These oven-baked boneless skinless chicken thighs get tossed in taco seasoning and seared until caramelized. Then the whole skillet goes into the oven for an effortless, flavor-packed protein.
The easiest way to cook chicken
By the end of a long, busy day, I only have the energy for something insanely simple. These oven-baked chicken thighs are exactly that.
They take almost no effort and still taste amazing! I just toss them in my favorite Siete taco seasoning, sear them in a skillet until caramelized, then slide the whole pan into the oven. That’s it. Done!
You can serve them with leftover rice or a simple side dish and dinner is ready! So dang easy!
(If you love chicken thighs, try my honey chipotle chicken or my mustard chicken thighs!)
Key Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs - Chicken thighs are very forgiving! Unlike chicken breasts, dark meat is moist and doesn't dry out easily. I prefer boneless so I don't have to eat around the bones, plus it's less messy!
- Taco seasoning - My favorite brand is Siete! It's made with clean ingredients and it tastes SO good. The combination of spices, ground dates, tomato, and garlic is on point. It's a little bit more expensive but I never use an entire pack in one sitting so it goes far.
- Olive oil - To encourage caramelization in the hot skillet! I buy mine in bulk at Costco.
- Kosher salt - Taco seasoning already contains salt so you don't need much!
How to Oven Bake Chicken Thighs
This recipe is so simple! Here's what you need to do:
- Season the chicken thighs. For the sake of simplicity, I just tossed the chicken in my favorite taco seasoning! Feel free to create your own mix with the spices you have on hand.
- Caramelize the chicken in a hot skillet. This adds about 5 minutes of time and adds a ton of flavor from the caramelization. It doesn't even dirty an extra pan.
- Flip the chicken over then pop the entire skillet into the oven and let the chicken thighs finish cooking in the oven.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and serve the chicken warm. Make sure you use an oven mitt since the handle will be scalding! I leave the oven mitt over the handle so I don't accidentally forget and grab it while it's hot.
How long do I cook boneless skinless chicken thighs in the oven?
It depends. The cooking time for boneless, skinless chicken thighs varies based on a few factors: the oven temperature, whether you sear them first, and how juicy you prefer them. Higher temps cook them faster, a pre-sear cuts down oven time, and pulling them earlier keeps them more moist. In general, aim for an internal temperature of 165°F to know they’re done.
Tips & tricks
- Let the pan heat up before you add the chicken. The last thing you want to hear is the chicken plop into a pile of cold oil. The pan should be up to temp and you should hear it sizzle once it goes in.
- Do NOT forget the skillet was in the oven once you pull it out. The handle stays hot for a while! I always put an oven mitt or towel over it so I don't forget, grab it, and burn myself.
- Make sure to use a large skillet with plenty of surface area. You want to fit all the chicken thighs in at once!
Serving Suggestions
Honestly, you can serve this chicken with almost anything! Here's how I like to serve it:
- Dice it up and use it for burrito bowls! Add all your favorite toppings - salsa, lettuce, beans, corn, guac, the works.
- Cut it into slices and use it for chicken tacos. Same wheel house!
- Serve it as-is with microwaveable white rice. I love to buy frozen organic jasmine rice from Trader Joe's. I just pop one in the microwave and it's ready in a couple minutes.
Storage & Make-Ahead
- These oven baked chicken thighs are great for meal prepping! You can make them at the beginning of the week and chop them up for different meals.
- Store the cooked chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Easy Dinner Recipes
Oven Baked Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- large oven-safe skillet
Ingredients
- 1.75 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 5) trimmed of excess fat
- 2 tablespoons siete taco seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken thighs with the taco seasoning and kosher salt until evenly coated.
- Heat a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the skillet. Place the chicken thighs upside down evenly into the skillet and let them cook for 4 to 6 minutes, until they’re nicely caramelized.
- Use a fork or mini tongs to flip the chicken thighs over then place the skillet into the oven.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Use an oven mitt to carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Serve the chicken immediately.
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