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BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs are rubbed with a simple seasoning, then basted in your favorite barbecue sauce. The result is the best, most crispy, juicy, and flavorful baked barbecue chicken ever!

A close up of bbq chicken thighs
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BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs

I used to only eat chicken breasts. But it’s really hard to get a juicy chicken breast in the oven, and forget about crispy. You can’t have it both ways. Unless of course, we’re taking chicken thighs into consideration because then you definitely can produce crispy skinned, juicy, and tender chicken in just a few steps!

To make these chicken thighs in the oven, I use a simple, all-purpose chicken seasoning that I use for all kinds of chicken recipes, like my Baked Chicken Breasts and Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs.

I use my favorite barbecue sauce that I always have on hand, Sweet Baby Ray’s. I really love their Hickory and Brown Sugar flavor. You can really use any that you like, or use a homemade bbq sauce if you’ve got one you love.

How To Bake BBQ Chicken Thighs in the Oven

This BBQ chicken recipe is super simple, easy to customize with your favorite sauce, and needs just a few minutes of prep.

  1. To start, preheat the oven to 400℉. This is the best way to ensure even cooking.
  2. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. You do not need to rinse your chicken. In fact, that can actually spread harmful bacteria rather than eliminate it.
  3. Mix up the seasoning rub, which is just salt and pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Rub the seasoning all over the chicken, even under the skin. Arrange chicken thighs skin side up on a baking sheet lined with nonstick foil.
  4. Brush chicken thighs with a thin layer of barbecue sauce on both sides, ending skin side up. Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then baste with more sauce. Bake for another 15 minutes or until chicken is 165℉ on a meat thermometer. For more information on food safety and temperatures, download my Meat Temperature Chart for free!
  5. If the skin isn’t as crispy as you want it to be, move the oven rack up and flip on your broiler. Keep a close eye on it, the BBQ sauce caramelizes quickly and can burn fast. Just a couple of minutes should do the trick.
chicken thighs on a baking sheet as someone brushed one with barbecue sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you put barbecue sauce on chicken before or after baking?

I do both. Brush it on lightly to add flavor while the chicken bakes, then add a thicker layer to caramelize while they finish or broil.

Do I Need to Flip the Chicken While Baking?

No this isn’t necessary for BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs. Keeping the skin side up the whole time allows the skin to get crispy as it bakes.

What Cut of Chicken is Best For BBQ Baked Chicken?

If you want exceptionally juicy baked BBQ chicken, bone-in thighs are the way to go. Dark meat is more flavorful by default and having the skin and bone not only add extra flavor, but keep it moist and juicy. Boneless thighs will be tender, but not quite as juicy.

Of course wings are great too, but I have a different recipe for those. Try my BBQ Chicken Wings.

What is the proper internal temperature for chicken?

All chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165℉. I highly recommend keep a meat thermometer handy in your kitchen.

What To Serve with BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs

Most times I’ll throw together a copycat Olive Garden Salad and some Best Ever Cheesy Garlic Bread to just keep it simple. We also love to serve them with Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes or my Grandma’s Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes. Of course, some delicious 5-Minute Parmesan Ranch Broccoli is the perfect match and even simpler than a salad!

Storage Tips

What To Do with Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. They can also be placed in a freezer bag and frozen for up to 6 months.

Leftover chicken is always great shredded and added to salads, sandwiches, and wraps.

An overhead image of bbq baked chicken thighs on a white plate net to a bowl of bbq sauce

More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

Recipe
bbq baked chicken thighs image created for social media

BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs

4.73 from 74 votes
BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs are rubbed with a simple seasoning, then basted in your favorite barbecue sauce for the best baked barbecue chicken ever!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8 Chicken thighs about 3 pounds, skin-on, bone-in
  • 2 teaspoons Paprika
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 3/4 cup BBQ sauce Your favorite brand or 2 cups homemade, plus more for serving
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Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 400℉. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with nonstick foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a small bowl, combine paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper.
  • Pat chicken dry with paper towels, then rub in the seasoning blend all over the chicken, lifting and rubbing in under the skin.
  • Arrange chicken skin side up on the prepared baking sheet. Pour about ¾ of a cup of bbq sauce into a small bowl and brush the chicken lightly with the sauce on both sides, finishing with the chicken skin side up. Set the remaining bbq sauce aside to use later (do not leave the brush in the sauce).
  • Bake in the 400℉ oven for 20 minutes. Remove chicken from the oven and, using a clean brush, brush with the reserved sauce. Bake for an additional 20 minutes. Chicken should register 165℉ on a meat thermometer.
  • Switch to the broiler and broil for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce caramelizes.
  • Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes. Serve with additional sauce for dipping.

Notes

In the interest of food safety, do not dip your basting brush into the sauce after it touches the chicken. Use a clean brush each time.

Nutrition

Calories: 336kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 25gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 894mgPotassium: 333mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 446IUCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.

Kristin Maxwell

Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook.

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4.73 from 74 votes (48 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Kevin Pratt says:

    Easy,Quick, and the Best Tasting ,Great Job with this.

    1. Kristin says:

      Thank you Kevin!

  2. Thao says:

    So so so delicious. Gonna be my go-to recipe for bbq chicken!!

    1. Kristin says:

      Thank you Thao! Thanks for stopping by to share.

  3. Jay says:

    Made these twice so far! They came out very tasty and juicy. I used sweet baby ray’s no sugar added bbq sauce for less calories (tastes the same to me!)

    1. Kristin says:

      That’s awesome Jay! Awesome feedback, thanks for stopping by.

  4. teresa hope says:

    How do you eliminate the fat from the skin while baking?

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      It mostly renders during cooking.

  5. John Pompper says:

    I only made 3 thighs, . The skin/bbq sauce had already caramelized some, so I did do the broil part. it was so tender, juicy, and delicious! Thanks for this amazing recipe!

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome John! Awesome feedback, thanks for stopping by.

  6. jon says:

    thanks, trying it now !

    1. Kristin says:

      Nice! Thanks for stopping by jon.

  7. jon says:

    thanks trying it now

  8. Judi says:

    Thank you. The best baked chicken ever and I’m not a big fan of chicken. Would have this anytime. My husband raved about It. I changed it somewhat but, wow you shared a great one. Thanks again
    Judi

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Judi! Thanks for stopping by.

  9. Jerry Backstrom says:

    Great Bq

  10. Nena says:

    It taste good, delicious and juicy….I just marinate the chicken for 1 hour with calamansi. Thank you for the recipe.

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Nena! Love the feedback, thanks for stopping by to share.

  11. Patti T. says:

    I only made 4 thighs, so I reduced the baking time by about 10 minutes. The skin/bbq sauce had already caramelized some, so I didn’t do the broil part. However, I did the seasonings exactly like the recipe, and it was so tender, juicy, and delicious! A keeper! Thanks for this amazing recipe! My husband and I loved it! We had mashed potatoes and salad for side dishes. Oh, and we did NOT wash our chicken. Just patted it dry, as you mentioned. It worked well.

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Patti! Love the feedback, thanks for stopping by to share.

  12. Nancy says:

    I rinse my chicken not for bacteria but because I don’t know what goes on behind the scene in the grocery store. Are they following good hygiene? No one knows for sure. I have eaten a lot of chicken and never gotten sick. I’m very careful with how I wash it.

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      Not sure why the 3 stars if you just don’t like the FDA, CDC and USDA’s strict recommendation on NOT washing chicken. You may not have gotten sick, and nothing says that you will. But people have and someone you’re cooking for could get sick. It’s a dangerous practice.

  13. Gale Bethanis says:

    Can you bake these the day before… and then re-heat? I cook for my 93 year old parents and I rather make the mess at my house.. still what them to be juicy…

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      Hi Gale, Yes you can reheat them. I’d recommend skipping the broiling step the first time around. Reheat them in the oven on a rimmed baking sheet tented with foil until they reach about 160℉ and then brush with a little sauce and broil for a few minutes. Hope you enjoy them!

  14. Loly says:

    Very good!!

    1. Kristin says:

      Thanks for stopping by Loly!

  15. Dinae says:

    Thanks. Chicken was awesome!!!! Saves this recipe

    1. Kristin says:

      Your are so welcome Dinae! Thanks for stopping by.

  16. Styx says:

    great recipe but more than anything just wanted to say thank you for telling me about not needing to wash chicken (weird I know but seriously you’re a life saver)

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Styx! Thanks for stopping by.

  17. Donna says:

    I was looking for a fairly simply recipe for bbq chicken and came across this recipe. It was absolutely delicious! I saved it and it will be used often!

    1. Kristin says:

      Love the feedback Donna! Thanks for stopping by to share.

  18. Courtney says:

    The chicken was so tender and good but when I switched it to broil it kinda burn the skin but it still was really good! My oven is old so I should adjust the times next time probably operator error on my part lol

    1. Kristin says:

      Love your feedback Courtney! Thank you so much for stopping by.

  19. Sheri says:

    I am making this tonight for the 3rd time this summer. So easy and delicious. Perfect summertime dinner, easy to feed a crowd, whether the meal is preplanned or an impromptu dinner party! Thank you so much!

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Sheri! Love the feedback, thanks for stopping by.

  20. Sharon Seiber says:

    I made these for the first time tonight and they were the bomb! They were so easy to make and even tho I was only making a half meal the next time I am afraid I am going to have to make a full one! So wonderful looking when they were taken out of the oven. This is going to be a great addition to our menu. Thanks for an easy, delicious, quick meal. My first for one of your recipes. Now I know where to come for one of these meals!

    1. Kristin says:

      Fantastic feedback Sharon! Thank you so much for stopping by.

  21. Ed Stroman says:

    I parboiled my thighs in bbq sauce for about 10 minutes before putting into the oven.
    Bbq flavor penetrated all the way through the meat.
    Cut about 5 minutes off each cycle.
    Came out very moist and tender.

    1. Kristin says:

      Love the feedback Ed! Thanks for stopping by.

  22. Sarah says:

    Delicious! This was so easy and packed tons of flavor. My entire family loved it.

    P.S. Thank you for specifying using a clean brush to baste the cooked chicken. I’m teaching my kids to cook and they use online recipes. A lot of recipe sites don’t add common sense steps but it’s important to include for someone learning to cook!

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      I agree and thank you for the feedback!

  23. Kelly says:

    Really fabulous- the whole family loved it!

    1. Kristin says:

      Nice! Thanks for stopping by Kelly.

  24. Suzanne says:

    Hello! Super excited to try this recipe this evening with my family. Wondering if you can use boneless chicken thighs? Thanks!

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      Hi Suzanne, for boneless thighs you would need to adjust the cooking time. Try this recipe and just brush on bbq sauce towards the end and maybe broil for a few minutes.

  25. Bobby White says:

    I don’t have kosher salt. I only have table salt and sea salt. Which one would you prefer and how much

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      Hi Bobby, Sea salt is probably coarse and comparable with the kosher salt. You can use table salt, I recommend using a light touch with it. Remember that you can always add more salt at the end but you can’t take it away.

  26. Kimmie says:

    Hi!!

    I’ll be making this for the 2nd time today. So simple to make but, gosh is this perfect. It’s easy to follow, moist, juicy, tender, craveable. I love this recipe. Thanks for this.

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Kimmie! Thanks for stopping by.

  27. Gretchen Webster says:

    Definitely 5 stars!! Made it for the first time tonight, and added just a little cayenne for fun. My family adored it although we would appreciate a bit less salt. This is going to be my go-to summer meal!

  28. Kristi says:

    This simple seasoning is a keeper. I did however lower the salt by 1 tsp. I’ll no longer have tasteless bbq chicken. Thanks Kristin

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Kristi! Thanks for stopping by.

  29. Annmarie says:

    Delicious, My family enjoyed!! Thank you..

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Annmarie! Thanks for stopping by.

  30. Hilary wright says:

    Is the skin supposed to get crispy? The sauce caramelized and the chicken was moist and delicious, but the skin was soggy even though i put it in the broiler for 3 min. I’d love to figure out how to get the skin crispy in the oven.

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      It should. It won’t be fried chicken crispy, but it shouldn’t be soggy. If you try it again, just add the sauce at the end.

    2. Sharon Seiber says:

      When I first cooked it for the 20min. and pulled it out for the 15min. I had a LOT of juice in my pan. I knew that was what was going to make it non-crispy, so dumped all that juice out, proceeded to put on the last bit of bbq sauce and put it back in the oven. That did the trick! Hope this helps. We both must have had juicy chicken!

  31. Tiffany says:

    This recipe was A HIT in my household last night. Thank you sooo much!

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Tiffany! Thanks for stopping by.

  32. Jacqie Lamb says:

    Oops! I forgot to put the stars on my comments. 5 STARS!!!! Wish it could be 6!

    1. Kristin says:

      Thank you for the extra love Jacqie!

  33. Jacqie Lamb says:

    These were fantastic! My husband said to forget the grill and always do BBQ Chicken this way. The meat was perfectly cooked, juicy, and tender. I’ve been looking for a perfect recipe for this dish for years and you absolutely nailed it!

    1. Kristin says:

      Hi Jacqie, Thank you so much for the awesome feedback.
      Kristin

  34. Jill Walden says:

    Making this recipe again tonight! Love it, so easy and so good! It’s become a regular in our dinner rotation. Need to try some more of your recipes – they all look good!???‍?

    1. Kristin says:

      Hi Jill, thank you so much for sharing your feedback.
      K.

  35. Sarah Hutchison says:

    what happens if your only using 4 things instead of eight

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      Cook for the same amount of time, but you’ll only need half of the sauce and seasoning.

  36. Linda Morgan says:

    Hi Kristin
    Made these thighs last night, exactly according to directions. The 2 tsp of salt made it almost uneatable. I would only put the pepper, onion powder, Garlic powder, and paprika. If you like things salty and sweet, I would stick to 1/2 tsp salt at the most. But then this is California. we do not salt our food very much. When I went to Texas last year, noticed food was much saltier there. So I guess it’s up to what you’re used to.

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      Hi Linda, I’m from California too, and we like salt on our food. It’s really a personal taste. Were you by chance using table salt? It’s much finer and isn’t the same as kosher salt. 2 teaspoons of table salt would definitely be overpowering.

  37. Deborah says:

    Oh how delicious this looks! We all love chicken thighs so will have to make this very soon. I love Baby Ray’s and we always have that on hand. Cannot wait to make these! Thank you!

    1. Kristin says:

      You are so welcome Deborah! Let us know in the comments how well it turned out. Thanks for stopping by.

  38. Liz Mcnamee says:

    Thanks, very good and easy!! Was going to grill and yet another storm. This was the best!!

    1. Kristin says:

      Awesome feedback Liz! Thanks for stopping by.