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Serve these baked bbq chicken thighs for an easy dinner that’s ready from start to finish in about 30 minutes! The tender, juicy, and flavorful meat is seasoned with a zesty dry rub, roasted in the oven, and basted with your favorite sauce.

Overhead image of oven bbq chicken thighs with cornbread.
Table of Contents
  1. Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs are a Quick Weeknight Dinner
  2. Ingredients
  3. How to Bake BBQ Chicken Thighs
  4. What to Serve with Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
  5. Preparation and Storage
  6. BBQ Chicken Thigh Recipe Variations
  7. Tips for the Best Boneless Skinless BBQ Chicken Thighs
  8. Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

If you’re looking for even more delicious chicken recipes, be sure to try these braised chicken thighs with gravy, this simple-yet-flavorful dump-and-bake chicken tzatziki with rice, and a tray of bbq sheet pan chicken and veggies, too!

Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs are a Quick Weeknight Dinner

I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t love baked bbq chicken thighs! They’re just one of those universally appealing meals that works well for both kids and adults. Plus, boneless, skinless chicken thighs cook quickly in the oven, and stay tender and juicy. They’re practically impossible to mess up! We can all use some new chicken recipes to keep mealtime interesting, so file this one away…

Serve the baked bbq chicken with almost any of your favorite sides. They’re delicious with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, cornbread, and biscuits — making them a convenient and crowd-pleasing entrée for potlucks, parties, picnics, and weeknight family dinners.

Whisking together bbq dry rub.

Is it better to bake chicken thighs at 350 or 400?

Baking chicken thighs at 400°F is ideal, because it ensures that the chicken is cooked through while still staying juicy and moist. This temperature also helps achieve a crisp, slightly charred exterior, which adds great flavor to the meat.

Seasoning chicken thighs with bbq dry rub.

Ingredients

This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for oven bbq chicken thighs. As always, specific measurements and complete step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

  • Boneless skinless chicken thighs: bake as much chicken as you need to feed your family. Typically, 8 boneless, skinless thighs weigh about 2 – 2 ½ lbs. total; however, you can easily scale the ingredients to serve a larger group. If you prefer to substitute with a different cut of chicken (such as boneless skinless chicken breasts), you’ll need to adjust the total cooking time.
  • BBQ dry rub: you’ll make your own barbecue rub, which includes brown sugar, chili powder, kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and onion powder. It’s slightly sweet and zesty, but not too spicy. You can substitute with your favorite store-bought rub if you prefer. Also, you can add cayenne or black pepper to give it a little more kick.
  • BBQ sauce: brush the chicken with bbq sauce towards the end of the baking time. Any store-bought brand or homemade recipe will work!
Basting with bbq sauce.

How to Bake BBQ Chicken Thighs

Get dinner ready for the oven in about 10 minutes! This easy, family-friendly meal is perfect for busy weeknights, since the chicken bakes quickly, too. I’ve included the detailed cooking instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here’s the quick version.

  1. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
  2. Stir together the bbq dry rub.
  3. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the chicken.
  4. Bake the chicken on the middle rack in a 400°F oven for a total of about 20-25 minutes, basting with bbq sauce during the final 5-10 minutes. There’s no need to flip the chicken over. The meat is done when the juices run clear and an instant read thermometer registers 165°F. You can broil the meat at the end if you like an even crispier, more charred exterior.
Close overhead image of baked boneless skinless chicken thighs.

What to Serve with Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs

Boneless skinless bbq chicken thighs are so popular because they’re so versatile! Pair the meat with your family’s favorite sides, and you have a kid-friendly meal ready in no time. Here are a few easy side dishes that go well with the barbecue chicken:

Square overhead shot of baked bbq chicken thighs on a wooden dinner table with a side of cornbread.

Preparation and Storage

  • Prep ahead! You can whisk together the dry rub in advance and keep it stored in your pantry in an airtight container for weeks. We like to keep a big batch on hand so that it’s easy to grab and use in a variety of recipes.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also store the chicken in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Use leftover chicken on sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, or salads for easy lunches or dinners throughout the week!
Side shot of a platter of oven baked bbq chicken thighs.

BBQ Chicken Thigh Recipe Variations

  • For bone-in, skin-on oven bbq chicken breasts, try this recipe. You can also substitute with bone-in thighs, or boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Just adjust the cooking time to ensure that your meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  • To bake bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, arrange the seasoned chicken skin side up on the baking sheet. Roast in the oven until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 40-45 minutes.
  • Swap out the homemade bbq dry rub and instead season the meat with your favorite store-bought barbecue seasoning. You can also just keep it simple with salt and pepper or other spices.
  • We love the ease of store-bought barbecue sauce (our favorite brands are Sweet Baby Ray’s and Stubbs), but you can substitute with a homemade bbq sauce if you prefer.
  • Prepare this bbq chicken recipe on the grill instead of in the oven. To do so, preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400-450°F). Place the seasoned chicken thighs directly on the grill grates and grill for approximately 6-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F. Baste with the bbq sauce during the final few minutes.
Overhead shot of a platter of baked bbq chicken thighs on a wooden table.

Tips for the Best Boneless Skinless BBQ Chicken Thighs

  • Baste the chicken with the bbq sauce at the end of the baking time. If you put it on the meat before it goes into the oven, the bbq sauce is more likely to burn. You can also add extra sauce after the meat comes out of the oven.
  • You do not need to flip the chicken thighs as they cook.
  • For a crispier, more charred exterior, transfer the chicken to the broiler for the final couple of minutes. Just keep a close eye on it because the meat can burn quickly.
  • Patting the chicken dry before adding the dry rub helps the seasoning adhere to the meat.
  • Line your baking sheet or roasting pan with foil before adding the chicken. This makes clean-up a breeze.
  • Since the size and thickness of chicken thighs can vary, I suggest using a meat thermometer to know when your chicken is done. The meat needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
  • Scale this recipe to feed a crowd! For our family of 5, I typically bake 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 2 – 2 ½ lbs. total). If you’d like to feed a larger group, just double (or triple) the dry rub and bbq sauce so that you have enough to coat more chicken pieces. Similarly, you can cut all of the ingredients in half to serve a smaller family.
Overhead image of baked boneless skinless chicken thighs on a blue and white platter on a wooden table.

More Chicken Thigh Recipes to Try

Maple Roasted Chicken Thighs with Veggies

1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Chicken Thigh Marinade {Grilled or Baked}

3 hours hrs 17 minutes mins

Roasted Chicken Thighs with Garlic & Herbs

1 hour hr

Square overhead shot of baked bbq chicken thighs on a wooden dinner table with a side of cornbread.

Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs

5 from 3 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 352 kcal
Serve these baked bbq chicken thighs for an easy dinner that's ready from start to finish in about 30 minutes!

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • Let the chicken sit on the counter and come to room temperature for about 30 minutes while you preheat the oven and prepare the rest of the ingredients.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet or a roasting pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, if desired.
  • Pat the chicken very dry with paper towels.
    Process shot showing how to bake chicken thighs.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, chili powder, kosher salt, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
    Whisking together bbq dry rub.
  • Rub the seasoning mixture all over both sides of the chicken.
    Seasoning chicken thighs with bbq dry rub.
  • Place the chicken on the prepared pan.
  • Bake the chicken thighs uncovered for 20-25 minutes, basting with the bbq sauce during the final 5-10 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven when the juices run clear, and an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F. For a more charred, crispy finish, transfer the chicken to the broiler for a few minutes at the very end. Just keep a close eye on it; the chicken can burn easily.
    Basting with bbq sauce.
  • Allow the chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with additional bbq sauce, if desired.
    Overhead image of oven bbq chicken thighs with cornbread.

Notes

  • Baste the chicken with the bbq sauce at the end of the baking time. If you put it on the meat before it goes into the oven, the bbq sauce is more likely to burn. You can also add extra sauce after the meat comes out of the oven, if you like.
  • You do not need to flip the chicken thighs as they cook.
  • For a crispier, more charred exterior, transfer the chicken to the broiler for the final couple of minutes. Just keep a close eye on it because the meat can burn quickly.
  • Patting the chicken dry before adding the dry rub helps the seasoning adhere to the meat.
  • Line your baking sheet or roasting pan with foil before adding the chicken. This makes clean-up a breeze.
  • Since the size and thickness of chicken thighs can vary, I suggest using a meat thermometer to know when your chicken is done. The meat needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
  • Scale this recipe to feed a crowd! For our family of 5, I typically bake 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 2 – 2 ½ lbs. total). If you’d like to feed a larger group, just double (or triple) the dry rub and bbq sauce so that you have enough to coat more chicken pieces. Similarly, you can cut all of the ingredients in half to serve a smaller family.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 of the recipe (about 2 thighs)Calories: 352kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 44gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 215mgSodium: 2349mgPotassium: 699mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 854IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 3mg
Keyword: baked bbq chicken thighs, boneless skinless bbq chicken thighs, oven baked bbq chicken thighs, oven bbq chicken thighs boneless skinless
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Author: Blair Lonergan
blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

Read More

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Omg!! This was sooo good! The whole fam enjoyed and we will add this to the roster! Thank you! Loved the ginger cookies too 😉

  2. 5 stars
    Absolutely Loved this – Easy to Put Together Recipe- Actually Almost Every Single Recipe You Post, Makes it Super Easy for Busy people to be able to have a GREAT Meal -in less time, and not a ton of ingredients.
    On This OVEN BAKED BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS Recipe- I had to Adjust a bit, because all I had in my freezer ( and all I usually all I buy- because of the added flavor it gives) was Bone-in, Skin- On Chicken Thighs- So I just put a bit of the dry rub under the skin ( slit a few small places) and I also Always Inject Chicken or Pork – – on this recipe- I injected in each piece of chicken ( after dry rubbing) some melted butter and Worchestichere – mixed together and warmed a little in a paper bowl ( easy peasy microwave) – Used Your Internal Temperature Recipe- and With your Adding BBQ sauce timing and Everything- Was SPOT ON- A NEW FAVORITE AT OUR HOUSE!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR YOUR RECIPES- I as Well, am from the Blue Ridge Mtn’s- Just NC-

  3. 5 stars
    Delicious & so easy! I made this for dinner tonight when cooking was the last thing I felt like doing. It was so easy & tasted like I’d put way more work into it than I really had. I doubled the rub ingredients & after mixing them all up in a bowl I poured it into a ziploc bag containing the chicken thighs. I shook it all up, making sure the chicken was well coated & put in the oven. Thank you Blair for an excellent recipe which I will make again & again.