Old Bay Chicken Thighs (Printable Version)

Juicy chicken thighs roasted with bold Old Bay seasoning until golden and crispy.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs)

→ Seasoning & Marinade

02 - 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon paprika
06 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
08 - 1 lemon, cut into wedges for serving

→ Garnish

09 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
02 - Pat the chicken thighs thoroughly dry with paper towels and place them in a large mixing bowl.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over the chicken thighs. Add Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and kosher salt. Toss well until every piece is evenly coated.
04 - Place the seasoned thighs skin-side up on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 1 inch apart to allow the skin to crisp properly.
05 - Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F.
06 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot with lemon wedges alongside.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The spice rub does all the heavy lifting, so you get maximum flavor with almost zero effort on a Tuesday night.
  • Bone in skin on thighs are forgiving and juicy even if you accidentally leave them in the oven a few minutes too long, which I have done more times than I care to admit.
02 -
  • If you crowd the pan the chicken will steam instead of roast and the skin will be rubbery, which is a sad fate for perfectly good thighs.
  • A quick one to two minute broil at the end transforms already good skin into something shatteringly crisp, but watch it like a hawk because it goes from perfect to charred in seconds.
03 -
  • Tossing the chicken with your hands instead of a spoon ensures the oil and spices get into every fold and crevice under the skin.
  • If your Old Bay has been sitting in the cupboard for over a year it has lost its punch, so replace it and taste the difference immediately.

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