Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs

Perfectly seasoned and easily cooked, this recipe for Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs will quickly become a dinnertime favorite!

Tender and juicy boneless thighs are coated with a sweet, savory, and smoky BBQ sauce, and cooked in the oven until they’re wonderfully sticky and delicious.

BBQ Chicken is a family favorite, and simple to bake in the oven using this easy recipe!

Use your favorite BBQ sauce, and the perfect blend of seasonings to make baked chicken thighs that are juicy and flavorful and ready in under an hour.

I have more ways to make BBQ chicken for you to try! Use this same method to make Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks, or fire up the grill and make the best BBQ Grilled Chicken.

You’ll also love my BBQ Chicken Pizza and BBQ Chicken Sliders. What’s not to like? The smoky, savory flavor of barbecue sauce makes any meal feel like a fun summer party.

Why You’ll Love This BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

1. It’s an inexpensive meal – Chicken thighs are often less expensive than chicken breasts or other cuts of meat. While they have a bit more fat than chicken breast, they are much more flavorful and easy to cook with the right recipe.
2. Classic BBQ Chicken Flavor – The beauty of this recipe is that you can choose your favorite BBQ sauce to make it. So, if you have a brand or style that your family enjoys on grilled chicken in the summertime, use it to make this recipe. When you bake bbq chicken thighs, you can enjoy that classic flavor all year long.
3. This recipe is so easy! Simply season your chicken thighs and toss them in the oven. They’ll need a flip part way through, but otherwise, this recipe is pretty hands-off. Let the oven do the work while you prepare all the yummy bbq side dishes, like my Steet Corn Salad or Coleslaw.

This simple BBQ Chicken Marinade doesn’t need to chill overnight, it’s ready to cook right away!

Key Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make BBQ Chicken Thighs:

• Chicken Thighs: This recipe makes up to 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Trim the chicken to remove any large pieces of fat. If your chicken was previously frozen, thaw it all the way before starting.
• BBQ Sauce: Any type of prepared bbq sauce will do! Use one that your family already enjoys, or use this recipe to try out a new bottle that you picked up.
• Seasonings: A simple spice blend made from salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika gives the chicken thighs so much flavor, along with the bbq sauce.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How To Make BBQ Chicken Thighs in Oven

1. Season the Chicken Thighs: Add the chicken to a large bowl or dish and sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Pour in ½ cup of BBQ sauce, and mix to combine so that all of the chicken is well coated.

2. Bake: Arrange the bbq seasoned chicken thighs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 20 minutes.
3. Flip: Remove the tray from the oven, flip each piece over, and brush with the remaining BBQ sauce. Return to the oven and bake again for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked.
4. Serve: Let the chicken thighs rest for a few minutes before serving with extra barbecue sauce on the side.

Recipe Tips

• Try it on the grill. If you’d prefer to grill the chicken thighs, you absolutely can! Grill the seasoned chicken over medium-high heat until fully cooked, then baste with additional BBQ sauce before serving.
• Have extra bbq sauce ready, because everyone will want to dip their chicken in it! BBQ chicken is also tasty dipped in homemade ranch dressing, or a little bit of Buffalo sauce.
• Adjust the seasonings. You can make this recipe with just bbq sauce, but the extra seasonings make it so much tastier. Feel free to edit the spices to suit your family’s preferences, making them more or less spicy, smoky, or salty.

BBQ Chicken Thighs Storing Tips

Leftover baked BBQ chicken thighs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Use the leftovers for lunch tomorrow, or shred the chicken to use in recipes like BBQ Chicken Pizza.

What To Serve With BBQ Chicken

BBQ Chicken is best served with traditional BBQ side dishes!

Try a refreshing summer beverage like my Strawberry Iced Tea or fresh Orangeade to really set the mood for a barbecue!

Then, try any of my many easy salad recipes! Classic Broccoli Salad, Deviled Egg Potato Salad, and Dill Pickle Pasta Salad are some of my favorites.

Other sides that go really well with bbq chicken include baked beans, cornbread, grilled corn, and Velveeta mac and cheese.

Recipe FAQs

More Easy Chicken Recipes

Chicken Souvlaki

Succulent Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Baked Chicken Wings

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Add this easy Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe to your family’s menu plan! It’s the perfect chicken thigh recipe to make any time of the year.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

5 from 22 votes

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Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 40 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Author: Diana

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This recipe for Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs is the best! Tender and juicy boneless thighs are smothered in sauce and cooked in the oven.

4 Servings

This recipe for Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs is the best! Tender and juicy boneless thighs are smothered in sauce and cooked in the oven.

Equipment

• Baking sheet
• Mixing Bowl
• Pastry brush
• Instant-read thermometer

Ingredients 

1/2x1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 pounds (900 g) boneless skinless chicken thighs excess fat trimmed
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ¾ cup (180 ml) BBQ sauce divided

Instructions 

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine chicken thighs with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and ½ cup of BBQ sauce. Mix to combine so the chicken is evenly coated.
• Arrange the seasoned chicken thighs on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, flip the chicken and brush with the remaining BBQ sauce. Return to the oven and bake for 10 more minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
• Once done, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. Serve with extra BBQ sauce on the side.

Notes:

• Try it on the grill. If you’d prefer to grill the chicken thighs, you absolutely can! Grill the seasoned chicken over medium-high heat until fully cooked, then baste with additional BBQ sauce before serving.
• Have extra bbq sauce ready because everyone will want to dip their chicken in it! BBQ chicken is also tasty dipped in homemade ranch dressing, or a little bit of Buffalo sauce.
• Adjust the seasonings. You can make this recipe with just bbq sauce, but the extra seasonings make it so much tastier. Feel free to edit the spices to suit your family’s preferences, making them more or less spicy, smoky, or salty.
• Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They’re great for meal prep or using in recipes. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 367kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 44g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 215mg, Sodium: 1191mg, Potassium: 704mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 18g, Vitamin A: 422IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 42mg, Iron: 2mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

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