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.
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:
- 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
- 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.
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.
How to Serve Chicken Thighs (Oven Baked)
- 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
- 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
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.
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.
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.
Can I ask you a favor?
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📖 The recipe.
Southern Baked Chicken Thighs in Oven
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)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- In a medium-sized bowl add buttermilk, optional hot sauce, and egg. Whisk to combine.
- In a large plastic bag, add flour, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Shake bag to mix.
- Using tongs coat chicken in buttermilk mixture, then place in plastic bag and shake to coat. Set aside on a plate. Repeat for each chicken thigh.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place pats of butter on the sheet. Bake in the oven for 2 to 5 minutes just until butter is melted.
- Place chicken thighs, skin side down, on the baking sheet in the melted butter.
- Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and turn the chicken skin side up. Return to the oven and bake an additional 10 to 15 more minutes, or until the chicken is done.
Kori's Tips
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- VARIATIONS: Make these keto by using finely crushed pork rind instead of flour, reducing the carbs to 2 grams.
- TOP TIPS: Place the pats of butter in the oven to melt, watch them carefully as the butter can turn brown quickly.
- SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Garnish with chopped green onions or parsley and serve with hot sauce or bbq sauce.
Nutrition
© 2025 Seeking Good Eats™
More Chicken Thigh Recipes
If you are looking for more delicious recipes with chicken thighs, be sure to check these out:
Sadie
THIS IS AMAZING!!! 10000000% MAKE THIS!!
seekinggoodeats
Awww. Thank you for leaving a review - I'm super happy you loved this recipe. 🙂