Grandma's Southern Oven Fried Chicken Thighs

Name: Southern Baked Chicken Thighs in Oven
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Ingredients: 6 chicken thighs ((bone-in, skin on)); ⅓ cup buttermilk; 1 teaspoon hot sauce ((optional)); 1 egg; ¾ cup flour ((keto followers use finely crushed pork rind)); 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ((use more if you like it spicy)); 4 tablespoons butter ((cut into 4 pats))

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Southern Baked Chicken Thighs are juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Brushed with buttermilk and then coated with the most delicious mildly smoky-spicy seasonings! Low carb and keto instructions are provided.

Five golden crispy baked chicken thighs served on a white platter.

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The Best Baked Chicken Thigh Recipe
What you'll need for Chicken Thighs in the Oven
How to make Oven Fried Chicken Thighs
How to serve Chicken Thighs (Oven Baked)
Top Tips for this recipe for Baked Chicken Thighs
How to store Oven Fried Chicken Thighs
Best Baked Chicken Thigh Recipe FAQs
Recipe
More Chicken Thigh Recipes
💬 Comments

The Best Baked Chicken Thigh Recipe

"Crispy baked chicken thighs just like my Grandma used to make! Southern-style fried chicken made healthier and easier - without the mess."

If you are a chicken thigh lover be sure to try Buffalo Chicken Thighs (Baked), Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs, or these Italian Baked Chicken Thighs - 3 of my favorite recipes! 🙂

Crispy and Juicy

These crispy baked chicken thighs turn out so juicy and tender it was hard to believe that they weren't deep-fried. The skin was super crispy and full of garlic, onion, and cayenne flavor!

Southern-Style

Inevitably I'm going to get asked - what makes these Southern? 😉

This chicken thighs recipe is inspired by the Southern side of my family who love their buttermilk fried chicken with tobasco sauce!

Many Southerners take their chicken very seriously - including me! I wanted a "fried" chicken recipe just like Grandma's but I didn't want to fry it. I'm too impatient and it makes a mess! LOL. Enter: this baked chicken thigh recipe.

Healthier

This recipe is made healthier by oven baking. If you want to make them even healthier substitute olive oil for the butter. You can also use fat free buttermilk

Make it keto: omitting the flour and using finely crushed pork rinds instead! Use full fat buttermilk.

What you'll need for Chicken Thighs in the Oven

Here are the ingredients and equipment you will need to make these southern baked chicken thighs:

Ingredients

Chicken Thighs - for best results, use bone-in and skin-on!
Buttermilk
Hot Sauce - using hot sauce is optional. I used Tobasco hot sauce but you can use any favorite brand.
Egg
All-Purpose Flour - keto followers can substitute finely crushed pork rinds, also called pork panko.
Salt - I used tabled salt but feel free to use kosher or a salt substitute.
Pepper
Smoked Paprika
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Butter

Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full instructions!

Variations for Baked Chicken Thighs in Oven

Here are a few ways you can vary or make substitutions to this recipe:

You can substitute boneless thighs if you can't find bone-in. The bones add extra flavor and tenderness. Boneless thighs will take approximately 25 - 30 minutes to bake.
Feel free to add or change up spices! I used old-bay seasoning, dried herb blends, and even cajun seasoning. If you use a salted blend reduce salt accordingly.
Increase your spice level by adding your favorite hot sauce to the buttermilk mixture! This is a classic way to increase the flavor and spice of your chicken thighs! Start with 1 teaspoon and increase from there.

Equipment

Equipment and tools needed to make this southern baked chicken thigh recipe:

Baking Sheet - big enough to fit six chicken thighs. Preferably with sides to help from spilling.
Aluminum Foil - to line baking sheet.
1-Gallon Zip-Lock Bag - for marinating chicken.
Cutting Board - to dry chicken. A large plate works perfectly also.
Measuring Cups
Measure Spoons
2 Small Mixing Bowls
Instant Read Thermometer
Tongs - for serving.

How to make Oven Fried Chicken Thighs

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making southern baked chicken thighs:

Preheat

Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine

Combine your flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl or plastic bag. Mix until well incorporated.

Whisk your egg, buttermilk, and hot sauce in a separate bowl until mixed well.

Prepare

While the butter is melting, prepare your chicken thighs.

Dip each thigh into the buttermilk mixture and make sure all sides are covered.

Melt Butter

Line a baking sheet (with sides) with aluminum foil. Cut butter into 4 pats and place on the baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 2 to 5 minutes or until the butter has melted.

Bake Chicken

Once the butter is melted on your pan, place the chicken thighs skin side down on the baking sheet and bake in the oven for 35 minutes.

Turn over

After 35 minutes in the oven, remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip the thighs, so the skin side is now facing up.

Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the their internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

A white oval platter served with southern baked chicken thighs

How to serve Chicken Thighs (Oven Baked)

Here are a few ways to serve Southern baked chicken thighs:

Garnish with chopped green onions or parsley and serve with hot sauce or bbq sauce.

Drizzle with buffalo sauce and serve with carrot and celery sticks with blue cheese dressing.

Serve these thighs with mashed potatoes and gravy! Green beans make a great side dish. Try Air Fryer Green Beans or Crockpot Green Beans and Ham

For a keto meal idea I recommend serving this with Baked Zucchini Casserole with Cheese and a fresh green salad.

Top Tips for this recipe for Baked Chicken Thighs

As the butter melts in the oven and the pan warms, watch it carefully as the butter can burn quickly.
Feel free to marinate your thighs in buttermilk, salt, and a little hot sauce up to 24 hours before. This will tenderize the thighs even further. Just shake off any excess and then dip straight into the flour and seasoning mixture.

How to store Oven Fried Chicken Thighs

Store your leftover thighs (if any) in an air-tight container in your refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating this recipe for Baked Chicken Thighs

While you can reheat in a microwave, to keep that crispy crust reheat these chicken thighs in an air fryer or oven at 350 degrees F. Place on a baking sheet and heat until warmed through.

Air Fryer: 350 degrees F, 5 to 10 minutes.

Oven: 350 degrees F, 10-15 minutes .

Best Baked Chicken Thigh Recipe FAQs

How long does it take to cook chicken thighs in the oven at 375 degrees?

Bone in chicken thighs take approximately 45 - 55 minutes bake at 375 degrees F (the larger the thigh the longer it will take to cook). Chicken thighs are done when they are no longer pink, and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

How long does it take to bake a chicken thigh at 350?

Bone in chicken thighs take approximately 50 to 55 minutes to bake at 350 degrees F (the larger the thigh the longer they will take to cook). They are done when their internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

Do you cover chicken thighs with foil in the oven?

Chicken thighs do not need to be covered with foil in the oven. If you have bone in skin on thighs foil will prevent the skin from crisping up.

If you tried these Southern-style oven-baked chicken thighs, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a 5-star rating and/or a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please share photos of your creations with me and others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!

Recipe

More Chicken Thigh Recipes

If you are looking for more delicious recipes with chicken thighs, be sure to check these out:

Southern Baked Chicken Thighs (Oven Recipe)