Perfectly juicy baked chicken thighs with tomatoes and onions will become your new weeknight go-to for a hearty, healthy, and satisfying meal. A tomato paste-based spice rub gives this easy recipe a deep savory flavor. The best part? It all comes together in one pan with minimal effort!
You cannot go wrong with chicken thighs. They are convenient, affordable, and forgiving; you don’t have to watch the pan like a hawk to get good results. They’re also adaptable! They pair well with lots of different flavors including lemon and oregano, cilantro and lime, fennel and grapes, or harissa and honey.
Today’s recipe for baked chicken thighs with juicy tomato, onion, and spices is one of my personal favorites. It’s easy to make and every bite turns out tender and succulent.
The star of this recipe is the bold rub made with tomato paste, fresh garlic, and a few warm spices including cumin and smoked paprika (or sweet paprika, if you prefer). The rub gives the chicken thighs a beautiful, mouth-watering color AND quickly infuses them with big flavors without the need to marinate! That’s right, once you coat the pieces with the rub, you can stick them right in the oven.
With minimal prep, this recipe lets the oven do the work, leaving you with beautifully roasted chicken and the most incredible aroma wafting through your kitchen.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Baked Chicken Thighs
This baked chicken thighs recipe is made with simple, wholesome ingredients — most of which are pantry staples — that come together to create a flavorful, comforting meal. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Chicken thighs: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are perfect for roasting, ensuring the meat stays juicy and flavorful. You can use boneless, skinless thighs too, your cook time will be a little shorter.
- Extra virgin olive oil adds depth and richness to the chicken rub and will make it easily spreadable. A good-tasting oil can make all the difference here too, like our Private Reserve olive oil from Greece.
- Kosher salt season the chicken to bring out all the flavors in this simple dish.
- Onions have a wonderful savory flavor that goes sweet in the oven. I call for yellow onions here, but you could easily use red or white instead.
- Tomato: The tomato paste adds lots of umami to the sauce, but I like to add a little fresh tomato to add texture and sweetness, and so people can see the ingredients that flavor the sauce.
- Water: A little water helps the chicken stay juicy. You can use chicken or vegetable stock, if you prefer.
- Tomato paste: this is where the beautiful mouth-watering color on your chicken will come from. Tomato paste is also a great way to add some umami.
- Lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice ties everything together with a bright, tangy flavor.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a pungent, savory kick that pairs perfectly with the olive oil. My preference for this is fresh garlic and we’re not shy with our garlic over here. It has all the flavor!
- Spices: The combination of dried oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, and black pepper gives this baked chicken thigh recipe smoky, warm, and rich flavors. You can also try sweet paprika in place of the smoked. And if you like a little spicy kick, you can add a pinch of cayenne or a bit of Aleppo-style pepper to the rub.
Ingredient Spotlight
Smoked paprika is a key ingredient in this baked chicken thighs recipe, giving the dish a subtle smokiness and a beautiful red color. It’s made by drying and smoking red peppers over a wood fire, which infuses the spice with deep, earthy flavors.
I love using it to add a warm, smoky layer to all kinds of dishes, from Sheet-Pan Smoked Paprika Chicken with Chickpeas and Carrots to Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. For the best flavor, I recommend using our Spanish Smoked Paprika from our shop—its sweet, smoky depth is unmatched!
- TRY IT: Find my favorite Spanish Smoked Paprika at our shop.
- BEST SUBSTITUTE: Sweet paprika
How to Make Baked Chicken Thighs
This delicious oven baked chicken thigh recipe will quickly become your go-to, and it takes just a few simple steps. Here’s how to assemble it.
- Get ready. Arrange one rack in the center of your oven and another about 6 inches from the broiler. Preheat oven to 425°F
- Season the chicken. Sprinkle 8 bone-in chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat, with kosher salt on both sides and underneath the skins. Set aside briefly while you make the wet rub.
- Make the Spiced Tomato Rub. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine 5 tablespoons tomato paste, 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 teaspoon each dried oregano, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and ground black pepper. Whisk until everything is well-incorporated.
- Add the rub to the chicken. Coat the chicken with the tomato rub on both sides, including underneath the skins.
- Layer the chicken and vegetables in a baking dish. Brush the bottom of a 9″ X 13″ baking dish with a splash of extra virgin olive oil. Arrange three quarters of 3 sliced onions on the bottom. Arrange the chicken on top of the onions. Tuck the remaining onions and 1 sliced tomato into the spaces in between the chicken thighs. Pour 1/4 cup of water into the corners of the baking dish, taking care not to disturb the rub on the chicken pieces.
- Bake the chicken. Bake until chicken is cooked through, about 40 minutes.
- Broil the chicken. Place the pan on the top rack and turn the broiler to high. Broil for 1 to 3 minutes, or just until the top of the chicken browns lightly. Watch closely to avoid overcooking and burning the chicken skin. Remove the chicken from the oven.
- Serve. Let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve.
Tips for the Best Baked Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are forgiving, but I often get a number of questions when it comes to getting the best results when cooking them:
- How long to cook chicken thighs? In a hot (400 to 425°F) oven bone-in chicken thighs will cook in about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how large they are.
- How can you tell when chicken thighs are done? The chicken is done when its juices run clear. Chicken thighs should register at 165°F at the thickest part (away from the bone) using an instant-read thermometer.
- Do you need to flip chicken thighs when cooking them? It’s not necessary to flip chicken thighs as you bake them. I like baking them skin side up, uncovered, and then broiling them for a moment, so the skin on the chicken thigh gains some good color.
- Can I make this with chicken breasts instead? Yes, you absolutely can substitute split bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts in place of thighs. Adjust the oven temperature to 375°F and bake them for 30 to 35 minutes. Watch closely as chicken breasts more quickly than thighs. Broil them briefly if the skins need a little more color. Just as with thighs, the internal temperature of chicken breasts should register at 165°F at the thickest part.
How to Store and Reheat Baked Chicken Thighs
Store leftover baked chicken thighs and any remaining vegetables and sauce in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.
I like to use the oven set on a medium temperature like 325°F to gently reheat baked chicken thighs. If you need to, add a little bit of water or broth to the pan, then cover and heat until warmed through.
What to Serve with Baked Chicken Thighs
A little crusty bread or couscous for mopping or soaking up the tomatoey sauce is all you need to accompany saucy baked chicken thighs, but a simple side of sautéed asparagus or a crunchy green salad like Smashed Cucumber Salad with Fried Lemon and Feta would add lovely color contrast.
Want to shake up your usual side dish routine? Try Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice), a beautiful rice dish flecked with lots of herbs, spinach, and tangy crumbled feta. The flavors of this traditional Greek dish would be a grat match for the savory tomato and onion in this baked chicken thigh recipe.
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Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 8 bone-in chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat
- Kosher salt
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 vine ripe tomato, halved and sliced
- ¼ cup water
For the spiced tomato rub
- 5 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, more as needed
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Get ready. Arrange one rack in the center of your oven and another about 6 inches from the broiler. Preheat oven to 425°F
- Season the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken thighs with kosher salt on both sides and underneath the skins. Set aside briefly while you make the wet rub.
- Make the Spiced Tomato Rub. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the tomato paste, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, and black pepper. Whisk until everything is well-incorporated.
- Add the rub to the chicken. Coat the chicken with the tomato rub on both sides, including underneath the skins.
- Layer the chicken and vegetables in a baking dish. Brush the bottom of a 9" X 13" baking dish with a splash of extra virgin olive oil. Arrange three quarters of the sliced onions on the bottom. Arrange the chicken on top of the onions. Tuck the remaining onions and the sliced tomatoes into the spaces in between the chicken thighs. Pour the water into the corners of the baking dish, taking care not to disturb the rub on the chicken pieces.
- Bake the chicken. Bake until chicken is cooked through, about 40 minutes.
- Broil the chicken. Place the pan on the top rack and turn the broiler to high. Broil for 1 to 3 minutes, or just until the top of the chicken browns lightly. Watch closely to avoid overcooking and burning the chicken skin. Remove the chicken from the oven.
- Serve. Let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve.
Video
Notes
- Shop this recipe: Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including the olive oil, cumin, oregano, and paprika used in this recipe.
- To use chicken breasts: Substitute bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts in place of thighs. Adjust the oven temperature to 375°F and bake them for 30 to 35 minutes. Watch closely as chicken breasts more quickly than thighs. Broil them briefly if the skins need a little more color. Just as with thighs, the internal temperature of chicken breasts should register at 165°F at the thickest part.
- Storage: Store leftover baked chicken thighs and any remaining vegetables and sauce in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 4 nights.
- To reheat: I like to use the oven set on a medium temperature like 325°F to gently reheat baked chicken thighs. If you need to, add a little bit of water or broth to the pan, then cover and heat until warmed through.
Nutrition
The Mediterranean Dish: Simply Dinner
125 Easy Mediterranean Diet-Inspired Recipes to Eat Well and Live Joyfully
I made this tonight. What a delicious chicken recipe!! Will definitely make it again. Husband and dinner guest raved.
Suzy I love so many of your recipes. Thank you!!
Yay!! Thanks, Joan!
Can the leftovers be frozen? I live alone and would love to have a couple of great things in the freezer for those nights I don’t want to cook.
Sure! I think that would be fine :). Enjoy!
My husband is usually pretty happy with what I cook for us, but THIS recipe he was absolutely RAVING about! It really was delicious and I made a big enough batch that we had it for leftovers the next day too! We also tried your three ingredient salad, tomatoes, cucumbers and parsley. I wasn’t sure he’d eat it without ranch dressing 😉 but he gobbled that up too! Thanks for some great and easy to make recipes!!!
Wonderful!! Thank you, Heather!
My husband and I loved this. This is the second time I’m cooking this in a week. Thank you for sharing!
That’s awesome! Thanks, Norma!
Suzy, can I make it with brrast Instead?
If so how long in oven and what temperature?
Hi, Jenny! Sure… that will work. You can cook at the same temperature, but boneless chicken breasts will cook faster, so keep and eye on them. The exact time really depends on your oven. I like to use a meat thermometer and cook until they reach and internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
OMG! Amazing! I will save the leftover rub for another dish. I also made a side of sautéed spinach and mushrooms. Will definitely make this again.
Yay! Thank you so much, Kathy!
I made it for dinner tonight and my brothers and I loved it! My mother is a bit of a picky eater and she wasn’t a fan, but she loved the marinade and she can’t wait to try it on other dishes. Thank you for sharing this!
So glad you enjoyed it, Brittany!
This was AMAZING! The aroma alone was absolutely terrific so it was greatly anticipated!
We used some of the leftover rub and added it to orzo (cooked in chicken stock). Omigosh!
Yum city! I added spinach to that orzo for a rounded dinner..
Love your recipes!😘
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, Kathy! So glad you enjoyed it!
Not sure what to serve this with, other than pasta. Grandkids are picky eaters
Hi, Florence! Pasta and rice are great choices. Potatoes are usually pretty kid-friendly and would be a good side for this, as well.
i was very disappointed in this dish. Changed it a little, such as didn’t cook it at such high temps;I did 375. I also didn’t have bone in chicken and used what I had. I found the chicken tough and I didn’t see the purpose of the onions and tomato. The gravy was good. Maybe next time I’ll try bone-in chicken.
You shouldn’t say you were disappointed in this recipe when you didn’t cook this recipe with all the changes you made.
Thank you Sherri.
Made this tonight. Excellent. Thighs were moist and tender, family loved it. 1 caveat – watch the video. I had put the remaining onions on top of the chicken, so I couldn’t broil the chicken crispier. Video shows this, I didn’t watch. Oops.
Thanks for sharing that tip, Kevin! 🙂
Made for dinner. Absolute hit. We will definitely have this again. Thank you.
Yay! Thanks, Mary!
I made this for dinner and it was so delicious and I definitely will make this again.
Awesome! Thanks, Amy!
Hello – Making this wonderful recipe for family this Friday and curious what others served with it as sides. I’d love to hear or read your suggestions! Blessings – Marie
Hi, Marie! This would be great with rice, roasted veggies (https://www.themediterraneandish.com/italian-oven-roasted-vegetables/), or your favorite salad! Really, the options are endless :).
Great recipe…thank you! Massive hit.
Wow! Thank you so much!
This looks fantastic. Never thought about using tomato paste as an ingredient in a “spice rub”.
Hope you give it a try, Jeff! You’ll love it!