Craving a delicious and effortless dinner? These oven-baked BBQ chicken thighs are a perfect choice. This recipe delivers tender, juicy chicken with a flavorful barbecue glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
With just 7 ingredients and minimal prep, this recipe keeps things straightforward. It’s a great way to make a flavorful dinner without a lot of effort or cleanup.
Ingredients & Equipment
We are going to rub the chicken in a coat of olive oil and season it with a combination of garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
We’re also going to coat our chicken with a nice thick layer of barbeque sauce. The barbeque sauce is what gives this recipe most of its flavor, so make sure to get a high-quality one. You can even make your own barbeque sauce if you’re feeling fancy.
This recipe has minimal equipment, which means an easy clean up! All you’ll need is a baking sheet and a small bowl to mix the spices.
Preparation
We’re going to start by mixing up our spices. Add the paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper to a small bowl and mix until everything looks equally distributed.
Next you’re going to pat your chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. This step is important! It will help crisp up the skin. Drizzle some olive oil on each thigh and use your hand to rub it in an even thin coat. Now take that spice mix you made and sprinkle it on. Make sure you flip over your chicken thighs and get both sides!
And that’s it, your chicken is ready for the oven!
Cooking
Pop the chicken thighs in the oven for 25 minutes. At the end of the cooking time, they should be lightly golden and the spices should be browned. The internal temp should be close to 155°F – 160°F at this point. When done with the next steps, it will be the ideal 175°F – 185°F.
Now add a generous dollop of barbeque sauce to each thigh. Use the back of a spoon or a brush to get it in a nice even layer. Now back in the oven for another 10 minutes. At the end of the cook time the barbeque sauce should be caramelized and have a deep brown color. The internal temp of the chicken thighs should be at least 165°F – 185°F.
The best internal temperature for chicken thighs
Chicken thighs can be safely cooked beyond 165°F because their higher fat content and connective tissue make them more forgiving than chicken breasts. As the temperature rises, the connective tissue breaks down into gelatin, resulting in tender, juicy meat with enhanced flavor. Cooking thighs to 175–185°F often produces the best texture and allows BBQ sauces and seasonings to caramelize beautifully, making them even more delicious.
Serving
BBQ chicken thighs are best when they’re served up with delicious sides! Here are some of my favorites:
- Mashed potatoes
- Cole slaw
- Roasted veggies
- Mac & cheese
- Baked beans
- Potato salad
Want to double the recipe?
Cooking for a crowd? This simple recipe is perfect to double or even triple! Simple adjust the ingredients accordingly. The cooking times and temp will remain the same.
Storage & Reheating
Leftover chicken thighs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them back in the oven at 350℉ for 10-15 minutes, until warmed through.
PrintRecipe
Best Damn Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 servings
Description
These juicy, tender chicken thighs are coated in a simple seasoning blend and roasted to perfection with your favorite BBQ sauce. A quick, no-fuss recipe for a delicious, easy dinner.
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1 ¼ – 1 ½ pounds)
- 1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup barbecue sauce (your favorite brand or homemade)
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet or roasting pan with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup (optional).
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Rub each piece with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs.
- Place the chicken thighs skin-side up on the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and brush a generous layer of barbecue sauce over the top of each thigh. Return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. For a sticky, caramelized finish, turn on the broiler for 2–3 minutes after baking (optional). Internal temp should be 175°F – 185°F.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes.Finish it off with an extra drizzle of barbeque sauce and serve with your favorite sides.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Tim says
Super tasty!! 😋 Thank you!