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Baked chicken thighs with rotisserie seasoning recipe is delicious, easy to make and can pair with any side dish. It can also be used for weeknight dinners in a short time.

baked chicken thighs on a white plate and garnished with fresh parsley

Baked chicken thighs are easy to work with and they make the best tender and moist main dish. Even though, there are many options when it comes to cooking with chicken. You can get it as whole chicken or in parts such as chicken breast, thighs, drumsticks, or wings. All these parts are sold as bone-in or boneless, or skin-on or skinless. For this recipe, the focus is on the thighs because it is relatively cheap, tender, and moist when cooked.

The chicken thigh recipe is easy to follow. All you need to do is rub it with olive oil and seasoned it with dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and paprika, after which it is ready to bake. You can also use any spice combination of your choice for your next baked chicken.

black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, salt, dried thyme and powdered onion on a gray plate — Rotisserie Seasoning

Should Chicken Be Washed Before Cooking?

According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), ”washing raw chicken before cooking is not recommended because bacteria in raw meat and chicken juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. This is called cross-contamination. The results of a recent USDA observational study showed how easy bacteria can be spread when surfaces are not effectively cleaned and sanitized after washing chicken (www.fsis.usda.gov). Rinsing or soaking chicken does not destroy bacteria. Only cooking it will destroy any bacteria that might be present on fresh chicken”. Therefore, chicken should be cooked to the internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C before consuming it. I prefer to wash chicken or any poultry under running water in a sink to reduce the surface contamination.

How To Handle Chicken Safely

It is advisable to handle chicken well to prevent cross contamination as explained above.
Frozen chicken should be thawed overnight in the lower shelf of the refrigerator before use.
Always use separate bowls and cutting boards for uncooked chicken and cooked chicken.
All chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C. Meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part will help determine the appropriate temperature. If there is no meat thermometer, pierce the thickest part of the meat with knife and the juices from the chicken should be clear and no sign of blood or pink liquid. Any sign of pink liquid means the chicken is not ready and should be cooked for a little longer.
Refrigerate or freeze any leftover immediately.

Is Baked Chicken Healthy?

Chicken is a good source of lean protein that our bodies uses to build and repair tissues. Chicken is easily digested, has low fat content and high percentage of unsaturated acids. Most of the fat in chicken are found in the skin. So, if you are worried about fat, then remove the skin when eating it. The healthiest way to cook chicken is to bake it in the oven or stir fry with vegetables.

How Long Does It Take To Bake Chicken

Oven-baked chicken taste good but it does not have to be over cooked to retain all the juices and flavor. Baking time and temperature of chicken depends on different factors such as the type of cut or part of the chicken being baked, the weight of the chicken, and the temperature of the oven.

Type of cuts	Weight	Baking at 350F	Baking at 400F
Legs or Thighs	4-8oz	40-50 minutes	25-30 minutes
Drumsticks	4oz	35-45 minutes	20-25 minutes
Wings	2-3oz	30-40 minutes	15-20 minutes
Breast with bone	6-8oz	30-40 minutes	20-30 minutes
Breast-boneless	4oz	20-30 minutes	15-20 minutes
Whole chicken	5-7lbs	2-21/2 hours	11/2-2 hours

The best way to ensure that the chicken is well cooked is to use meat thermometer which reads the internal temperature of 165°F or when you cut into the chicken and the juices run clear then it is done.

How To Make The Baked Chicken Thighs

Pat dry the chicken with paper towel and set aside.

Mix all the dry ingredient together.
Drizzle olive oil on the chicken thighs and rub so the oil will coat the chicken well. This makes the chicken moist when baked and will also make the seasoning stick to the chicken. Add the seasoning to the chicken and rub well.

Arrange the chicken thighs on your baking pan and bake until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Let the baked chicken rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving or cutting.

How To Prevent Chicken From Drying Out in The Oven

Marinate the chicken with oil, or seasoning and allow to sit in the fridge overnight. When limited on time, you can leave it for about 30 minutes to 1 hour before baking.
Rub chicken with a little oil, margarine, or butter to help seal in the juices when baking.
Bake the chicken at a high temperature (400 F) to seal the juices in the chicken.
Always allow chicken to rest after baking to allow the juices to redistribute evenly in the meat to keep the chicken moist.
Do not over bake the chicken.

Thanks for reading. As always, know that God loves you and stay blessed.