Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
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You only need a few simple ingredients to make the most tender and delicious oven baked BBQ chicken thighs! They’re packed with barbecue flavor and come out perfectly sticky and super juicy. Make them on a busy weekend or for your next cookout!
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BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe
These oven baked bbq chicken thighs are absolutely out of this world! Smokey and sweet with deliciously sticky barbecue sauce. These tender chicken thighs come out of the oven cooked perfectly!
The chicken is seasoned with a simple blend of delicious bbq spices, then baked in the oven. Brush with your favorite bbq sauce and you’ll create a sticky sweet dish that the whole family will enjoy!
It just takes a few minutes of hands-on time (about 40 minutes total) to make the best BBQ chicken. Such a great recipe for busy nights, but it’s still so delicious that you can even serve it when you are hosting guests too! It’s a dish that is set to impress.
Best of all, the recipe can be easily adapted to dietary restrictions like Low Carb, Whole30, and Gluten Free, simply by using compatible bbq sauce and spices. A win, win, win!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
The good news about chicken recipes like this one — there’s a million reasons to love them! Here’s why I love easy BBQ chicken thighs:
- These delicious chicken thighs are so easy to make. After a long day, the last thing I want to do is make a complicated recipe for dinner. So this is a go-to since it’s so easy!
- Barbecue chicken is the perfect meal prep recipe. It stores well and reheats perfectly so that you can have delicious leftover chicken that is just as good as the first day it was cooked.
- Do you always end up with dry and flavorless chicken? Then you’ll love this BBQ chicken recipe because it always ends up super juicy and incredibly flavorful.
Ingredients
You only need a few very simple ingredients to make juicy baked bbq chicken thighs. Check out this list to make sure you have what you need:
- bone-in chicken thighs
- BBQ rub
- olive oil or avocado oil
- BBQ sauce
Substitutions and Variations
I recommend using bone-in thighs with the skin on. They provide the most flavor and the crispy skin is just delicious. However, you can use boneless skinless thighs if you prefer. Just keep in mind that though the preparation is the same, but the cooking time will need to be adjusted.
The BBQ Spices are a blend of smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and if you like a little heat, cayenne pepper! You can make your own bbq rub or use a store-bought spice blend, either is fine!
Use any bbq sauce that you enjoy, or you can make homemade bbq sauce with my sugar-free Whole30 friendly BBQ sauce recipe.
You can make this a complete meal if you add diced potatoes tossed in a little oil and salt and pepper to the baking pan before cooking. Turn the potatoes halfway through cooking so they crisp on all sides. The chicken and potatoes will be ready at the same time!
How to Make BBQ Chicken Thighs
Ready to learn how to make this super easy recipe? Then let’s get started so that you can have the best BBQ chicken in just about 40 minutes:
Use a few napkins or paper towels to pat the pieces of chicken thighs dry on all sides. Then drizzle the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle heavily with the bbq seasoning.
Using your hands or tongs, turn the each piece of chicken to ensure that they are coasted well. Place them in a baking dish, or cover the bowl of chicken in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 18 hours.
When you are ready to bake the chicken, place the chicken thighs in a baking dish. Preheat to oven 400°F (204°C).
Make sure you choose a baking dish big enough to fit all the pieces of chicken side-by-side. It’s okay if they touch a little bit, but to ensure even cooking, don’t have them laying on top of each other.
Bake oven BBQ chicken uncovered for 25 minutes. Then, remove the chicken from the oven and use a basting brush to generously brush each piece with bbq sauce.
Return the baking pan to the oven to finish cooking for another 10-15 minutes.
Optional: For extra crispy skin, set the baking pan under the broiler with the chicken thighs skin side up, for about 3 minutes. Be sure to watch closely to make sure that the chicken doesn’t burn.
Once the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F (~74°C), then it’s good to go! Be sure that you measure the correct temperature by placing the meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thighs without touching it to the bone.
Other Methods to Cook BBQ Chicken Thighs
Want to make this chicken thigh recipe, but not in the oven? Follow along to learn how to do it with these simple method adaptations:
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs: Place the seasoned chicken in the slow cooker, then spoon the bbq sauce on top. You don’t need to add any additional liquid to the crock pot! Cover and turn to high heat and cook for 3.5-4 hours, or on low for 6-6.5 hours.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (194°C). Spray the basket with a little bit of oil, then place the seasoned chicken thighs in the air fryer, skin side up with a little room between each one. Close the air fryer and cook the chicken for 18-20 minutes.
Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs: Preheat a well-oiled grill to a medium-high heat (about 400°F). Add the chicken thighs skin side down, and cook for about 5-8 minutes or until they easily release from the grill grates and the skin is beginning to get golden brown. Then lower the heat to about 300°F and flip the chicken. Close the grill cover and cook for about 25 minutes, turning again halfway through if needed. Pull the grilled chicken off the grill, allow to sit for a few minutes, then serve!
How to Store Leftover Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
Transfer leftover chicken to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. I find that leftover chicken is best the next day, but it can still be good for a few days after that. You can also freeze your leftovers! Place cooled chicken into an airtight container or freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Allow to thaw before reheating.
For best results, reheat BBQ chicken thighs in the oven until they reach a safe internal temperature.
What to Serve with BBQ Chicken Thighs
This easy protein really goes with anything! We love to serve it alongside carrot and cabbage slaw or broccoli & bacon salad! But you can also pair it with your favorite cookout sides like pickles, corn on the cob, cole slaw, and potato salad.
It would go great with creamy mashed potatoes, or even a side of fresh rice. Parsnips fries or tasty french fries would also be a great side dish. Or go with a low carb option and make mashed cauliflower!
Tips for Success
With a few simple tips, you can have the best success and the most juicy and tender chicken:
- It is important to pat the chicken thighs dry with napkins or paper towels before seasoning. This helps the seasoning to stick to the chicken and crisps the skin.
- Brush the bbq sauce onto the chicken the last 10-15 minutes of cooking. This ensures the sauce will be ultra sticky and not dried out.
- If you are using boneless chicken thighs, then just subtract 10 minutes from the total cook time.
FAQ
If your chicken thighs are dry, they’re likely overcooked. Next time, shorten the cook time by a few minutes, and remove them from the oven as soon as the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Baking chicken thighs at 400°F (204°C) is recommended because it allows the skin to crisp while maintaining moisture in the meat. A higher temperature helps to to avoid dry, tough chicken thighs!
Brush bbq sauce onto chicken near the end of cooking time, usually the last 10-15 minutes. This helps to make sure the sauce doesn’t burn, but that it has a chance to cook with the chicken and get good and sticky.
I’d love to hear about your experience making this recipe! Please leave a comment and rating below!
Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. chicken thighs, bone-in and skin on about 8 chicken thighs
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup bbq sauce
BBQ Spice Blend
- 2 1/4 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
- 1/2 – 3/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper optional
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Meanwhile, use napkins or paper towels to pat the pieces of chicken dry on all sides. Drizzle the chicken with oil, then sprinkle with the bbq seasonings. Use your hands or tongs to turn the chicken pieces so they’re evenly coated with the oil and spices on all sides.
- Lay the seasoned chicken thighs side by side inside a large rimmed baking dish.Place uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and generously brush each chicken thigh with the bbq sauce. Return the baking pan to the oven to finish cooking for another 10-15 minutes, until the internal temperature is 165°F (~74°C), per USDA.For extra crispy skin, set the baking pan under the broiler for about 3 extra minutes.
Notes
- Prep in advance to cook later: Cover the bowl of seasoned chicken and place it in the refrigerator for up to 18 hours.
- If using boneless chicken thighs, subtract 10 minutes from the total cooking time.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per USDA.
- Slow Cooker Adaptation: Place the seasoned chicken in the slow cooker, then spoon the bbq sauce on top. You don’t need to add any additional liquid to the crock pot! Trust me on this one. Cover and turn to high heat and cook for 3.5-4 hours, or on low for 6-6.5 hours.
- Air Fryer Adaptation: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (194°C). Spray the basket with a little oil, then place the seasoned chicken thighs in the air fryer, skin side up with a little room between each one. Close the air fryer and cook the chicken for 18-20 minutes.
- Grill Adaptation: Preheat a well-oiled grill to a medium-high heat (about 400°F). Add the chicken thighs skin side down, and cook for about 5-8 minutes or until they easily release and the skin is beginning to brown. Lower the heat to about 300°F and flip the chicken. Close the grill cover and cook for about 25 minutes, turning again halfway through if needed.
