These baked chicken thighs are extremely juicy, tender, and flavorful! Paired with simple root vegetables, this chicken is baked in the oven and seasoned with maple syrup and fresh thyme. This dish is perfect for any weeknight dinner, especially when paired with flavorful white rice or my creamed spinach recipe!
Oven baked chicken thighs are delicious, especially when they are cooked with fresh vegetables. Just like this chicken with honey and garlic and this garlic brown sugar chicken, these oven baked chicken thighs with vegetables is one of those savory baked chicken recipes that also has a sweet flavor thanks to the honey, carrots, and sweet potatoes. You can also use chicken legs which adds just as much flavor. Not only does dark meat work extremely well with this dish, it also makes this oven baked chicken even more tender and juicy!
These thighs are made in the oven and will be ready to serve in less than an hour. The juice from the dark meat mixed with the olive oil really helps the root vegetable cook faster and more evenly. And the savory flavor from the baked chicken makes this recipe off the charts delicious!
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✔️ Why This Recipe Works
1. This oven cooked chicken is made in one pan which means less mess and easy cleanup!
2. You can use any type of chicken you want! Oven baked chicken legs, wings, and even chicken breasts taste great with the savory herbs and vegetables used in this recipe.
3. From start to finish, the prep and baking will be done and ready to eat in 45 minutes!
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
I made it a point to only use simple ingredients for this recipe. Fresh sweet root vegetables provide so much flavor, especially when paired with the savory flavors of the poultry seasoning, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Using a red onion also adds another layer of flavor that is irresistibly delicious!
You can either use bone-in or boneless thighs when making this recipe. Using bone-in chicken makes this dish even more juicy! My preference is to use both chicken legs and thighs when making this dish.
📋 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
To start, you'll need to season each piece of chicken. Sprinkle on poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper onto the chicken thighs and legs and then place them in an oven safe dish. Set aside.
Next, chop the carrots, sweet potatoes, and red onions. Wash the vegetables, but keep the peelings on. There is a high level of nutritional value in the peelings of carrots and sweet potatoes. That's where the majority of the vitamins and nutrients are. Plus, when you bake the vegetables with this juicy baked chicken, the vegetables take on the most delicious and savory flavors.
Now it's time to assemble the dish. Arrange the meat and vegetables in a 9X13 pyrex dish or in a dutch oven. Place the carrots, sweet potatoes, and red onion in the dish along with the seasoned meat. Drizzle on the maple syrup and olive oil. Then, add the fresh thyme.
Once the oven has preheated to 375°F, place the dish in the oven and bake uncovered. It will take about 40-45 minutes to bake thighs and chicken legs in the oven. When the internal temperature reaches 165°F, it's done.
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These baked thighs and legs will be a beautiful golden brown when you take them out of the oven. You'll cook the meat until done and then allow the dish to cool for 5 minutes before serving. There will be the most flavorful juice at the bottom of the roasting pan. When you've placed the chicken on each plate, take a spoonful of the savory juice and pour it over the drumsticks and thighs.
🙋🏼 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! If you don't like dark meat, chicken breasts work as a great substitute. This is a delicious recipe if you choose to use baked chicken breasts. You can also use a whole chicken, but that takes longer and requires a bit more effort.
Baking at 375°F, it takes about 40-45 minutes for the chicken to reach an internal temperature of 165°F. It may take about 5 minutes longer when cooking bone in thighs. According to foodsafety.gov, all chicken is considered done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. That means thighs and drumsticks don't have to be cooked to 175°F to be considered done.
No, there is no need to cover this dish while it's cooking. The direct heat will help the thighs and drumsticks turn a beautiful golden brown color, regardless if you use skin on or skinless thighs.
Leftover chicken is amazing warmed up the next day. Store any leftovers in an airtight container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat the leftover in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven.
💭 Expert Tips
- I love using sweet root vegetables when making this recipe so I use carrots, sweet potatoes, and red onion in this dish. They pair extremely well with the maple syrup used in this dish.
- Want to add other vegetables? Go for it! I've used brussels sprouts, red potatoes, and pearl onions and they turned out amazing!
- Don't peel the vegetables! The skins on the carrots and sweet potatoes contain a lot of nutrition. Once the thighs are cooked, you would never know the skins were kept on the vegetables! They come out super soft, tender, and delish!
- While you can use olive oil for this dish, using a flavor infused olive oil really enhances the flavor. Garlic and rosemary olive oil are my favorite.
- To ensure the meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature, use an internal meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F before you remove it from the oven.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
🥘 Baked Chicken Sides
If you want to add a green vegetable to this recipe, try my Roasted Green Beans with Mushrooms, Balsamic and Parmesan. These are coated with a flavored balsamic vinegar for a delicious depth of flavor. Want a salad? Pair it with my Brussels Sprout Salad. And I just love dipping these Herb Sourdough Ciabatta Rolls in the juice from the bottom of the baked pan. And, oven baked chicken and rice is also delicious!
This easy baked chicken is super simple to make, healthy, and nutritious! I often find myself cutting up extra sweet potatoes, carrots, and red onions so I can roast them separately to have extras as a side dish.
👩🍳 Other Oven Chicken Recipes
If you like this recipe, I just know you're going to love this Easy Balsamic Roasted Chicken Sheet Pan Supper. Sheet pan dinners are not only convenient to make, but the flavor combinations are amazing! If you love a good curry recipe, try my Creamy Chicken Curry. It's full of spicy flavor and pairs well with rice and naan bread! Looking for quick and easy dinner? Try making this Lemon Mustard Chicken with Red Potatoes in Foil. You'll add all the ingredients to the foil pocket, seal, and bake until done. It's the most convenient dinner ever!
This Rosemary Dijon Chicken Breast is one of those recipes you will want to make when you don't really feel like putting a lot of effort into your meal, yet you want to eat a good and healthy meal. The dijon mustard makes this dish and pairs amazingly well with homemade mashed potatoes and these grilled green beans. And if you want another sweet and savory meal, make sure you try this Peach Balsamic Chicken. It's healthy, fresh, and bursting with flavor! It's an easy skillet recipe that is a light dish featuring a combination of flavors including balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, and fresh peaches. So good!
Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Vegetables
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs chicken thighs and drumsticks, (I like boneless/skinless thighs and drumsticks with skin on)
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ยฝ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups carrots, unpeeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 cups sweet potatoes, unpeeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- ยฝ red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ยฝ cup maple syrup
- 4-5 fresh thyme sprigs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Arrange the chicken in a 9X13 in Pyrex dish or dutch oven.
- Coat each piece of chicken evenly with the poultry seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Chop the vegetables and place the carrots, sweet potatoes, and red onion in the dish. Drizzle with maple syrup and olive oil. Add fresh thyme on top.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the meat has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Let the dish cool for 5 minutes before serving. Refrigerate any leftovers.
Notes
- I love using sweet root vegetables when making this recipe so I use carrots, sweet potatoes, and red onion in this dish. They pair extremely well with the maple syrup used in this dish.
- Want to add other vegetables? Go for it! I've used brussels sprouts, red potatoes, and pearl onions and they turned out amazing!
- Don't peel the vegetables! The skins on the carrots and sweet potatoes contain a lot of nutrition. Once these thighs are cooked, you would never know the skins were kept on the vegetables!. They come out super soft, tender, and delish!
- While you can use olive oil for this dish, using a flavor infused olive oil really enhances the flavor. Garlic and rosemary olive oil are my favorite.
- To ensure the meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature, use an internal meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F before you remove it from the oven.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
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Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March 2012, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures and tips in October 2021.
Charity
I love a simple yet delicious chicken bake. Maple and root veggies are the perfect compliment to a humble chicken! Adding this to my dinner rotation. Thanks!
Amanda Mason
Hi Charity! You'll have to let me know how you like it!!!
lauren
Chicken thighs are one of my favorite cuts! I love how you prepared them for this recipe. Just the right amount of seasoning and a bit of sweetness from the maple. Such a healthy and tasty dish to have in rotation for weeknight dinners.
Amanda Mason
Hi Lauren! Yes - chicken thighs are my favorite cut, too!! Hope you enjoyed this meal!
Marie
This sounds delicious! I'll bet the maple syrup really adds to the flavor.
Amanda Mason
Hi Marie!
Yes! The maple syrup is amazing! Totally adds to the taste!
Jenni LeBaron
This sounds delicious. The sweetness from the maple syrup and sweet potatoes perfectly compliments the savory umami of the chicken. I also love that you've added a few fresh thyme sprigs to this to give it just the right balance.
Amanda Mason
Yes, it's so delish! Great complimentary flavors going on in this dish!
Pearl Rodrigues
This looks healthy and totally delicious. I think it's a good dinner option since it has meat and is loaded with veggies. Love how you've kept the seasonings so simple and yet flavorful
Amanda Mason
Yes! Simple but extremely flavorful!
Denise
I love the maple syrup in this! It sounds amazing and so flavorful, especially with the root vegetables.
Amanda Mason
Yes!! So delicious!!!! You're going to love it!
Amanda
I love how easy yet incredibly flavorful this dish is! The maple gives it such a nice touch. Thanks for sharing!
Kylie | Midwest Foodie
My husband loves chicken, but I am always struggling to find new recipes to try! He is going to LOVE this one. Thanks for a great recipe!
Amanda Mason
Thanks, Kylie! I know he's going to love it!!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I love maple syrup, but I will admit I have NEVER tried it with chicken. I think this would be a hit with my family. Chicken is always a safe bet to serve for company too. I will give this a try.
Danielle Wolter
I've got to try the maple syrup. I've never used it on roasted chicken and i'll be it's amazing with the chicken and vegetables!
Amanda Mason
The maple syrup really brings out the sweetness in the carrots and sweet potatoes!