Mexican Chicken Thighs

Looking for a quick and easy chicken dinner that’s full of flavour? Our Mexican Spiced Chicken Thighs are oven baked, juicy, and perfectly seasoned with warming spices. This simple weeknight recipe is perfect for feeding the family and tastes amazing with rice, tacos, or salad.

Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or planning taco night, these easy baked Mexican chicken thighs bring the perfect balance of smoky, spicy, and savoury — without the fuss.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick prep & simple ingredients
• Big bold Mexican flavours
• Juicy oven-baked chicken thighs
• Perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, or rice dishes
• Easy to scale up for meal prep or family dinners

Equipment Needed

• Bowl
• Teaspoon
• Roasting Tin
• Sheet Of Tin Foil

Mexican Chicken Thighs Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make our delicious oven-roasted Mexican chicken thighs:

• Chicken thighs - skin on
• Smoked paprika
• Ground cumin
• Garlic powder
• Dried oregano
• Chilli powder
• Olive oil
• Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Want your chicken ready fast? Try our Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe here!

Mexican Chicken Seasoning

We make the Mexican chicken seasoning by mixing the simple ingredients below

• 2 teaspoon ground cumin

• 2 teaspoon smoked paprika

• ½ teaspoon chilli flakes

• pinch salt

• pinch black pepper

Cooks Tip!

If you don't want to mix up your own Mexican spice rub then you can always use a shop bought spice mix like Schwartz Fajita Seasoning as a short cut.

How To Make Our Mexican Chicken Thigh Recipe

• Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6
• In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil and all the spices to form a marinade.
• Slash the skin on the chicken thighs then add them to the bowl and coat them well in the spice mix.
• Place the chicken thighs into a roasting tin, cover with foil and roast in the oven for around 30 minutes.
• Then remove the foil and put back in the oven for a further 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through properly.

How to Serve Mexican Spiced Chicken Thighs

These spiced chicken thighs are super versatile! Try them in:

• Soft tacos with avocado, slaw, and salsa
• Burrito bowls with rice, beans, corn and guacamole
• On top of Mexican-style salads
• In wraps or pitta bread with sour cream and hot sauce

Meal Prep & Storage Tips

• Fridge: Store cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• Freezer: Freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Defrost fully before reheating.
• Reheat: Microwave or reheat in the oven until piping hot.

Make Spiced Baked Chicken Thighs Your Way

• Add lime zest and juice to the marinade for a zesty twist
• Use bone-in thighs or drumsticks (increase cooking time to 45-60 mins)
• Add chipotle paste or chopped jalapeños for extra heat

Get more Mexican recipes here

What To Eat With Mexican Spiced Chicken Thighs

Mexican Chicken And Mash

• Delicious served hot alongside creamy mashed potatoes and BBQ baked beans, maybe add a side of ranch slaw too!

Mexican Shredded Chicken And Pulled Chicken Tacos

• Shred the spicy chicken thigh meat and use to make pulled chicken tacos - add lettuce, salsa, sweetcorn and cheese.

Mexican Chicken Thighs And Rice

• Mexican chicken thighs and rice is super easy - just add a side of veggies like sweetcorn or broccoli.

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

• Shred the Mexican spiced chicken thighs with forks and use to make Mexican pulled chicken sandwiches, top with BBQ sauce and melted cheese and a side of chunky guacamole.

Pulled Chicken Burrito

• Use the chicken to make a shredded chicken burrito recipe - stuff the burritos with spicy shredded chicken, refried beans and cheese. Or create shredded chicken burrito bowls.

Mexican Chicken Thighs And Wedges

• Delicious served with a pot of sweet potato wedges and a quick American style chopped salad.

Love spicy chicken? Try our peri peri chicken pasta dish here

These tasty chicken thighs go great with a side of loaded fries!

Love Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes? Try These...

If you love our Mexican chicken dish, try any of the tasty ideas below!

Try Our Ground Beef Burrito Recipe Here

• Slow Cooker Shawarma Chicken - let the slow cooker take care of dinner tonight with this spiced chicken recipe - shred the meat and serve on flatbreads with hummus and yogurt dip.
• Cajun Chicken Thighs - super easy Cajun spiced chicken thighs, great weeknight family dinner, serve with rice or mash and some seasonal vegetables.
• Italian Chicken Traybake - a simple Italian style traybake, serve with warm ciabatta and a big salad.
• Fajita Baked Chicken In Foil - a simple baked chicken recipe that's foolproof!
• Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Spicy Chicken Wings
• Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice

Browse all our meat recipes here

Need Some Family Meal Ideas?

Check out our meal planning here – it’s filled with recipes, meal planning tips and pre-filled printable meal plans weekly or seasonally. We’ve got hundreds of the BEST family recipes and ideas of What to cook for dinner your whole family will LOVE!

Get loads more easy dinner recipes here

These Mexican spiced chicken thighs are a flavour-packed dinner option that comes together quickly and easily — perfect for busy nights when you want something exciting but low-effort. Add them to your next meal plan and spice up your weeknight dinner game!

Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later, and share it with a friend who loves easy chicken dinners!

Love Mexican chicken recipes? Try our quick and easy chicken burrito bowl recipe here

Get more delicious meal ideas and easy recipes here