Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
Oven BBQ chicken is the easiest way to achieve big bold barbecue flavor without actually having to set up a grill. This BBQ chicken recipe uses chicken thighs for optimal flavor. In addition to dark meat chicken being much more flavorful, it has enough fat to remain moist and tender throughout the cooking process with minimal effort. This BBQ chicken recipe keeps it simple with a dry rub consisting of ingredients already in your pantry and store-bought BBQ sauce. Store-bought sauce is great, but you do want to add a few ingredients to enhance it. A little soy sauce for that umami flavor along with lemon juice for brightness and acidity does an excellent job at transforming a good sauce into something truly special that is not overly sweet. Although this is an oven BBQ chicken recipe, you can also cook the thighs on the grill and baste with the sauce.
Notes
(about 2 thighs per serving)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 ½ tablespoons light-brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¾ cup of your favorite barbecue sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment.
- 2. Rinse the chicken thighs and pat dry.
- 3. Combine the brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in a bowl.
- 4. Apply this mixture all over the chicken then transfer the chicken to the baking sheet.
- 5. Bake for 20 minutes.
- 6. Meanwhile, combine the barbecue sauce, soy sauce and lemon juice in a bowl.
- 7. Remove the chicken from the oven and reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F.
- 8. Brush the chicken with some of the sauce.
- 9. Return to the oven to bake for 35 more minutes. Occasionally brush with the remaining sauce.
- 10. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
