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
Excellent….my wife loved “em!
I had a pack of chicken thighs that I forgot to marinade for another recipe and needed something fast! This recipe was so easy and honestly met all of my cravings for bbq chicken. I only had 1.5 pounds (bone in) so I just halved the spices and it came out perfect with 25 min in the oven , plus time under the broiler. We’re having guests for dinner next week and there’s a good chance I’ll be making these 🙂
My family loved this recipe. I enjoyed making the the chicken and it went perfect. I made 12 pcs of chicken with altering the amount of the spices measurements. It came out great either way. Perfect ! Im also learning to cook so not bad for my first time.
Love it
This recipe was spot on! My son who’s a picky eater, and it’s kid approved. I served it with cornbread and mashed potatoes. We could have definitely used a salad to bring in more color. Thank you for the recipe. It’s a keeper!
I made this tonight but used boneless, skinless thighs and Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ sauce. We’re just using what we have with the quarantine. I used a kitchen thermometer and it took 30 mins with boneless thighs in my oven. My kids LOVED this! Thank you!
I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at your comment–I had boneless skinless thighs & even Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce on hand (no brown sugar–I used white), so I made it that way & it was indeed delicious!
SOOO good!! My family loved them!! Would these freeze well? If so, would you recommend freezing them before baking, bake halfway then freeze, or bake completely and then just reheat in the oven from frozen? Or thawed? Thanks for a great recipe!!
Delicious! Will definitely make this again!
I used this recipe to make barbequed chicken thighs last night. The recipe was super easy to follow and they turned out perfectly! This recipe is a keeper, for sure!
I made it the first time with bone-in skin-on thighs was amazing whatI have now are chicken breasts cutlets will it work to use those
Simple to make and delicious! Trying to finish up food in a vacation home prior to leaving; had all the seasonings and BBQ sauce, but only boneless, skinless thighs and decided to make it anyway. Adjusted cooking time and it turned out delicious thanks to the seasonings. Thick sliced the thighs and put on top of a salad, yummy! Can’t wait to try it with bone-in skin-on thighs.