Thanksgiving Chicken (Oven-Baked)
If you love Thanksgiving flavors but don’t always feel like cooking (or carving!) a full turkey, this Oven-Baked Thanksgiving Chicken is the perfect solution. Or, of course you could make my Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole, but I digress. It gives you all the classic holiday vibes — buttery, herby, crispy, and comforting — but in an easy weeknight-friendly bake that uses bone-in chicken instead of poultry panic mode. Want to make it a meal? Try my mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, and cheesy broccoli casserole! These are my Thanksgiving side dishes I have been making for YEARS passed down to me from my grandmother and mother!And the BEST part?During the holiday season, those herbed stuffing mixes are always on sale — usually buy one, get one free — so it’s the perfect time to stock up and make this recipe for under $10. But don’t let the word “Thanksgiving” fool you… this one works year-round. Think Sunday dinner, meal prep, or when you just want something crispy, cozy, and low-effort.If you love this recipe, definitely check out my Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole same holiday flavor profile, totally different vibes, just as delicious.
Ingredients
- 4 –5 lbs bone-in skinless chicken (I used 6 drumsticks + 4 thighs)
- 1 stick 8 tbsp unsalted butter, melted — plus 2 tbsp cold butter for topping
- 3 cups herbed stuffing mix lightly crushed
- 4 oz freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 –2 tbsp dried parsley
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt & cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Mix together the crushed stuffing mix, Parmesan, dried parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Pat chicken dry, then season all sides generously with salt & pepper.
- Dip each piece of chicken in the melted butter (let excess drip off), then press firmly into the stuffing mixture to fully coat.
- Arrange coated chicken in the baking dish in a single layer.
- Using a microplane or fine grater, zest 2 tbsp of cold butter evenly over the top of the chicken. This helps it brown and crisp beautifully in the oven.
- Bake 45–55 minutes, or until the internal temp reaches 165°F and the stuffing crust is golden and crispy.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving so the coating sets.
Video
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!