This crispy baked five spice chicken has fragrant crispy skin with super juicy meat! It is simply done in the oven with a minimum prep work, making it ideal for an easy lunch or dinner.
Oven baking - this is truly my favorite way of cooking chicken. There is no need to prepare frying oil, and it is healthier with way less greasiness.
While it is very simple to make, this five spice chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. When you tear the meat apart, the flavor loaded juice comes out dripping!
The aroma of it baking in the oven is a whole new level of mouth-watering sensation. I just wish I could post the smell here...
Jump to:
What is Five Spice
Five spice powder is a seasoning blend of Chinese cinnamon, fennel seed, star anise, cloves and sometimes Szechuan peppercorn. Flavor wise, it has a bit of everything - sweet and warm from the star anise and cinnamon, but also cool and deep from the peppercorn and cloves.
It is often used in Chinese cuisine for meat rubs, marinades, stir fries or even in sauces. Since it is pretty pungent especially with the licorice-like flavor from star anise, a little goes a long way when it comes to using this spice mix.
Key to the Crispy Skin
The number one tip is to dry off the skin completely before rubbing in the spices. Make sure to pat dry the surface well with paper towels both on the top and bottom sides.
Also a light coating with avocado oil helps to crisp up the skin while being cooked at a high temperature.
Ingredients for This Recipe
- Bone in skin on chicken thighs
- Smoked paprika powder
- Salt
- Five spice powder
- Ginger powder
- Garlic powder
- Avocado oil - may be substituted with other oils but make sure to use the one with a high smoking point to prevent smoking.
How to Cook Baked Five Spice Chicken
1. Pat dry the chicken thighs.
2. Combine the dry rub ingredients in a bowl, rub into chicken thighs.
3. Arrange the chicken thighs on a lined baking sheet, with the skin side up.
4. Drizzle avocado oil over the chicken and spread evenly.
5. Bake in the oven! Serve with cilantro leaves.
*See below recipe card for detailed directions.
Tips
Rub in the spices really well! - Rub them everywhere including in between the skin and meat. To do this, gently lift up the skin (or may need to peel the skin partially to make an opening) and slide your hands in. This little step really helps to let the flavor sink in.
Make Ahead Option
Since the salt brings the moisture out of the meat and reduces the crispiness, I do not recommend doing the spice rubbing ahead of time. That said, the dry rub ingredients can be mixed together in advance to cut down the prep time significantly.
Can I Reheat Baked Five Spice Chicken?
Yes you can!
Microwave option: Cover with cling wrap and reheat until warm.
Oven option: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and bake for about 15 minutes.
Stovetop option: Heat up a lightly greased skillet or a pan. Cook on both sides until the chicken thighs are warmed up.
More Chicken Recipes...
Recipe
Crispy Baked Five Spice Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bone in skin on chicken thighs (about 5 pieces)
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
For dry rub:
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon five spice powder
- ½ teaspoon ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
For topping:
- Cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 410°F /210°C. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for an easy clean up.
- Pat dry the chicken thighs with paper towels (key to the crispiness).
- Combine the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl, then rub into the chicken thighs including in between the skin and meat.
- Arrange the chicken thighs on the baking sheet, with the skin side on top.
- Drizzle avocado oil over the chicken and spread with the back of a spoon.
- Bake for 35 - 40 minutes or until the inner temperature reaches 165°F/ 74°C. Serve with cilantro leaves.
Nutrition
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Leave a Reply