Roasted Turkey Thighs
Published Nov 23, 2022
Updated Apr 08, 2024
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Dark meat lovers unite! You’ll love the flavors and juiciness of these Roasted Turkey Thighs. It’s hard to mess these up as they stay juicy even after cooking for a while. Only 10 minutes of prep time is required for this holiday season supper or everyday family dinner!
It’s time for a celebration! Turkey will be on most tables in the United States come Thanksgiving day! I’m a firm believer that the joy of cooking brings families together, and this recipe is the perfect way to do so.
This Roasted Turkey Thigh recipe with ultra-crispy skin is ideal for feeding a few people. You can serve it with great recipes like Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Fried Carrots. It is a great alternative to making a whole roast if you have a small family—the perfect Thanksgiving dinner solution.
I was inspired to share this turkey thighs recipe after seeing how much you guys love my Baked Turkey Wings and Baked Turkey Drumsticks.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- So easy! You just dry rub seasoning on the meat and put it in the preheated oven. Also, since this is dark meat, it is hard to overcook it and make it tough.
- Perfect for everyday dinner! Although you can make this for a small holiday dinner, it is also suitable for casual weekdays or weeknights. Just pair this main dish with your favorite side dishes, such as white rice, cranberry sauce, or sweet potatoes!
- So tasty! The easy combination of dried herbs and spices used here yields really tasty meat! You’ll love how much flavor it has, especially the crispy skin side.
Love roasted meat? Also, try the Perfect Roast Chicken and Herb Roasted Duck.
Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients you need for tasty Turkey Thighs.
- Turkey Thighs: The thighs should be brought to room temperature and patted dry with paper towels before cooking. When selecting the meat from the grocery store, make sure to choose high-quality, fresh turkey.
- Olive Oil: For crisping up the skin of the turkey thighs. You could substitute the olive oil with any neutral-tasting oil, such as canola oil. Melted butter is also a perfect alternative.
- Spices and Herbs: I use a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and dried parsley in addition to table salt (or kosher salt) and black pepper. You can mix them in a small bowl to make the seasoning blend.
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the quantities of each ingredient.
How To Roast Turkey Thighs
Here is how to roast turkey thighs in 3 easy steps. It is truly one of the easiest roasted turkey recipes you will ever make!
1. Pat turkey thighs dry, drizzle on the olive oil and rub on all the seasonings.
2. Place the turkey thighs into the oven to roast at 375 degrees Fahrenheit and baste with pan drippings after 30 minutes. Let it roast then baste again after 30 minutes. Baste twice in total using either a baster or a basting brush to produce tender meat.
3. Let the turkey thighs rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Letting the meat rest allows the juices to redistribute, making for juicy turkey meat.
Hint: basting the top of the turkey as it roasts is the best way to create crispier skin. Also, I find basting meats one of the most relaxing things to do while cooking.
Substitutions and Variations
- Different turkey parts – Try the same seasoning blend here on other turkey parts, such as turkey drumsticks, wings, or whole turkey legs. Just remember: roast turkey legs are much thicker since they have both the thigh and drumstick, so it takes a longer time to cook them. Nevertheless, it will taste amazing and likely remind you of Disney World turkey legs!
- Ultra juicy – Add chicken broth (or stock) to the roasting pan or baking dish and let the thighs cook in the chicken stock as they roast.
- Spicy – Add crushed pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the seasoning blend to make it spicy.
- One pan meal – Add cubed potatoes, carrots, and brussels sprouts to the same pan as the turkey thighs and roast together to create a one pan dinner. Serve with fresh lemon slices for an excellent presentation!
Also, check out my Baked Turkey Drumsticks and Lemon Pepper Turkey Wings.
Expert Tips
- Everyone knows that roasted turkey tastes even better the next day! If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This is better than only using plastic wrap. For longer storage, freeze them and thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating them.
- If you want to make less servings, you can adjust the recipe as needed and cook the turkey thighs in a large dutch oven with veggies for a delicious dinner.
- If you have a medically restrictive diet, such as a low-sodium diet, you can make some adjustments to the recipe. For instance, only use 1 teaspoon salt or omit it entirely. If you have a low-calorie diet, you can always pair the meat with low-calorie sides, such as cauliflower rice! It is easy to adjust this recipe accordingly if you need to watch your daily values.
- If you wish, you can make air fryer turkey thighs instead of oven roasted. However, you must have a large air fryer and work in batches. To compare, air-fried turkey thighs can be cooked at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-35 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. Make sure not to crowd the basket, and check the internal temperature with a thermometer before serving.
Top tip
To ensure the Roasted Turkey Thighs are fully cooked, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of a thigh. If the internal temperature reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit and up, then it is done. It is okay if it reads up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature range, the turkey skin should be golden brown.
FAQs
Roast turkey thighs at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour fifteen minutes to one hour 30 minutes. If you add chicken stock to the pan, roast longer until the thighs are fully cooked. The cooking time will also vary depending on the number of turkey thighs you roast.
When comparing the different parts of a whole bird, turkey breast takes less time than thigh meat. This applies whether you cook the entire turkey or cook the pieces separately. In general, the brown meat takes longer.
If you cook the turkey thighs at the wrong temperature, they will slowly dehydrate and dry out. On the other hand, using the suggested temperature helps to crisp up the skin and keep the meat juicy and tender. They might also be tough if you accidentally overcook them, so using a thermometer is essential.
P.S. Check out my Baked Turkey Breasts recipe.
What To Serve With Roasted Turkey Thighs
More Delicious Turkey Recipes
If you make this recipe, please take a minute to leave a comment and give it a star rating below! I love hearing from you!
Roasted Turkey Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 pounds turkey thighs 2 large thighs
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder or granules
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 9 by 13 inch baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Pat turkey thighs dry with paper towels.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the turkey thighs.
- Mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and dried thyme, and rub the seasoning mix all over the turkey thighs, getting some under the turkey skin.
- Place the seasoned turkey thighs on the prepared sheet pan. Place into the preheated oven and roast for about 1 hour 15 minutes until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh without touching the bone reads 165°F and above. After the first 30 minutes of roasting, remove the turkey thighs and baste with the juices at the bottom of the pan. Repeat basting after the thighs have been roasting for one hour. So baste twice in total.
- Serve with your favorite side dish.
