Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Easy oven baked lemon pepper chicken thighs are a delicious and flavorful dish that features tender, juicy chicken thighs seasoned with a zesty blend of lemon pepper, garlic, paprika, and herbs. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner!
Equipment
- Baking sheet pan
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 6 Chicken thighs Skin on and bone in
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasonings
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh parsley to garnish
- Lemon slices to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a baking tray with aluminum foil and set it aside.
- Pat dry the chicken thighs with a kitchen towel and set them aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the seasonings: lemon pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, salt, paprika, and lemon zest. Mix well.
- Add the lemon juice and olive oil to the seasoning mixture and stir until well combined.
- Place the chicken thighs and the seasoning mixture into a large Ziplock bag. Massage the chicken to ensure it's thoroughly coated with the marinade. If desired, marinate the chicken for a couple of hours for enhanced flavor, or proceed to bake immediately.
- Arrange the chicken thighs on the prepared baking tray over a rack (if possible) and bake for 40-45 minutes, until the thickest part hits 165°F/74°C and broil 2–3 minutes for extra-crisp skin.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with rice and vegetables on the side.
Notes
- Let the thighs sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking and prevent the outside from overcooking while the inside remains undercooked.
- Adjust the pepper and salt levels according to your taste. You can add more pepper if you like it spicier or more salt if you prefer a saltier seasoning because many blends include salt. Add extra salt only if needed.
- For Air Fryer Method: Place the marinated chicken thighs in the preheated air fryer basket and air Fryer 385–390°F, 18–22 min, flip once, rest 5 minutes. (Don't forget to grease your air fryer basket).
- For grill: Place the chicken thighs in medium-high, skin-side down 6–8 min to render, flip/cover 6–10 min to 165°F, brush with lemon-butter off heat.
