A quick way to the most delicious chicken thighs you’ve ever had.

Or break them down, and use the meat tossed within a pasta dish.

With crispy baked chicken thighs, the possibilities (and leftover potential!)

Southern Living Crispy Chicken Thighs on a plate with a salad on the side

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Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs Ingredients

Start with bone-in, skin-onchicken thighs.

There are multiple ways to achieve crispy baked chicken.

To start, dry the chicken first to eliminate excess moisture, which can hinder crisping.

Southern Living Crispy Chicken Thighs salting the chicken

Credit:Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

For another tip, use a wire rack, such as this recipe specifies.

The wire rack allows air to circulate around the chicken for maximum browning and crispiness.

Seasoning before baking not only imparts flavor but facilitates crispiness as well.

Southern Living Crispy Chicken Thighs making the lemon salt

Credit:Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

And use high heat to help the skin crisp quickly and thoroughly.

Do use care not to rip the skin when brushing on the butter, as it is slightly delicate.

Family-Favorite Chicken Recipes

Ingredients

4(8-oz.

Southern Living Crispy Chicken Thighs making the flavored butter

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Sprinkle both sides of chicken evenly with 1 teaspoon of the salt.

Tightly stretch chicken skin to cover entire surface of thighs.

Refrigerate, uncovered, 30 minutes.

Southern Living Crispy Chicken Thighs adding pepper to the chicken

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Spread evenly on a paper towel-lined plate.

Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature 30 minutes.

Make flavored butter:

Preheat oven to 450F with oven rack about 5 inches from heat source.

Southern Living Crispy Chicken Thighs chicken beginning to brown in the oven

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Let stand at room temperature until ready to use.

Bake chicken thighs:

Remove chicken from refrigerator, and pat dry with paper towels.

Sprinkle chicken with pepper.

Southern Living crispy chicken thighs brushing the chicken with lemon butter

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Bake in preheated oven until slightly golden and skin is starting to crisp, about 25 minutes.

Return to oven, and bake at 450F until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes.

Remove from oven, and brush chicken with remaining lemon butter.

Southern Living Crispy Chicken Thighs fully cooked

Credit:Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with remaining 1 teaspoon dried lemon salt.