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Weeknight BBQ without the grill? These oven baked BBQ chicken thighs come out ridiculously juicy with a glossy, sticky glaze, no babysitting a grill or scrubbing a pan. We’ll bake until tender, brush on sauce at the end so it doesn’t burn, then hit a quick broil for that caramelized finish everyone fights over.
Bake bone-in, skin-on thighs at 400°F for 45–55 minutes (to 165°F), brush with BBQ sauce during the last 10 minutes, then broil 2–3 minutes to caramelize and char the glaze.
If you have boneless thighs or chicken breasts, I included exact times below plus a “no-flip weeknight” method when you’re racing the clock.
Table of Contents
Recipe Quick tips
- Bone-in thighs (best flavor): 400°F for 45–55 min to 165°F. Sauce the last 10 minutes, broil 2–3 min.
- Boneless thighs: 425°F for 18–22 min. Sauce the last 5 minutes, broil 1–2 min.
- Chicken breasts (8–10 oz): 400°F for 20–30 min depending on thickness. Sauce the last 5–10 minutes, broil 1–2 min.
- Why sauce at the end? BBQ sauce is sweet, adding it late keeps it from burning and gives you a shiny, sticky glaze.
Why You’ll Love It
I love crispy baked chicken thighs. I try to cook them just about any way I can think of but my favorite is to grill them with a bit of bbq sauce. But on rainy days or those days when I don’t have access to a grill I have to improvise. And that’s how this Oven Baked BBQ Chicken was born.
My favorite Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs are super simple to make and bake up in the oven with almost no mess, thanks to a healthy coating of aluminum foil on that baking sheet. I hate scrubbing baked on barbecue sauce more than anything in the world so I totally use way more foil than is really necessary.
Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs come together pretty easily and you can even prep the chicken ahead the night before giving the BBQ rub a chance to marinade the meat making it extra flavorful. Serve alongside my Easy Creamy Coleslaw, Easy Boston Baked Beans and The Best Corn on the Cob for a simple dinner any time of year.
Plus, chicken thighs cook up tender and juicy rarely succumbing to the occasional dryness that can result of overcooking. Even the novice chef can pull off this recipe brilliantly. Not a chicken thigh fan? Try my BBQ Chicken Breasts instead!
How To Cook Chicken Thighs in the Oven
This barbecue chicken recipe is so simple to make and I love that I can avoid the unavoidable flare ups you get when grilling chicken thighs over a flame. My kids HATE the burned, charred barbecue sauce so Oven Baked BBQ Chicken is always a hit.
- Coat the chicken thighs with your favorite BBQ rub, I like this Homemade BBQ Rub, it’s so flavorful and EASY! We also use this Chicken Wing Seasoning for a little extra heat.
- Allow the chicken to sit for 15 minutes or up to 24 hours (refrigerated) to allow the rub to marinade the meat just a bit.
- Arrange the chicken thighs, skin side down, on a baking sheet lined with foil.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Roast the chicken in the oven for 25 minutes.
- Baste the chicken with your favorite BBQ Sauce, we use THIS Homemade BBQ sauce, flip the chicken skin side up.
- Baste the top of the chicken and roast for an additional 25-30 minute or until an internal temperature reads 165 degrees F.
- Turn the broiler on high and brush the chicken with more sauce. Broil the chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes until the BBQ sauce begins to caramelize and char a little bit.
- Serve immediately with additional sauce, if desired.
Busy night? Bake on the middle rack, don’t flip the chicken, and brush with sauce toward the end. Broil just long enough to bubble the glaze. Less mess, still juicy.
Cooking Times for BBQ Chicken in the Oven
| Cut | Oven Temp | Time to 160–165°F | When to Sauce | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone-in, skin-on thighs | 400°F | 45–55 minutes | Last 10 minutes | Broil 2–3 minutes |
| Boneless, skinless thighs | 425°F | 18–22 minutes | Last 5 minutes | Broil 1–2 minutes |
| Chicken breasts (8–10 oz) | 400°F | 20–30 minutes | Last 5–10 minutes | Broil 1–2 minutes |
Aluminum Foil Substitutions
If you’re not a fan of aluminum foil, as I know some of you are not, you can line your baking sheet with parchment. Having a barrier in between your BBQ Chicken Thighs and the baking sheet is imperative if you want to avoid having sticky, baked on BBQ sauce on your baking sheet.
It’s always my most hated task trying to clean a baking sheet that wasn’t lined with foil or parchment and I may have even tossed a few in the trash to avoid it at all costs.
How To Make BBQ Chicken On The Grill
You certainly CAN make these BBQ Chicken Thighs on the grill using a low and slow grilling method. The same tips apply in that you want to start cooking the chicken thighs well before you baste with the barbecue sauce…especially on the grill.
The sugars in the barbecue sauce are what tend to char and burn to a crisp when grilled leaving you with black, crusty chicken thighs on the outside and raw, nasty, undercooked chicken on the inside.
How to Grill BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Coat the chicken thighs with your favorite BBQ rub.
- Preheat a grill to 275-300 degrees.
- Cook the chicken thighs skin side down for 15-20 minutes.
- Flip the chicken thighs and cook for an additional 20-25 minutes.
- Lightly baste the chicken all over with the barbecue sauce and continue cooking the chicken thighs for another 10 minutes.
- Baste the chicken with more sauce and flip.
- Continue cooking the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
The grilling method is definitely a longer process to ensure you chicken is cooked through and that’s why I MUCH prefer making BBQ chicken thighs in the oven. You can, literally, go take care of your side dishes or clean up the kitchen without worrying about grill flare ups or running out of propane.
What To Serve With BBQ Chicken
Our favorite side dishes to serve alongside Oven Baked BBQ Chicken are:
- Easy Classic Coleslaw
- Best EVER Baked Beans
- The Very Best Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Chopped Greek Pasta Salad
- Easy Scalloped Potatoes
- Super Easy Mac and Cheese
We, seriously, eat this Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thigh recipe several times a month. It’s the simplest way to pack a ton of flavor into oven baked chicken without adding a boatload of calories or steps.
It’s like our own indoor barbecue party all year long so, next time your backyard picnic gets rained out just break out the baking sheet and make your own barbecue chicken in the oven!
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Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe
Equipment
- baking sheet
- silicone basting brush
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 cup BBQ Chicken Rub
- 1 cup Honey Chipotle Barbecue Sauce, or your favorite BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Coat the chicken thighs with the BBQ rub and allow to stand for 15 minutes or up to 24 hours. (If marinating for more than 30 minutes, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator….allow to come to room temperature before cooking.)
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Arrange the chicken thighs on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, skin side down and with space in between.
- Roast the chicken in the oven for 25 minutes. Flip the chicken and baste with the barbecue sauce.
- Roast the chicken for an additional 25-30 minutes or until an instant read thermometer registers 165 degrees F.
- Baste the chicken with the remaining barbecue sauce and turn the broiler on high.
- Broil the chicken for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce is caramelized and slightly charred.
- Serve immediately with extra sauce, if desired.
Notes
- Boneless thighs: 425°F (220°C) for 18–22 min. Sauce in the last 5 minutes; broil 1–2 min.
- Chicken breasts (8–10 oz / 225–285 g): 400°F (200°C) for 20–30 min depending on thickness. Sauce in the last 5–10 minutes; broil 1–2 min.
- No-Flip Weeknight Method: Bake on middle rack, don’t flip, sauce near the end, quick broil to finish.
- Make-Ahead: Season up to 24 hours ahead.
- Leftovers: Refrigerate 3–4 days. Reheat covered at 300°F (150°C) until warm; broil 1 minute to re-glaze. Air fryer: 350°F (175°C) for 3–5 min.
- Cleanup tip: Foil-line the pan; spray the rack if using.
- Weighing helps: Spice amounts are given in grams for consistency.
- Food safety: Always go by temp, not time—165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
- Nutrition Note
Macros vary widely by BBQ sauce brand (sugar/sodium). Values in any auto-calc are estimates only.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Very nice recipe! My four kids (and myself) were pleased. Thank you…
Thank you so much! I’m so glad the family enjoyed it.
Delicious! My wife want stop nagging me to make it again.
I’m so glad she liked it!
Hi, this recipe looks amazing. However, my husband will not eat chicken thighs …. could I use chicken breast? thanks
Yes, absolutely!
This is such a great version of bbq chicken because it does help those of us who doesn’t have a grill! Thank you!
Okay these were amazing! Thank you so much!
We love to eat oven baked chicken all of the time! Going to try this bbq version ASAP!
This was such a robust and flavorful recipe; my whole family enjoyed this! It has quickly become a family favorite dish!
Ooh how delicious and juicy these baked thighs look!!