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Chicken thighs are one of my favorite easy dinners to make – I designed this baked ranch chicken thigh recipe to be absolutely packed with ranch seasoning flavor with just a few ingredients! This is one of the most simple, crave-worthy and satisfying chicken thigh dinners you can make – it’s been a huge hit with my family and friends for years, and it is a great budget dinner that tastes restaurant-worthy!
This has been one of our fan favorite chicken recipes on Sweet C’s for almost a decade!
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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Table of contents
The Best Ranch Baked Chicken
There is something about the tangy, zippy, bright, and salty ranch seasoning herbs that are totally addictive and crave-able – I can’t get enough! If you’re like me and can’t get enough of ranch flavor, this Easy Baked Ranch Chicken Thighs Recipe will become your newest favorite one pot dinner! These chicken thighs bake up to a delicious crispy crunch on the outside, with tender, juicy meat and a tasty tangy ranch flavor.
If you can’t get enough of ranch…. this is going to be your newest obsession. If you’d like to check out a fresh take on this ranch chicken, try my easy baked ranch chicken wings – or even Baked Ranch Pork Chops and a Baked Ranch Pork Tenderloin!
You can also use my air fried adobo chicken thighs to adapt this recipe to an air fryer or instant pot with broiler lid recipe.
I love ranch dressing seasonings in soups and casseroles, on pork chops and pasta, and on chicken thighs. These Baked Ranch Chicken Thighs are bursting with delicious ranch dressing flavor – and are a snap to make, and also work into a low carb diet!
These easy ranch chicken thighs are melt in your mouth delicious, and so easy – perfect for meal prep, dinner parties, potlucks, or busy weeknight dinners. They are great with rice or pasta, grilled veggies, or on their own! And they also taste delicious in sandwiches and salads for a truly versatile and easy chicken thigh recipe you will add to your weekly rotation time and time again!
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tip
Ranch chicken thighs work really well with your favorite cream sauce, too! Try with alfredo or a cream cheese sauce to change things up.
Ingredients for Ranch Chicken Recipe
To make baked ranch chicken thighs, we will use the following ingredients:
- Chicken Thighs (6, bone-in, with skin on): The chicken thighs are the star of this dish. They bring juicy, tender meat with a layer of crispy skin when baked. Bone-in, skin-on thighs offer more flavor and moisture compared to boneless, skinless ones.
- Black Pepper (to taste): Black pepper is a seasoning that adds a subtle heat and depth to the dish. Its mild spiciness complements the ranch seasoning.
- Dry Ranch Salad Dressing Mix (1 oz. packet): This pre-made mix contains a blend of herbs and spices, including buttermilk, garlic, onion, and dill. It serves as the primary seasoning for the chicken, infusing it with the classic ranch flavor profile—creamy, tangy, and savory.
- Olive Oil (2 tablespoons): Olive oil is used to coat the chicken thighs, helping to brown and crisp up the skin during baking. It also contributes a pleasant fruity note to the dish.
- Lemon Juice (1 tablespoon, to thin mixture if needed): Lemon juice adds a touch of acidity and brightness to the ranch seasoning mixture. It can be used to adjust the consistency of the seasoning mix to ensure it coats the chicken evenly.
- Garlic (1 clove, pressed): Garlic is a flavor booster that brings a pungent, aromatic kick to the dish. It complements the ranch seasoning and adds depth to the overall flavor profile.
How To Make Baked Ranch Chicken Thighs
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 400 F. Cover a Baking sheet in foil, nonstick side up. Place the chicken thighs on the baking sheet, fattest side up. Generously season with salt and pepper.
- Bake chicken: Bake Chicken for 25 minutes, when skin has started to crisp. In a small bowl, combine the dressing mix with the olive oil and minced garlic and blend. If needed, add lemon juice to thin mixture.
- Mix and brush ranch on chicken: Brush the ranch and oil mixture over the chicken thighs. Continue to cook chicken in oven until crispy and golden brown, and internal temperature reads 165 degrees. To check the temperature, use an instant-read food thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a few of the largest chicken thighs, not touching bone.
- Broil finish: To get a more satisfying crispy crunch, broil for 5 minutes – watching chicken closely so it doesn’t burn.
- Enjoy: Serve with air fried french fries, a light salad, broccolini, and more!
Tips for this Ranch Chicken Recipe
If you’re looking for the absolute best baked chicken thighs, you need to go off the chicken’s temperature – NOT the time listed in this recipe. Chicken thigh sizes can vary wildly, and differences in oven effectiveness, altitude, humidity in the air – they can all impact your cooking time, making it shorter or longer.
Don’t overcook. To avoid undercooked or dry chicken, its imperative to cook chicken to 160 degrees in the oven, and let it carryover cook to 165. Chicken is safe to eat at 165 degrees internal temperature. Check your chicken thighs regularly as they cook to monitor temperature.
Let chicken rest. Let chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting or serving to continue carryover cooking and help chicken rest so juices don’t all rush out. To measure, be sure to insert thermometer in fattest part of meat – without getting too close to bone as it will throw off temperature.
Pat chicken thighs dry. Extra liquid and moisture on the chicken will keep the thighs from crisping – pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels before cooking to remove any excess liquid. This will help the fat to stick to the chicken better, and help the ranch seasoning sink into chicken for flavor.
If your chicken thighs are wet, the oil won’t have a chance to really sink in, so remove any excess packaging liquid/water with paper towels.
Dont trim fat. While you might want to trim off excessive fat, some fat is good on chicken thighs, even if you don’t usually like chicken fat. We’re cooking these chicken thighs long enough for the fat to render out and help make a crispy, crunchy outer crust – so don’t over-trim your chicken thighs.
This will allow the chicken to naturally crisp and add to the flavor of your chicken, so don’t trim too much away.
Let skin crisp. If you’re looking for additional crunchy chicken (especially important since we’re using skinless, boneless chicken thighs), you can pop the chicken thighs under the broiler for 2-4 minutes – be careful and watch the chicken closely to make sure it doesn’t burn. I always crisp mine a bit at the end for extra crunch – it makes this baked chicken thigh recipe crave worthy!
Unroll chicken thighs. If you’re often not a fan of chicken thigh texture, unroll the chicken thighs so they lay flat. This will cook the chicken thighs more evenly, and ensure a crunchy surface on the entire thigh – which makes it completely irresistible, and a bit easier for people who usually shy away from dark meat chicken. This makes your chicken thighs look a little weird – I have one friend who says they look like aliens – but chicken thighs taste SO much better unrolled, so consider trying it yourself!
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tip
Try unrolled chicken thighs – when you add to the surface area of the baked chicken thighs, more of it can get a lovely brown crisp, and the chicken cooks faster, to prevent drying out. Adjust cook time a bit if unrolling thighs.
Ranch Seasoning Chicken FAQs
Depending on your ranch dressing packet, it can sometimes be thick when mixing, and/or clump up. Simply add a teaspoon of water at a time to loosen mixture if too thick until it is easy enough to spread over chicken.
This recipe was designed to work for both skin-on or skinless chicken thighs – as well as boneless or bone-on thighs. The method you will use is the same overall (you might want to pan fry chicken skin a few minutes longer for more crunch if using skin-on thighs), but just know you’ll need to plan on a slightly increased cook time for bone-in thighs. Check your thighs while cooking and keep in oven until the fattest part of the thigh reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Chicken thighs are cooked when the fattest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees internal temperature.
Mix all ingredients in the slow cooker and toss to coat. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. The chicken won’t be crispy when cooked in the slow cooker so make sure you use skinless chicken thighs.
If you’d like to use additional flavor to add to your ranch dressing mix, try garlic powder, onion powder, buttermilk powder, chives, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper! Don’t add more than two teaspoons of additional flavor though, or it might be incredibly overpowering.
While this recipe was developed for chicken thighs, you can swap for chicken breasts. Cooking time will be a bit different, so watch the temperature as you cook.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Always reheat leftover chicken stored in the fridge to the full temperature of 165 degrees.
Set your air fryer to it’s bake function, and continue as directed below. The air fryer is fabulous for crispy chicken skin with juicy meat!
What to Serve With Ranch Chicken Thighs
If you’re looking for the perfect sides to go alongside this keto ranch chicken thighs recipe, please visit some of my favorites below:
- Roasted Vegetables: Think colorful options like bell peppers, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes. Roasting enhances their natural sweetness, which complements the savory ranch seasoning.
- Steamed Green Beans or Broccoli: These lightly cooked vegetables add a fresh, crunchy contrast to the tender chicken.
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Their creaminess pairs beautifully with the rich flavors of the chicken.
- Rice Pilaf: A lightly seasoned rice pilaf can serve as a subtle base that allows the flavors of the chicken to stand out.
- Sweet Potato Fries: Their natural sweetness and crispy texture make them a fun and flavorful side.
- Garden Salad: A simple salad with fresh greens, cucumber, and a light vinaigrette can offer a refreshing contrast.
- Dinner Rolls or Garlic Bread: Perfect for soaking up any extra sauce and adding a comforting, homey touch to your meal.
- Couscous or Quinoa Salad: If you’re looking for a healthier side, these grains offer a nutritious and light complement to the chicken.
- Additional Ranch Dressing: For dipping or drizzling over the chicken and sides.
- Caesar Salad: For a more indulgent option, the creamy dressing of a Caesar salad can harmonize well with the ranch flavors.
- BBQ Sauce or Honey Mustard: These can add a sweet and tangy element to the dish.
If you are looking for more gluten free dinners try sweet chili beef slow cooker lettuce wraps or my favorite bbq smoked pork ribs!
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Baked Ranch Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs, bone-in, with skin on
- black pepper, to taste
- 1 1 oz. packet dry ranch salad dressing mix
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, to thin mixture if needed
- 1 clove garlic, pressed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Cover a Baking sheet in foil, nonstick side up.
- Place the chicken thighs on the baking sheet, fattest side up.
- Generously season with salt and pepper.
- Bake Chicken for 25 minutes, when skin has started to crisp.
- In a small bowl, combine the dressing mix with the olive oil and minced garlic. If needed, add lemon juice to thin mixture.
- Brush the ranch and oil mixture over the chicken thighs.
- Continue to cook chicken in oven until crispy and golden brown, and internal temperature reads 165 degrees.
- To check the temperature, use an instant-read food thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a few of the largest chicken thighs, not touching bone.
- To get a tiny bit more crunch, broil for 5 minutes – watching chicken closely so it doesn't burn.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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The mix of olive oil and ranch dressing powder simply became a paste that was in no way brushable. Adding lemon juice only made it a gooey glob, and I had to scrap it and start over. Still cannot brush the mixture over the thighs. Not sure how to make it workable. We will find out if it is edible!
This was very good! I used four bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, and cut the seasonings in half, except I kept the original amount of olive oil after reading several reviews that said it needed more oil. I also added lemon juice to taste, but I didn’t really measure it. I agree with some reviewers that the chicken should only be seasoned lightly with salt before the initial baking period, because the ranch has so much sodium in it already. My chicken was a little dark when was done, but it still tasted great. No broiling necessary. It may be that my oven runs hot, but I’m not sure. Next time, for the second baking step, I’ll reduce the oven temp by about 25 degrees.
P.S. The second baking step took 15 minutes at 400, in my oven.
This chicken was delicious! Baked chicken is not my Forte but this just might be my go to moving forward. My kids loved it and I shared the recipe with a few family and friends!
So glad you loved it! Thank you for the lovely comment!
We love this recipe, however, every time I mix the ranch with the oil, it turns out to be paste. Even when I add the lemon juice. I have to literally, with my fingers, smear the paste under the thigh skin, and on the back. The juices make a delicious base for Jasmine rice!
If you dent want to make it a paste you can spray the chicken thighs with oil then sprinkle on the seasoning, then spray them with more oil. I use this refillable oil sprayer.
I love the idea of adding the juices to rice, thanks for that!
i made this last night using boneless skinless chicken. my conventional oven cooked my thighs in 15 mins, and then i broiled for 3 mins. perfection. will be making again.
please update the ingredients or instructions – there is no mention of salt in ingredients but it says to generously salt. i would lightly salt or skip it entirely next time, came out a bit too salty for my liking.
I will update that in the instructions, glad you liked it and thanks for the feedback!
The chicken I cooked (thighs) turned out dry and the skin did not get golden like the photos here.
I think maybe more oil in the dressing next time and in the air fryer for the second half of cooking instead.
I’m sorry they didn’t turn out as you hoped, if you have an air fryer you can season the thighs as suggested in this recipe and then cook entirely in the air fryer, for instructions see my air fryer chicken thigh recipe.