This baked BBQ chicken recipe delivers perfectly tender and juicy chicken every time. It only takes 30 minutes for this foolproof BBQ chicken- use homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce and some pantry spices to kick it up a notch!
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The importance of a quick, easy and delicious recipe is worth its weight in gold during the week, and this baked BBQ chicken thighs recipe checks all the boxes. This BBQ chicken is a foolproof recipe- your saving grace when you need a flavorful dinner FAST.
And, just like many other dinner recipes, I've taken out all the hard work, letting the oven do most of it for you!
Everything You'll Love About This Baked BBQ Chicken Recipe
- Super moist, tender and juicy chicken
- Incredibly flavorful- a thick layer of caramelized glaze
- Minimal ingredients and minimal effort
- Quick and easy- perfect for busy week nights
- Can use chicken thighs or chicken breasts, even wings
Grab These Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs: Any cut of chicken works for this recipe though I prefer to use chicken thighs as they are more tender than chicken breasts.
- BBQ Sauce: To make this recipe quick, grab store-bought BBQ sauce but you could use homemade as well. I love using Sweet Baby Ray's original (not sponsored, just love it!)
- Olive Oil: Just 1 Tablespoon of olive oil to help the spices stick to the chicken.
- Salt & Pepper: Essential flavor!
- Spices: For added flavor, grab pantry staple spices like garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, paprika, white pepper, and dried oregano. These spices take the chicken to the next level.
Overview: How To Make BBQ Chicken
The full detailed and printable recipe is below, but we'll walk through it real quick.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken in a baking dish. Add the olive oil and spices, tossing thoroughly to ensure the chicken is coated evenly. Let the chicken sit while the oven preheats or up to 1 day in the refrigerator if making ahead.
- Add the BBQ Sauce: Just before baking, spoon on the BBQ sauce, spreading it on both sides. Then, place it on the baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 12 minutes, flip the chicken, and brush with BBQ sauce. Then, bake for another 12 minutes, flip the chicken, brush with BBQ sauce, and broil for 3-5 minutes until the edges are slightly crispy.
Success Tips
- The chicken should be even thickness, no matter the type of cut that you're using. Having uneven cuts of chicken will result in uneven baking. If needed, gently pound down the chicken prior to marinating.
- Marinate the chicken for at least 15 minutes (about the time it takes to preheat the oven) or up to 1 day. If marinating for longer than 15 minutes, remember to cover tightly.
You Can Make This with Chicken Breasts or Chicken Thighs
I usually prepare this BBQ chicken with boneless skinless chicken thighs, but chicken breast is just as delicious. The directions remain exactly the same, but you may need to adjust the baking time depending on the thickness. I also recommend pounding the chicken breast for even baking time.
FAQ About BBQ Chicken
The bake time varies depending on the cut of chicken used. For this recipe, it's a total of 28 minutes (25 minutes bake time + 3 minutes broil time.)
It depends on the recipe. For this recipe it's put on before and while its baking.
You can! Most often it's used in marinades, just like this one!
More Chicken Recipes
Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
Description
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried mustard
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce, plus additional for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- Place the chicken thighs into a baking dish (or zip-top storage bag.) Add the olive oil, salt, black pepper, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried mustard and dried oregano. Toss thoroughly together to ensure the chicken is coated evenly. Cover the dish tightly and let it sit while the oven preheats or up to 1 day in the refrigerator.
- Place the chicken onto the prepared baking sheet. Spoon BBQ sauce (about ½ cup total) onto the chicken, coating each side evenly. Bake for 12 minutes, then flip the chicken, and brush with ¼ cup BBQ sauce. Repeat. Then, flip the chicken once more and brush with the remaining ¼ cup BBQ sauce and broil for 3-5 minutes until the edges are slightly crispy. Keep an eye on the chicken so it doesn't burn (or the parchment paper, if using.)
- Serve immediately. Leftovers stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: The chicken thighs can be prepped through step 2 up to 1 day in advance. If making homemade BBQ sauce, it can be made up to 3 days in advance (or as directed in the recipe.)
- Freezing Instructions: The chicken thighs can be frozen with or without BBQ sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then, bake as directed. For more tips, see Tips For How You Can Freeze Marinated Chicken.
- Chicken: If you're not a fan of boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken breast is just as delicious. The directions remain the same, but you may need to adjust the baking time depending on the thickness. I also recommend pounding the chicken breast for even baking time.
- BBQ Sauce: You can use store-bought BBQ sauce but you could use homemade as well. I love using Sweet Baby Ray's original.
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