Italian Dressing Baked Chicken Thighs
Italian Dressing Baked Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are one of my favorite cuts of meat! They are one of the most versatile and budget-friendly cuts of meat, making them a go-to choice for many busy home cooks. And one of the best ways to prepare them is by marinating them in Italian dressing, creating a dish that’s both easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying. This is the way my mom always did it, and I am guessing my grandma did too. It is certainly nothing new. But I always say that everything is new to someone. So for someone needing an easy and delicious way to cook chicken, here it is!
Check out these other great dishes while you are here!
Smothered Chicken in the Crockpot
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Why Italian Dressing?
By using a bottle of pre-made Italian dressing, you’re getting a multifaceted seasoning that’s already infused with oil, salt, and a blend of herbs and spices. This eliminates the need for a lengthy list of individual ingredients, making the prep work a breeze. It also helps to tenderize the chicken and imparts a delicious, tangy flavor. Simply pour the dressing over the chicken, massage it in, and let it marinate for at least an hour (or even overnight for maximum flavor).
Do You Have to Use Thighs?
Absolutely not! This recipe works with any cut of chicken. I just love the thighs, so it is personal preference! Keep in mind that you may have to adjust cooking times depending on the size of the pieces you are using.
Ingredients:
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Any flavor chicken rub that you like
- 1 bottle of Wishbone Italian Dressing
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small green bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 yellow onion, sliced
Instructions:
This is just a summary, the full recipe is below. Start by placing the 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in a large bowl. Coat them well with the seasoning of your choice. I love this Chica Licka Bam Bam from Fire and Smoke Society! Then pour about half the bottle of Wishbone Italian Dressing over the chicken and use your hands to massage the dressing into the chicken, ensuring it’s evenly coated. Cover the bowl and let the chicken marinate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
In a separate bowl, combine the sliced yellow, red, and green bell peppers, along with the sliced yellow onion. Season the vegetables with 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper and toss with about 1 cup of the dressing.
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Arrange the marinated chicken thighs, skin-side up, in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Scatter the seasoned vegetables around the chicken. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, remove the foil and baste the chicken with the juices that have accumulated in the dish. Return the dish to the oven and continue baking for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken skin is crispy and golden brown.
These Italian Baked Chicken Thighs pair well with a wide variety of dishes! My favorite is to serve them over Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes. But they are great over rice, pasta, or even Baked Potatoes!
If you do make this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating! I love hearing from you and it helps so much! Thank you!
Italian Dressing Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 8 Bone-in, Skin-on Chicken thighs or any cut of chicken that you like
- 2-3 tbsp Chicken Rub of your choice
- 15 oz Bottle of Italian Dressing
- 1 Small Sliced Green Bell Pepper
- 1 Small Sliced Yellow Bell Pepper
- 1 Small Sliced Red Bell Pepper
- 1 Small Sliced Onion
- 1 tsp each Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Smoked Paprika and Black Pepper
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a large bowl and season generously. Pour about half the bottle of Italian dressing in there. Use your hands to massage the seasoning all over the chicken. Cover and marinate for at least an hour to overnight.
- When you are ready to cook the chicken, slice up the veggies and place them in another large bowl. Cover with the seasonings listed above and the rest of the dressing. Toss well.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Place the chicken, skin side up, in the bottom of a 9×13 or larger baking dish. Scatter the veggies all around them. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- After 45 minutes, remove the foil and baste the chicken with the juices that have accumulated in the dish. Return the dish to the oven and continue baking for an additional 25 minutes, or until the chicken skin is crispy and golden brown.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Is there another name for chicken run? I’m not familiar with it.
Hi! It is chicken “rub” which is just a mix of spices made specifically for chicken. You can find many different varieties in most grocery stores!
I peruse recipes – a lot! Always looking for a delicious meal to serve my family. Rarely does my outcome match the blogger’s high praises. However, Italian Dressing Baked Chicken is THE BEST Italian dressing based recipe I have used. Easy to prepare, easy to cook, and easy to save. Each member of my picky-eater household loved this. This one is going in my regular rotation. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Carman. Gotta run to the fridge to grab the incredibly-delicious leftovers before anyone else does!
thank you for such a thoughtful and thorough review! I am so happy that everyone love it! Thank you!