BBQ Baked Chicken is juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside! Smothered in a homemade rub and basted in your favorite BBQ sauce, this chicken is full of flavor. A sure fire family favorite, every time!
BBQ Baked Chicken
It’s no secret we’re big fans of chicken thigh recipes around here and bbq baked chicken is a classic. Bone in chicken thighs, a homemade dry rub, AND basted in tangy bbq sauce? What’s not to love? I love cooking with chicken thighs because they’re so easy and versatile. A little olive oil and the right flavors and they come out tender and juicy while holding onto a crispy outside. Serve these chicken thighs with a big bowl of mac and cheese, a fresh green salad, some creamy mashed potatoes, or a pot of collard greens for some southern flair!
Chicken thighs don’t get enough hype for how amazing they are. Check out more variations like these Oven Roasted Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs that have a bright bold flavor, or learn how to make this main dish even easier with these amazing Air Fryer Chicken Thighs!
Are chicken thighs better than chicken breasts?
While both have their merits, I do find that cooking with chicken thighs gives you a much more flavorful and juicier piece of meat. Chicken thighs have a higher fat content which keeps them from drying out while cooking. Chicken thighs are made up of dark meat which contains more vitamins and minerals whereas chicken breasts are leaner, made of white meat, and contain more protein. It really depends on the dish you’re making and what you’re looking to get out of your meal. I wouldn’t say one is better than the other, each work well in their respective recipes.
How To Make BBQ Baked Chicken
- Preheat. Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Prep. Thoroughly pat dry the chicken thighs. Getting rid of the excess moisture is what helps the skin to crisp up! Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle both sides with olive oil.
- Mix. In a small bowl, mix together the dry rub. Dump in the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.
- Sprinkle. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken and rub the spices in to get a nice coating.
- Bake. Bake for 35-45 minutes. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Baste. Remove the chicken from the oven and baste evenly with your chosen bbq sauce.
- Broil. Place under the broiler in your oven for about 3 minutes, keeping a careful eye on it to prevent burning.
- Serve. Serve with some extra BBQ sauce and your favorite side dishes. Enjoy!
Storing BBQ Baked Chicken
Leftover chicken thighs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to keep that crispy skin!
Ingredients Notes for BBQ Baked Chicken
BBQ Sauce – I love Sweet Baby Ray’s, but you can use any BBQ sauce you have on hand. Choose your favorite!
Chicken Thighs – Bone in and skin on is a must. You’ll want about 6-8 chicken thighs.
Olive Oil – You can substitute whatever type of oil you prefer as long as it has a high smoke point, like avocado oil.
Dry Rub – We’re creating a homemade rub here that is classic and flavorful. You’ll need brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, pepper, cumin, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Add more or less cayenne to control the amount of heat.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
BBQ Baked Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 Pounds Bone in Skin On Chicken Thighs, About 6-8
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1/2 Cup Barbecue Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with foil and set aside.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and place on prepared baking sheet and drizzle evenly on both sides with olive oil.
- In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken and rub the spices in to coat well.
- Bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and baste evenly with the bbq sauce. Place under the broiler in your oven for 3 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
This recipe turned out awesome. The chicken was amazing.
I made this tonight and it will definitely be the only recipe I use from now on!! Even though I omitted the cayenne pepper because my DH can’t eat anything too spicy, it did have a slight kick to it from the other spices. I doubled the spice mix because I baked 10 chicken thighs. You definitely have to end with the broiler. Thank you for posting this recipe!!
Perfect amount of heat in the spice rub, make sure to put on and under the skin. Used Sweet Baby Ray BBQ sauce. Will make again.
Best baked bbq chicken I’ve ever cooked! Hubby loved it too!
My go to for the last couple of years. Excellent recipe!
Perfect amount of heat in the spice rub, make sure to put on and under the skin. Used Sweet Baby Ray BBQ sauce. Will make again.
I make this often for my family! It’s always a hit! I usually use boneless chicken thighs.