BBQ Chicken Thighs in the Oven | Nyssa's Kitchen (2024)

Delicious barbecue chicken is possible without a grill with this recipe for BBQ chicken thighs in the oven! Made with a boneless skinless chicken thighs, a simple seasoning blend, and your favorite bbq sauce. Sticky, crispy, and super easy to make. Gluten free, dairy free, Whole30 / paleo option.

The best oven baked bbq chicken

I love a perfectly grilled piece of bbq chicken as much as the next gal, but sometimes it’s easier to turn on the oven than fire up the barbecue.

And with the help of this recipe it’s totally possible to enjoy the most delicious, juicy, perfectly crispy barbecue chicken thighs from the oven!

This is our go to recipe, and it’s the perfect thing to serve with some Whole30 Coleslaw, Dairy Free French Onion Dip, and Watermelon Arugula Salad at your next get together!

Why you’ll love this baked barbecue chicken

It is:

• Juicy and moist
• Lightly charred and crispy
• Sticky and sweet
• Easy to make
• Ready fast
• Perfect for summer
• Flavorful
• Perfectly glazed
• So yummy!

Ingredients and substitutions

These BBQ chicken thighs are made with just a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.

Here’s what you need

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs – I find boneless skinless chicken thighs to be the perfect piece of chicken for making barbecue in the oven. They are easy to prep, stay nice and moist, and they cook fairly quickly.
• Simple spices blend – The seasonings you’ll want to grab for this recipe are garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried mustard, kosher salt, and black pepper.
• Avocado oil – Just a little bit is added with the spices while marinating the chicken thighs.
• Your favorite BBQ sauce – Really whatever you like will work! This is the BBQ sauce I used for this recipe.

How to make this recipe Whole30 and paleo friendly

To make a Whole30 / paleo version of this recipe the only substitution you need to make is using a Whole30 compatible BBQ sauce. There are numerous store bought options available, or you can make your own!

How to make BBQ Chicken thighs in the oven

Baking barbecue chicken in the oven is really no more complicated than throwing it on the grill – and just as delicious!

The pan gets pretty saucy and forms lots of caramelized bits under the high heat, but it doesn’t effect the chicken at all – if anything it adds to the flavor and moisture of the finished chicken thighs.

You can place the chicken thighs on a baking rack over the sheet pan, but I don’t find it necessary. And skipping that step means less dishes to wash when you’re done.

One thing I don’t recommend skipping is lining your baking sheet. Parchment paper is my preference by aluminum foil also works. It will keep the caramelized bits from sticking to your baking sheet for easier clean up.

Here’s the step-by-step

• Marinate the chicken. Add chicken to a large sealable container with avocado oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder onion powder, smoked paprika, and dried mustard. Toss to thoroughly coat and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate for at least an hour, or up to overnight.
• Bake the chicken thighs. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss chicken thighs with 1/4 cup BBQ sauce and transfer to the lined baking sheet, leaving any excess sauce behind. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and flip. Brush each thigh with BBQ sauce and return to the oven to bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and increase heat to broil. Flip chicken once more, and brush with BBQ sauce again to thoroughly coat for a nice glaze. Broil for 5-6 minutes, until edges are crispy, and chicken is cooked through.
• Serve and enjoy! Serve with extra BBQ sauce if desired and enjoy!

What kind of pan should I use to bake bbq chicken?

A large, rimmed, aluminum sheet pan is my favorite baking pan to use for cooking chicken. It distributes the heat well, and the lip around the edges keeps all the juices contained.

This is the sheet pan I use every day!

Serving suggestions

These chicken thighs make an excellent weeknight protein and can be paired with so many types of side dishes!

We love to serve them with:

• Corn on the cob
• Creamy Whole30 Coleslaw
• Potato salad
• Watermelon Arugula Salad
• Summer Peach Salad with Almonds and Feta
• Baked beans
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Jalapeño Peach Guacamole
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Gluten Free Pasta Salad

They also make a delicious addition to your favorite summery bowl! Our favorite combination is to serve them over white rice (or cauliflower rice), with coleslaw, avocado, charred corn kernels, and thinly sliced radishes. With extra bbq sauce on the side, of course!

Storage and reheating

These chicken thighs should keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

They can either be reheated gently in the oven or toaster oven at 350°F until warmed through, or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Love these BBQ chicken thighs? Try these other chicken recipes!

• Baked Chicken Breasts
• Gluten Free Chicken Patties
• Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts
• Sheet Pan Shredded Chicken Tacos
• Whole30 Mediterranean Chicken Bowls
• Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings

If you enjoyed this recipe we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review therecipe below.It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any changes you made!Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK! We’re so grateful you’re here.

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BBQ Chicken Thighs in the Oven {Gluten Free + Whole30 option}

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4.7 from 6 reviews

• Author: Nyssa Tanner
• Total Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

Delicious barbecue chicken is possible without a grill with this recipe for BBQ chicken thighs in the oven! Made with a boneless skinless chicken thighs, a simple seasoning blend, and your favorite bbq sauce. Sticky, lightly charred, and super easy to make. Gluten free, dairy free, Whole30 / paleo option.

Ingredients

Scale

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
• 1 cup BBQ sauce, plus more for serving

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Instructions

1. Marinate the chicken. Add chicken to a large sealable container with avocado oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder onion powder, smoked paprika, and dried mustard. Toss to thoroughly coat and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate for at least an hour, or up to overnight.
2. Bake the chicken thighs. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, aluminum foil, or a silicone mat. Toss chicken thighs with 1/4 cup BBQ sauce and transfer to the lined baking sheet, leaving any excess sauce behind. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and flip. Brush each thigh with BBQ sauce and return to the oven to bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and increase heat to broil (if usingparchment paperyou’ll want to keep a close eye on it during broiling to make sure it doesn’t burn). Flip chicken once more, and brush with BBQ sauce again to thoroughly coat for a nice glaze. Broil for 5-6 minutes, until edges are crispy, and chicken is cooked through.
3. Serve and enjoy! Serve with extra BBQ sauce if desired and enjoy!

Equipment

kitchen tongs

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pastry brush

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set of measuring cups

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set of measuring spoons

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sheet pan

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Notes

A large, rimmed, aluminum sheet pan is my favorite baking pan to use for cooking chicken. It distributes the heat well, and the lip around the edges keeps all the juices contained.

For easy clean up make sure to line your baking sheet. Parchment paper is my preference by aluminum foil or a silcone mat also work. It will keep the caramelized bits from sticking to your baking sheet. If using parchment paper be sure to keep a close eye on it during broiling to make sure it doesn’t burn.

These chicken thighs should keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. They can either be reheated gently in the oven or toaster oven at 350°F until warmed through, or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

• Prep Time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Oven baked
• Cuisine: American