A delicious lemon pepper chicken thighs recipe. Here's a simple oven-baked chicken thighs dish that is perfect for stress-free weeknight dinners.
This roasted lemon pepper chicken thighs recipe is so hearty and comforting. The chicken thighs turn out right every time; it’s an easy recipe for chicken that will never fail you.
Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
If you are looking for a good recipe for chicken thighs, try this Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs recipe.
It's oven-baked, made of simple ingredients, easy and inexpensive to make but loaded with lemon pepper flavors.
You can read the reviews and re-pin here
In this recipe, I will show you how to make your own lemon pepper seasoning. It's cheaper and tastes better than any store-bought lemon pepper mix.
Serve this with roasted baby potatoes with rosemary and garlic!
Now let's talk about the ingredients, cooking process, and everything else that you need to know about lemon pepper chicken.
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Preparation for Oven-Baked Chicken Thighs:
The preparation is very simple. It involves chopping the garlic, mixing the spice rub, and drying the chicken with paper towels.
Chicken Thighs:
To make this recipe, you will need about 1-¾ pounds of chicken thighs, which is around 4 pieces.
Skin-on thighs would be perfect for this recipe so you can get that nice brown and crispy skin.
The skin also helps retain more fat and moisture that results in juicier meat.
The Perfect Seasoning for Oven-Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs:
The lemon pepper seasoning blend consists of basic pantry ingredients: olive oil, dried oregano, black pepper, onion powder, brown sugar, kosher salt, as well as the fresh produce: fresh garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
You can use dried/fresh thyme or Italian seasoning as a substitute item for oregano or use a combination of both.
Kosher salt is an absolute must-have ingredient on so many chicken recipes! Kosher salt has larger grains than table salt that makes it easier to distribute evenly on meat.
I usually use about ¾ - 1 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound of chicken.
However, the lemon juice and lemon zest act as flavor enhancers and brighten up the taste of food. Both are often used as a salt replacement for those who are trying to reduce sodium intake. For that reason, I only used 1 teaspoon of kosher salt per recipe (4 pieces of chicken, 1-¾ pounds total).
How to Marinate Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs:
Marinating is optional, but if you could marinate the chicken in the seasoning for 15-30 minutes it will help absorb the flavors.
The Perfect Temperature to Cook Chicken Thighs in the Oven:
Roast the chicken thighs at 400°F for about 35-45 minutes. The cooking time will be shorter if you are using boneless chicken thighs.
The best way to make sure your chicken is safe to eat is to check the internal temperature.
The USDA recommends cooking whole poultry (including breasts, legs, thighs, wings, and giblets) to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F as measured using a food.
The Cooking Process:
This lemon pepper chicken thighs recipe can be done in 3 easy steps.
Step 1. Prepare the Chicken Thighs
Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture before cooking.
Step 2. Season the Chicken Thighs
- In a small bowl, combine all the seasoning ingredients.
- Rub the seasoning all over the chicken thighs.
- If possible, marinate the chicken for 30 minutes.
Step 3. Roast the Chicken Thighs
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Place the chicken, skin side up on a prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 35-45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, is no longer pink, and until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
What to Serve With Baked Chicken Thighs:
- Baked Mac and Cheese
- Roasted Yellow Squash with Parmesan Cheese and Herbs
- Summer Squash Casserole
- Korean Spinach Salad
- Skillet Fried Corn
- Caprese Salad
- Elotes Mexicanos
FAQ and Cooking Tips
Like salt, sugar is a flavor enhancer. However, if you prefer not to have sugar, feel free to skip it.
Yes, you can. Simply preheat the air fryer to 400°F and air fry the chicken thighs for 18-25 minutes or until the internal temperature registered at 165°F, rotate the chicken halfway through. Here's a great recipe for air fryer chicken thighs.
You can store the leftover in an airtight container. Properly stored, the leftover cooked chicken can last 3-4 days in the fridge or up to 6 months. Be sure to keep the refrigerator temperature at or below 40° F (4° C). The freezer temperature should be 0° F (-18° C).
Brush your chicken lightly with olive oil and wrap it tightly with the foil. Place the chicken on a prepared baking sheet. Bake at 325°F until the internal temperature of the meat registers at least 165° F on a meat thermometer.
Check Out More Chicken Recipes:
- Oven-Baked Rosemary Chicken Thighs
- Easy Chicken Picatta
- Baked Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs
- Roasted Cornish Hen
- Chicken and Chorizo Rice
- Roasted Half Chicken
- Slow Cooker Lime Chicken with Couscous
- Healthy Baked Chicken Tenders
- Chicken Shawarma
- Juicy Oven-Baked Chicken Breast
- Harissa Chicken
- Creamy Chicken Marsala
- Crock Pot Slow Chicken Stew
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! I'd appreciate it.
Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs , (bone-in and skin-on) - about 1¾ pounds total
Spice Blend:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- lemon zest, (from 1 lemon)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- ¾ tsp dried oregano, (or use Italian seasoning or thyme)
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt, (use ¾ tsp if you are salt-sensitive)
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all of the spice blend ingredients and mix well. Season the chicken thighs with the spice blend. Marinate the chicken in the fridge for 30 minutes if possible.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Place the chicken, skin side up on a prepared baking sheet. Cook for about 35-45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, is no longer pink, and until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Emily
These lemon pepper chicken thighs are so delicious! Such amazing flavor and cooked to perfection! Adding this to my weeknight recipe rotation!
Renee | The Good Hearted Woman
Such a tasty recipe, and so easy to make too! Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!
Cookilicious
The perfect weeknight meal!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry .
What delicious flavours!
Pris Frank
OMG I'm already eating with my eyes. Lemon is just amazing with chicken, and I loved that you didn't skip on the garlic. Yum!
Ben
I love that lemon flavor with the tender thigh meat. That is fully awesome.
Amber Myers
I love lemon pepper chicken!
Pam Wattenbarger
That chicken looks so tasty! Lemon pepper chicken is one of our favorite recipes.
Terri A Steffes
We adore chicken thighs and now I want to try these. I'll share the recipe with my husband. He does the cooking for the house.
Rose Ann Sales
Great savory and the ingredients are easy to grab. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Jennifer Van Haitsma
Lemon pepper chicken looks like it would be so good with a summery salad. Yum!
Catalina
Yum! These chicken thighs are so crispy and look so mouthwatering! I would like to make them for dinner tonight!
Acupofassamtea
An ideal recipe for summer brunch.
Kathy
Chicken is one of my favorite meats. Lemon pepper is my favorite flavoring as well. The two together taste amazing.
Ruth I
I love how this is a cheap dinner idea but never looks cheap at all. Yummy!
Mama Ash
This looks amazing and I have chicken thighs in the fridge! I think I'll make this for dinner tonight 🙂
Hannah Marie
I am so glad we have all those ingredients right now. I will be trying this dish! Looks yummy!
Orlie
This looks like an excellent, and easy weeknight dinner. I can't wait to try this.
Rika Livingston
Awesome!
Rika Livingston
I agreed, Ruth!
Rika Livingston
That sounds like the perfect pair, Jennifer!
Rika Livingston
You're welcome, Rose!
Rika Livingston
I am sure he is a good cook, Terri!
Rika Livingston
Thanks, Ben!
Rika Livingston
Never skip the garlic, that's my #1 rule, Pris! 🙂
Nikki Branch
I have to say, I have tried a lot of recipes off of Pintrist and not been pleased But this Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe is off the chain amazing!!!
Rika
Hi Nikki,
Thanks for taking the time to share your positive feedback! I am glad to that you found this lemon pepper chicken recipe on Pinterest and liked it. It's my go-to chicken recipe when I am looking for a simple dinner meal.
Take care!
Rika
Caitlin
If I double the recipe, does the cooking time stay the same?
Rika
Hi Caitlin,
The bake time will not change significantly but you need to use a bigger pan. Please note that you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of the chicken, oven-quality, etc. The FDA Food Code suggests cooking chicken to 165°F.
Please let me know if you still have any other questions.
Best,
Rika
Natacha
It was really good and juicy
Rika
Hi Natacha,
Thanks for sharing your feedback! I am glad that you liked this chicken recipe.
Best,
Rika
Vane
This recipe is so simple, it's a keeper! I also really appreciated that the ingredients are all ingredients that are easily found in your pantry. The chicken came out tender and the marinade brought the flavours out so beautifully. Thank you for sharing!
Rika
Hi Vane,
You're welcome and thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. I am glad that you like this recipe :).
Best,
Rika
Robynn
Can you skip the lemon zest?
Rika
Hi Robynn,
The lemon zest plays a role to bring more flavors to the dish. However, if you prefer not to add it for any reason feel free to omit it. Let me know how it tastes without it.
Best,
Rika
Michelle D Lang
This was
Rika
Thanks for taking the time to review this recipe, Michelle! I am glad that you liked it.
Diane
Hi did you cover it when you baked it?
Rika
Hi Diane,
No. I didn't cover it.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Rika