • The chicken skin gets golden and crispy while the potatoes soak up all the lemony drippings underneath.
  • It looks impressive enough for company but requires almost no effort or skill.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, cold or reheated.
02 -
  • Drying the chicken skin before it goes in the oven is the difference between crispy and rubbery, don't skip it.
  • If your potatoes are on the larger side, quarter them instead of halving so they cook through in time.
  • Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a thermometer if you have one, 74°C means it's perfectly done.
03 -
  • Use a baking dish that's large enough so the chicken isn't crowded, or the skin won't crisp properly.
  • Save the roasted lemon slices and squeeze them over the chicken just before serving for an extra burst of flavor.
  • If you're cooking for two, halve the recipe but keep the oven temperature and timing the same.
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