Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs

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These baked bbq chicken thighs are sweet and savory. They use just 4 simple ingredients like my homemade bbq chicken rub and your favorite bbq sauce. Learn how to make the best juicy chicken thighs in the oven with this easy dinner recipe.

Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs topped with chopped fresh parsley on a plate with bbq seasoning in a separate bowl

Why Make These?

Quick & Easy: This oven baked bbq chicken thighs recipe has less than 5 minutes of prep and only requires basic cooking skills. It uses simple ingredients, most of which you probably have in your kitchen.
Smoky and Tasty (without grilling): Get smoky barbecue flavors without turning on the grill using this easy recipe.
Works with any of your favorite sides: these go with just about any bbq chicken side dish, making this the perfect weeknight meal or addition to meal prep.

Ingredients Needed

Here’s what you need to know about the ingredients in this recipe to make it successfully:

Chicken thighs: I’m using raw, boneless skinless chicken thighs with as much fat trimmed off as possible.
BBQ chicken rub: this homemade brown sugar dry rub is a great addition to any bbq chicken recipe. It includes things like onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, Italian seasoning, chili powder and more. I make a batch of it and use it on everything from main dishes (BBQ Chicken Nachos, BBQ Chicken Flatbreads) to sides (Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Canned Beans
Olive oil or avocado oil
BBQ Sauce: I prefer any hickory or Kansas City style bbq sauce, but your favorite barbecue sauce works. You can also make this with homemade bbq sauce – it’s easier to make than you think with common ingredients like ketchup, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.

bbq chicken rub, chicken thighs, olive oil and hickory sweet baby ray bbq sauce in separate bowls

How To Make Baked Barbecue Chicken Thighs

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Add the chicken to a large mixing bowl with the bbq chicken rub and oil. Mix until all of the chicken is coated.
Add the chicken in a single layer to a broiler-safe baking dish (or rimmed baking sheet) and cook it in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Remove the baking dish from the oven and brush the meat with ½ cup bbq sauce (ensure you coat all sides of the chicken). Return the baking dish to the oven and cook for 10-15 more minutes.
Remove the baking dish from the oven and brush the meat with ¼ cup more bbq sauce. Broil on high for 2-3 minutes to char the chicken thighs. Brush with the remaining sauce.

step-by-step instructions for how to make Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs in the oven

Recipe Tips & FAQs

Unroll the chicken thighs to get the spices in when coating.
Put the meat in a single layer and keep it flat on the baking dish to ensure it cooks evenly.
If you want, let the chicken marinate (dry brine) for a few hours before cooking for extra barbecue flavor.
End with a higher temperature: I broil these oven-baked chicken thighs with extra sauce to get the charred look and some of the flavors you’d expect when you grill barbecue chicken thighs.
Adjust the cook time for bone-in or skin-on chicken thighs: the cooking process for these typically takes about 5-10 minutes longer. Be sure that your chicken is skin side up before broiling. If you have an air fryer, you could also try these bone-in air fryer bbq chicken thighs since that is the easiest way to crisp the skin.
Use parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup – simply line your baking tray

Storage & Leftovers

You can store your leftover chicken in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

How long does it take to cook chicken thighs in the oven?

It takes 25-30 minutes to cook chicken thighs in the oven. After cooking the chicken, I prefer to broil the meat for 2-3 minutes – this helps the sugar in the barbecue sauce to caramelize.

Can you overcook chicken thighs in the oven?

It’s almost impossible to overcook chicken thighs in the oven, but you can dry them out by cooking them on high heat for too long.

close-up look of Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs on a long plate

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