Oven Baked Greek Chicken Thighs
These delicious oven baked Greek chicken thighs are tender, juicy, and exploding with flavors of the Mediterranean.
This easy recipe features perfectly seasoned chicken thighs, bathed in garlicky lemon juices.
Baked rustic-style in a cast-iron skillet, the thighs come out perfectly cooked, with beautifully crispy and golden-brown skin. We love this chicken with this loaded potato casserole.
Whether you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner idea or an impressive meal to serve guests at your next gathering, the vibrant Mediterranean seasonings make this an unforgettable chicken dish.
These buttery and zesty lemon thighs pair wonderfully with a simple Greek salad, tangy Greek cucumber salad, Greek orzo salad, or these crispy country potatoes.
If you love this skillet recipe, you’ll also love these skillet chicken thighs. Be sure to check out these other easy cast iron skillet recipes, too.
Have you tried cooking with the Instant Pot? If so, you’ll love this Instant Pot air fryer rotisserie chicken.
Why We Love This Recipe
- With minimal prep and simple ingredients, you can have an elegant and impressive dish that’s perfect for both weeknight dinners and special occasions.
- These thighs are seasoned with a delicious combination of zesty lemons and flavorful herbs.
- Mouth-watering contrast of crispy skin on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
What You Need to Make Greek Chicken Thighs
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Chicken thighs, boneless, skin on
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Fresh Lemons halves, plus the squeezed lemon
If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, you will fall in love with it once you use it. My favorite brand is Lodge. It’s inexpensive and will last a really long time.
This particular Lodge skillet comes with a lid and a holder for the handle that’s heat-resistant.
You can use this skillet on the stove, in the oven, or even on the grill.
Greek Chicken Recipe Variations and Alternatives
- Chicken options: For this recipe, we like to use bone-in chicken thighs, but you can use boneless chicken thighs if you prefer. Keep in mind, you’ll need to reduce the cooking time slightly for boneless.
- Seasonings: Add your own combination of Greek seasonings. To the other seasonings try adding a little bit of dried Greek oregano, dried thyme or dried rosemary.
- Toppings and garnishes: For more Greek flavors you can add toppings and garnishes. Kalamata olives, feta cheese, sliced red onions or fresh lemon zest are great options.
How to Make this Greek Chicken Thighs Recipe
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 395 F | 200 C.
Step 2. For this chicken thigh recipe, you’ll need to combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika in a small bowl.
Step 3. Mix the seasonings together until they are well distributed.
Step 4. Add oil and butter in an ovenproof skillet and heat on medium heat.
Step 5. While the skillet is heating season the thighs on both sides.
Step 6. Briefly sear the chicken in the hot skillet, starting with skin side down first. Then flip them and sear the bottom side. Remove them from the stove.
Step 7. Squeeze lemon juice all over the top of the chicken and add lemon halves around the chicken in the skillet.
Step 8. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes in the lemon juice.
Step 9. Remove, and spoon some of the pan juices over the tops of the thighs. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or fresh oregano and additional lemon slices.
I like this chicken served with Rosemary Garlic Bread. It’s delicious to dip in the juices of the Greek chicken or serve it with dipping oil.
A favorite side in Greece is okra. If you don’t like it, you probably have not had it prepared the right way. Overcooking it makes it slimy and no one wants to eat that! Learn how to cook okra and you’ll be eating it all the time.
This shredded Brussels sprouts salad would also be a nice healthy side.
Storing Leftover Cooked Thighs
Let the thighs cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
You can store leftovers for a couple of months in the freezer. For best results remove the meat from the bone before freezing. Wrap it well in plastic wrap and then place in a freezer bag.
Recipe FAQs
To make sure your chicken is done, it should be cooked until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh reaches at least 165°F on a meat thermometer.
You can serve this chicken with traditional Greek sauce made with Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, freshly minced garlic cloves, lemon juice, and fresh herbs like dill or mint.
If you’re not a fan of dark meat, you can certainly use chicken breast. While you can use boneless, using skin-on breasts helps to lock in juices and gives the chicken so much flavor.
Top Tips
- When prepping the thighs for seasoning, blot them with a paper towel to remove any moisture. This ensures the seasonings stick, and it also helps you get that nice golden brown, crispy skin.
- Let the chicken rest when it comes out of the oven. This relaxes the meat, allowing all the juices to redistribute.
- When baking bone-in chicken thighs, always place them in the oven skin side up. This allows the skin to crisp up and turn golden.
This dish would also be delicious with this Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese along with these air fryer lemon pepper fries.
Note: For those following the Weight Watchers Plan, this recipe is under 6 Points.
More Chicken Recipes
Oven Baked Greek Chicken Thighs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 6 chicken thighs boneless, skin on
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Juice of 2 lemons plus the squeezed lemon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 395 F | 200 C.
- Add oil and butter in an ovenproof skillet and heat on medium.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika.
- Sear chicken briefly in the skillet. Remove from the stove.
- Squeeze lemon juice on the chicken and add the squeezed lemon around the chicken in the skillet.
- Transfer in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes in the lemon juice.
- Remove, garnish with parsley and serve with your favorite side dish.
