Best Baked Chicken Worth Bragging About ❤️
A flexible, family-friendly chicken recipe — easy enough for solo meals and perfect for a full house. The seasoning blend adds warmth, sweetness, and a little kick, while the butter helps create a beautiful golden brown finish.
Ingredients
Seasoning Mix
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1 ½ tsp garlic powder
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1 ½ tsp onion powder
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1 ½ tsp lemon pepper
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1 tsp dried thyme leaves
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½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
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¼ tsp ground cumin
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2 tsp paprika (homemade or store-bought)
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1 ½ Tbsp light brown sugar
Chicken
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Chicken thighs and drumsticks (any amount you like)
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1 ½ Tbsp melted butter (or olive oil)
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Salt, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Mix the seasoning
Combine all dry ingredients in a small bowl:
garlic powder, onion powder, lemon pepper, thyme, cayenne, cumin, paprika, and brown sugar.
Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
3. Prepare the chicken
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Trim excess fat and loose skin, but leave the main skin attached.
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Place the chicken pieces in a baking dish.
4. Add butter + salt
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Drizzle melted butter over the chicken (it may solidify because the chicken is cold—this is fine).
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Salt each piece individually so each one is seasoned evenly.
5. Season the chicken thoroughly
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Sprinkle the seasoning mix over every piece.
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Rub well, including under the skin, for maximum flavor.
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Arrange thighs skin-side down to start.
6. Bake
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Place the dish on the center rack.
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Bake for 40 minutes, flipping the chicken after 20 minutes.
7. Broil for crispiness
After the 40 minutes:
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Set oven to broil
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Broil for 2–3 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
This step gives the chicken a crisp, golden top.
8. Rest and serve
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Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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Serve with your favorite side dish — in the video, it’s paired with a potato, green bean & corn salad.
