Spicy Chicken Thigh! this easy baked chicken thigh recipe is quick to make, it is insanely delicious, moist and you can pair it with anything. Think about a quick and easy mid-week dinner.
You are on to a winner with this baked spicy chicken thigh.
Baked Spicy Chicken Thigh
I loooove chicken, feed me with chicken for days and I would be home and dry but please make sure the chicken is moist and spicy. Nobody has got time for bland or dry chicken. My best part of a chicken is the leg and I must be able to crack the bones too. There is a supermarket around here and each time I go to buy my groceries, I always go to the hot food section and buy their spicy chicken thighs. If I’m very hungry, I would start eating right from the store and keep the bones for later.
Anyways, I stopped the habit of eating it from the shop when hubby told me I shouldn’t be surprised if I find myself on YouTube or Instagram. We all know that wouldn’t be funny at all. A whole me, Ajoke, of my active kitchen eating and cracking bones whilst walking down the supermarket aisle, no way! LOL
Back to my lovely moist succulent baked spicy chicken. I used most of the ingredient one would find in the pantry like paprika, ginger…and my secret ingredient tomato ketchup. Marinating chicken is one of the easiest and laziest jobs in the kitchen. You marinate the chicken thigh and leave for hours and when you come back to it, all you have to do is stick it in the oven. Set a timer, leave it and you then come back to it and your baked chicken thigh is ready to be served.
I have made this spicy chicken thigh very moist but if you like your chicken crispier, simply leave it uncovered in the oven. Check on it intermittently to avoid burning and baste at intervals too. If you are wondering why my spicy baked chicken is almost stewed like all thanks to my secret ingredient the never failing ketchup. A little goes a long way for this recipe.
you can pair this baked spicy chicken thigh with pasta salad, coleslaw, any rice dishes…. scratch that, you can have this chicken with anything!
Right, let’s get cooking!
What is in my chicken thigh marinade
Ketchup
Crushed chilli flake substitute with cayenne pepper
Chicken seasoning, optional
Garlic granules (powdered garlic)
Ginger granules
Pinch of salt (optional)
Vegetable oil (optional)
Mixed herbs, substitute with thyme
Paprika (optional)
How long to marinate chicken
Add all the chicken marinade ingredients into a bowl, mix together till well combined and set aside (taste the marinade and adjust accordingly for salt and seasoning)
Wash the chicken (this is completely optional) and pat dry
Add the chicken to the marinade and mix together till well combined
Leave the chicken to marinate overnight or for at least 30 minutes. If time is of the essence, bake chicken immediately
How long to bake chicken thigh in the oven for
Preheat the oven at 180⁰C/ 356°F or according to the chicken packet instructions. I use a fan oven and I tend to reduce the temperature from what is instructed on the pack. (You know your oven, use what works best for you) Use 190⁰C/375⁰F if using a conventional oven
Place a baking paper or foil on a baking tray, add the chicken and reserve the sauce for basting. Put the chicken in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or till well cooked and water from the chicken runs out clean. After 20 minutes of baking, baste the chicken with some of the remaining sauce and repeat again after another 10 minutes.
For a moist chicken, cover the baking tray with a foil and bake for about 35-40minutes. Remove the foil and place the chicken back in the oven to dry up a bit.
Is this recipe healthy?
Yes, most white meats are! For a healthier chicken, remove the skin on the chicken, you may skip the addition of oil or reduce the quantity used. Follow all the steps for this recipe
Baked Spicy Chicken Thigh
Ingredients
- 6-8 chicken thigh
- 5-6 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp chilli flake substitute with cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp Chicken bouillon powder substitute with 1 chicken cube. I used Nigerian Knorr brand
- 1 tsp garlic granules (powdered garlic)
- 1 tsp ginger granules
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp mixed herbs substitute with thyme
- 1 tbsp paprika substitute with smoked paprika
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except the chicken into a bowl, mix together till well combined and set aside (taste the sauce and adjust accordingly if needed)
- Wash your chicken (this is completely optional) and pat dry
- Add the chicken to the marinade and mix together till well combined. Leave the chicken to marinate overnight or for at least 30 minutes. If time is of the essence, bake chicken immediately
- Preheat the oven at 180⁰C/ 356°F or according to the chicken packet instructions. I use a fan oven and I tend to reduce the temperature from what is instructed on the pack. Use 190⁰C/375⁰F if using a conventional oven
- Place a baking paper or foil on a baking tray, add the chicken and reserve the sauce for basting. Put the chicken in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or till well cooked and water from the chicken runs out clean. Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for few minutes before diving into it. plate up and enjoy your spicy baked chicken with any side of choice
Notes
- For a moist chicken, cover the baking tray with a foil and bake for about 35-40 minutes. Remove the foil and place the chicken back in the oven for another 5 minutes
- For a healthier chicken, remove the skin on the chicken and follow all the steps for this recipe.
Serve this chicken with
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Ajoke x
Is this similar to a piri piri sauce?
No Racheal, it is not. Kindly search the blog for piri piri recipe. thanks
This is classic, I have never cooked with ketchup before. I’m so trying this out and I give you feedback too
Please do, you will change your mind about ketchup. thanks for stopping by
And another great recipe, I would be trying this. thanks
aww bless. thanks
This is really nice and you made seem very easy too.
Thank you