Keto Crispy Chicken Thighs

Baked in the oven these Keto Crispy Chicken Thighs are made with just the right amount of seasonings and come out of the oven with a crispy flavourful skin and juicy meat without any breading at all.

I have been making these low carb oven baked chicken thighs for years and they turn out perfect every time.

Chicken thighs baked in the oven with special seasoning blend to make them extra tasty and crispy. #keto #lowcarb

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Other low carb poultry recipes
🥘 Ingredients used to make keto chicken thighs
👨🏻‍🍳 Steps by step instructions
👨🏻‍🍳 Recipe tips
♨️ Recipe variations
💭 Frequently asked questions
🍽 Other low carb recipes you might enjoy
📖 Recipe Card

Crispy baked chicken thighs are the easiest keto dinner recipe as it requires no marinating and no prep. Just simply sprinkle with some seasoning and throw it in the oven.

For another low carb chicken recipe see my Low Carb Sheet Pan Chicken, Low Carb Bang Bang Chicken Skewers or this Low Carb Carnivore Chicken recipe.

Other low carb poultry recipes

🥘 Ingredients used to make keto chicken thighs

Made with special mix of seasonings like onion powder, paprika and oregano with a secret weapon to get them even crispier. Unlike fried chicken these thighs are made in the oven until golden and crispy baked.

Chicken thighs: the best part of the chicken, in my opinion, because they are dark meat they cook up nice and tender.
Baking Powder: adds surface area to the chicken which helps to intensify their crunch.
Onion Powder: provides a similar flavour to fresh onions with a concentrated flavour profile
Garlic Powder: still nutty but a little sweet and less assertive than the fresh garlic

👨🏻‍🍳 Steps by step instructions

How to make Crispy Keto Chicken Thighs?

STEP 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Then pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and place in a large bowl. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the chicken. Combine all the spice ingredients and the baking powder in a bowl and then sprinkle over the chicken.

STEP 2: Using tongs, toss the chicken with the spices until they are well coated.

STEP 3: Place the chicken thighs in a 9" x 13" baking pan lined with tin foil. You can use a rimmed baking sheet pan for this recipe but I prefer to have the chicken snuggling with each other with the chicken fat that they release.

STEP 4: Bake in a 400°F oven for about 50 minutes until the internal temperature is 165°F.

👨🏻‍🍳 Recipe tips

Top Tip: Place the chicken in the baking pan with the skin side up. For extra crispy skin you can baste it a couple times while it's roasting in the oven.

Serving: enjoy this oven baked chicken thighs recipe with a side of veggies, like my Blue Cheese Brussel Sprouts or my Air Fryer Crispy Green Beans.
Storage: store these keto chicken thighs in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in tinfoil for 3 to 4 days. Warm up in the oven for best results.
Freeze: if freezing the crispy baked chicken, store in an airtight container or heavy duty freezer bag. If stored properly it can last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Air Fryer: make in the air fryer instead at 400°F for 10 minutes each side, skin side down first.

♨️ Recipe variations

This chicken thigh recipe is great as is but if you want to kick it up a notch, here are a few variations:

Spice - if you want some heat with on your chicken add a ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the spice mix.
Sweet - if you prefer a sweet and salty type of chicken add a tablespoon of Swerve Brown Sugar to the spice mix.
Zesty - add a teaspoon of lemon pepper to the spice mix for a zesty crispy chicken thighs recipe.

This recipe is also gluten free.

See this Keto Nashville Hot Chicken recipe for a next level of heat!

💭 Frequently asked questions

Should you cover the chicken thighs while baking?

No, you do not want to cover the chicken thighs as you will not get a crispy chicken skin.

Can you overcook chicken?

Yes, when overcooked chicken can become dry and leathery. Using a thermometer and cooking the chicken until the internal temperature is 165°F is the best way to not overcook chicken.

Can I use this recipe with chicken breasts?

Chicken thighs are used in this recipe because they have a higher fat content and don't dry out like a chicken breast does.

What makes these crispy chicken thighs keto?

One thigh using this recipe contains 1g of carbohydrates. Therefore, this recipe would likely fit into a keto diet daily macros since it is low carb and diabetic friendly.

🍽 Other low carb recipes you might enjoy

🌡️ Food safety

Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
Wash hands after touching raw meat
Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
Never leave cooking food unattended
Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more food guidelines

Comments

4.91 from 85 votes (83 ratings without comment)