Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs (Rich, Juicy & Perfect Every Time!)

If you love tender chicken with incredible flavor and a luxurious, velvety sauce, these Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs are about to become a staple recipe in your kitchen. This dish delivers the perfect combination of crisp-edged chicken baked in a creamy garlic-herb sauce that clings to every bite. It’s unbelievably comforting, incredibly simple, and packed with flavor that tastes like hours of cooking — even though it’s ready with minimal effort.

Whether you’re planning a cozy weeknight dinner, a simple Sunday meal, or something rich and satisfying to serve over mashed potatoes or rice, this recipe checks every box. Chicken thighs stay naturally juicy, and the creamy sauce adds a restaurant-level finish. It’s the type of dish that makes the house smell amazing and brings everyone to the table quickly.

Let’s explore why these creamy baked chicken thighs belong in your go-to dinner list.

⭐ Why These Chicken Thighs Are So Good

1. The Creamiest, Dreamiest Sauce

Made with cream, garlic, parmesan, broth, and herbs — rich but perfectly balanced.

2. Naturally Juicy Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs stay tender and flavorful, even with long baking.

3. Easy Prep, Big Flavor

Minimal steps, tons of payoff.

4. Perfect with Any Side

Rice, pasta, potatoes, veggies — everything pairs beautifully.

5. Family-Friendly Comfort Food

It’s cozy, mild, and crowd-pleasing.

⭐ Ingredients for Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

Chicken & Seasoning

• -6 bone-in or boneless chicken thighs
• -1 tablespoon olive oil
• -1 teaspoon salt
• -½ teaspoon black pepper
• -1 teaspoon paprika
• -1 teaspoon garlic powder
• -½ teaspoon onion powder

Creamy Sauce

• -2 tablespoons butter
• -4 garlic cloves, minced
• -1 tablespoon flour
• -1 cup chicken broth
• -1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
• -½ cup grated parmesan
• -1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• -½ teaspoon paprika
• -¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• -1 tablespoon lemon juice
• -Fresh parsley for garnish

⭐ How to Make Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

1. Preheat Oven

Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C).

2. Season the Chicken

Pat chicken thighs dry. Rub with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.

3. Sear for Maximum Flavor

Heat a skillet over medium-high and sear chicken thighs for 2–3 minutes per side until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.

4. Make the Creamy Garlic Sauce

Reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute.
Pour in chicken broth gradually, whisking until smooth. Add cream, parmesan, Italian seasoning, paprika, and lemon juice. Simmer until slightly thickened.

5. Combine

Place chicken thighs in a baking dish. Pour the creamy sauce over the top.

6. Bake

Bake for 25–30 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F and sauce is bubbling and creamy.

7. Finish

Garnish with parsley. Spoon extra sauce over each serving.

Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

Juicy oven baked chicken thighs coated in a rich, creamy garlic-herb sauce for an easy and comforting dinner.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 515

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Chicken & Seasoning

• 6 chicken thighs bone-in or boneless
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 0.5 tsp onion powder

Creamy Sauce

• 2 tbsp butter
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 0.5 cup grated parmesan
• 1 tsp italian seasoning
• 0.5 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped

Equipment

• Skillet
• Baking dish
• Whisk
• Cutting board

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. Season chicken thighs with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3. Sear chicken thighs 2–3 minutes per side until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
5. Slowly whisk in chicken broth, then add cream, parmesan, Italian seasoning, and paprika.
6. Simmer until slightly thickened, then stir in lemon juice.
7. Place chicken thighs in a baking dish and pour creamy sauce over them.
8. Bake 25–30 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce is bubbling.
9. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

Notes

For deeper flavor, add mushrooms or spinach to the sauce. Serve over mashed potatoes or pasta.

⭐ Tips for Perfect Chicken Thighs

Sear first for deeper flavor

Even 2 minutes per side makes a huge difference.

Don’t skip the lemon

It brightens the creamy sauce and keeps it from feeling heavy.

Use fresh garlic

Garlic powder won’t deliver the same depth.

Let the chicken rest 3–5 minutes

This allows juices to redistribute.

⭐ Variations

Creamy Mushroom Chicken Thighs

Add sliced mushrooms to the sauce.

Creamy Spinach Chicken Thighs

Fold in fresh spinach before baking.

Cajun Cream Chicken Thighs

Swap Italian seasoning for Cajun seasoning.

Sun-Dried Tomato Version

Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce for a gourmet twist.

⭐ What to Serve with Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

This dish is perfect with:

• Mashed potatoes
• Buttered pasta
• Rice or rice pilaf
• Roasted vegetables
• Garlic bread
• Steamed broccoli

The creamy sauce enhances almost anything you serve it with.

⭐ Storage

Fridge: 3–4 days

Freezer: 2 months

Reheat: Stove or oven with a splash of broth or cream