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Four golden-brown Extra Crispy Chicken Thighs served in a creamy sauce with wilted spinach.

Extra Crispy Chicken Thighs in the Oven

This recipe provides instructions for making extra crispy chicken thighs baked in the oven, served with a creamy pan sauce.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 pound thin-cut boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 3)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more as needed
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 5 ounce baby spinach (5 packed cups)
For Serving
  • 1 Cooked pasta or steamed rice

Equipment

  • Oven-safe skillet
  • Small bowl

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Season the chicken thighs on both sides with kosher salt and black pepper.
  2. Place the flour in a shallow dish. Dredge each chicken thigh in the flour, shaking off any excess.
  3. Heat the olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  4. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the same skillet. Cook for 3 minutes until the onion softens. If the pan is dry, add a small amount of oil or butter.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let the broth simmer for 2 minutes.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream, sour cream, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
  7. Return the seared chicken thighs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) and the skin is crispy.
  8. Remove the skillet from the oven. Stir in the butter until it melts into the sauce. Add the spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted.
  9. Serve the chicken thighs and sauce over cooked pasta or steamed rice.

Notes

For extra crispiness, you can briefly place the chicken under the broiler for the last minute of cooking, watching carefully to prevent burning.