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    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Cajun Butter Baked Chicken Thighs

    Updated Jan 1, 2022

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    Cajun Butter Chicken Thighs

    This simple three ingredient recipe for Cajun Butter Baked Chicken Thighs is going to be a hit at your dinner table. With savory Cajun-spiced butter brushed over oven baked chicken thighs, this easy cooking method gives you a crisp outside and juicy, tender chicken on the inside.

    A golden baked chicken thigh on a white plate next to asparagus

    Cajun Butter Baked Chicken Thighs

    In my opinion, there aren't enough great chicken thigh recipes in the world. Chicken thighs are one of the tastiest and most tender part of the chicken. Plus they are fairly affordable.

    To turn an ordinary piece of chicken into a savory and juicy main meal, we used three simple ingredients. Chicken thighs, butter, and Cajun seasoning. That's it. The rest is in the simple preparation and cooking technique.

    A step by step collage of preparing the chicken thighs

    Easy way to make Baked Chicken Thighs:

    1. Rinse the chicken thighs in cold water and thoroughly pat them dry.
    2. Using a pair of kitchen scissors, cut the excess fat and skin from the thighs. (Don't get carried away with this part. A good rule of thumb is if you won't eat it when it is cooked, cut it off.) 
    3. Lightly sprinkle both sides of the chicken thighs with a low-sodium Cajun seasoning blend.
    4. Place the chicken thighs skin side up on a wire cooking rack over a shallow baking pan.
    5. With your oven rack in the center position, bake the chicken thighs for 20 minutes.
    6. Remove from the oven, and baste the chicken thighs with melted butter blended with more of the Cajun spice.
    7. Return to the oven, bake for another 10 minutes.
    8. Repeat the butter basting and bake for another 10 minutes.
    9. Baste with the seasoned butter one more time, and finish with 5 minutes in the oven.

    A spoon of seasoned butter being dripped over a baked piece of chicken

    The savory seasoned butter helps create this delicious, golden crisp on the baked chicken thighs.

    There is no need to flip or turn the chicken. Baking the chicken thighs on a wire rack helps the heat from the oven cook the chicken evenly.

    Read about our Travel Adventures in: Dear Food Diary, New Orleans...  We share where + what we ate while in New Orleans, plus some travel tips for the first time food adventurer.

    Several baked chicken thighs on a wire baking rack

    Love this idea? Try more of our Recipes:

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    A close up shot of a piece of golden chicken with crisp skin

    This easy and delicious recipe for Cajun Butter Baked Chicken makes a wonderful meal with a salad or your favorite side dishes.

    If you don't like Cajun seasoning, here are more flavor combinations to try using this same method:

    • Garlic + Herb Baked  Chicken Thighs - use a mix of garlic powder and dried herbs for a simple savory recipe.
    • Chili + Cumin - a blend of chili powder and ground cumin creates a spicy kick for your baked chicken thighs.
    • Salt + Pepper - hard to go wrong with this basic baked chicken thigh recipe.
    • Lemon Pepper - a classic flavor combination that is a winner.

    A shot of a piece of chicken served with roasted asparagus.

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    13 Easy Chicken Recipes | Buy This Cook That

    Cajun Butter Baked Chicken Thighs

    An easy and delicious recipe for savory spiced butter baked chicken thighs. A golden, cripsy skin with tender, juicy chicken on the inside. Made with only three ingredients.
    4.62 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Email Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 45 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 thighs
    Calories 556 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 5 pounds chicken thighs bone in, skin on
    • ⅓ cup butter melted
    • 4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning blend low-sodium preferred, use more or less to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place oven rack in center. Arrange a wire baking rack on top of a shallow baking pan and set aside.
    • Rinse chicken with cold water and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. Cut away excess skin and fat and discard. 
    • Very lightly season both sides of the chicken thighs with 1 ½ teaspoons of the Cajun seasoning. Place the thighs on the wire rack skin side up.
    • Bake the chicken in the oven for 20 minutes. Stir together the melted butter and remaining seasoning in a small bowl. 
    • Remove the chicken and baste with the seasoned butter. Return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes.
    • Remove the chicken and repeat the basting process. Bake for another 10 minutes.
    • Remove and baste the chicken one final time, and finish baking for 5 minutes.

    Notes

    The nutritional value for this recipe is listed higher than it actually is due to the calories in the total amount of butter. Since the butter actually drips into the skin and into the baking pan, all of it is not in the chicken. 
    You can also baste the chicken with the reserved chicken fat and butter that gathers in the bottom of the pan to reduce the amount of butter used.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 556kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 37gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 238mgSodium: 229mgPotassium: 489mgFiber: 0gSugar: 0gVitamin A: 400IUCalcium: 51mgIron: 2.3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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