This easy bbq chicken thighs recipe can be grilled or oven baked. All you need are some boneless skinless chicken thighs, some spices, oil, and your favorite bbq sauce.
The Best BBQ Chicken Thighs
If you're looking for the perfect bbq chicken thighs recipe, I got you!
With a few simple seasonings, a plain cut of chicken is transformed into something delicious.
The combination of brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and chili powder come together to make the perfect spice rub.
In my opinion, the best way to make this boneless skinless thighs recipe is with a gas grill or a charcoal grill. But if it's not grilling season this time of year where you live or you don't have a grill. No sweat. You could totally transform this bbq chicken recipe into a baked oven bbq chicken dish. And if you have an air fryer, that's another cooking method that works!
When it comes to barbecue sauce, I highly recommend using my southern homemade bbq sauce. But if you don't feel like making it yourself, no worries! Just grab your go-to favorite bbq sauce and get to grilling!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Chicken: For easy, juicy chicken, I highly recommend using skinless boneless chicken thighs. If you want to use chicken breast or bone-in thighs, you totally can. Just be sure to slice it thinly so it cooks fast and quick before it dries out. If you're using bone-in chicken or chicken legs, be sure to adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Brown Sugar: If you don't have brown sugar, you could use white sugar or honey. You could also skip all of these spices and use your favorite bbq flavored dry rub.
- Kosher Salt: If you use any other salt, use less, otherwise it will taste too salty.
- Garlic Powder: You could also use fresh garlic but garlic powder is the best for this bbq chicken thighs spice mixture.
- Onion Powder: If you're not a fan of onions, you could leave it out.
- Smoked Paprika: This adds a nice smokiness that gives the chicken marinade have even more bbq flavor. You could also add a dash of liquid smoke but i prefer smoked paprika in this easy recipe.
- Chili Powder: Chili powder adds spice to this delicious bbq chicken recipe. You could swap it for chipotle powder, sriracha, or hot sauce. But if you're not into a hint of spice in your chicken thigh marinade, just leave it out.
- Avocado Oil: You could also use a little olive oil if you don't have avocado oil.
- BBQ Sauce: I highly recommend you make my homemade bbq sauce when making barbecue chicken. My easy BBQ sauce recipe is sweet, tangy, and sticky. It's absolutely delicious and totally insane when smothered on cooked chicken. You just need a small saucepan and a few simple ingredients. If you don't feel like making it, you could also pick up your favorite barbecue sauce from the grocery store.
- Additional Add-ins: You could also add soy sauce, hot sauce or worcestershire sauce to your seasoning mix. Try lemon juice, lime juice, or dijon mustard for a zing. Black pepper is another great addition to your spice rub.
How to Grill it
Grilling chicken thighs is by far my favorite way to make this easy recipe. The char helps create that perfect barbecue chicken recipe that tastes just like a roadside bbq stand.
Marinate Chicken: To begin, add your boneless chicken thighs to a large bowl. Next it's time to add your dry rub. You could either make it separately in a small bowl or do as I do and just dump it on top of the chicken. To make it, combine brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder and oil. Mix it all together so that each piece of coated. Place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for at least 4 hours up to overnight.
Let Chicken come to Room Temperature: Remove the marinated boneless skinless chicken thighs from the fridge. Let them come to room temperature, covered, for 30 minute before grilling. This will create the best results for tender, not rubbery chicken. While the chicken is loosing its chill, preheat your grill over medium-high heat.
Grill the Chicken: Place chicken thighs on the grill grates in a single layer. and drop the heat to medium and and close the lid. Cook for a few minutes on each side until they’re starting to char and get grill marks. If you're using chicken thighs with skin, start them skin side down.
Add Barbecue Sauce: Once the juicy chicken is cooked almost all the way through, baste the top and bottom of each piece of chicken with bbq sauce. Then move them to the indirect heat side of the grill. Let the bbq sauce absorb into the chicken and finish cooking. Since cook time will vary, I recommend using a meat thermometer to test doneness. Once the internal temperature of the dark meat registers at 175-190 degrees (or 165 degrees F for white meat) pull the chicken and serve with more BBQ sauce. I recommend using this instant-read thermometer if you are in the market for one.
Rest, Serve or Save: Serve it immediately or place it in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
How to make Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
Making this bbq chicken thigh recipe in the oven is also a great, super convenient cooking method.
Season the Chicken: Trim the fat off of your boneless chicken thighs and add them to a large bowl. Add brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and chili powder and avocado oil. Mix it all together so that each piece of coated. Place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for at least 4 hours up to overnight.
Let Chicken come to Room Temperature: Remove the marinated boneless skinless chicken thighs from the fridge. Let them come to room temperature, covered, for 30 minute before baking.
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400F degrees.
Coat with BBQ Sauce: Add half of your bbq sauce to the boneless skinless thighs and toss until coated. Place chicken thighs in a single layer on an aluminum foil lined rimmed baking sheet. Ensure they are evenly spaced apart for even cooking.
Bake the Chicken Thighs: Bake the bbq chicken recipe for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 175-190 degrees (or 165 degrees F for white meat). Baking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of the chicken thighs so use a meat thermometer.
Broil to Caramelize Sauce: If you prefer a caramelized or charred exterior, you can turn on the broiler for the last few minutes of cooking. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Rest, Serve or Save: Once done, remove the BBQ chicken thighs from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and the chicken to finish cooking through.
What goes with it
Here are a few of my fav go-to's when serving this easy chicken recipe for a family gathering.
- Homemade Southern BBQ Sauce Recipe (for Pulled Pork)
- Sauteed Cabbage with Onions (The Best Easy Southern Recipe)
- Hot Honey Butter Skillet Corn
- Southern Crockpot Collard Greens
- Southern Black Eyed Pea Dip
- The Best Crunchy Coleslaw Recipe (for BBQ Pulled Pork)
- Meme's Honey Butter Biscuits
- Southern Jiffy Cornbread Dressing with (or without) Sausage
Recipe
BBQ Chicken Thigh Recipe (Grilled or Baked)
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs Chicken Thighs Boneless Skinless
- 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Chili Powder
- 3 tbsp Avocado Oil
- 1 cup Homemade Southern BBQ Sauce
Instructions
FOR THE GRILL
- Add chicken thighs to a large bowl and top with brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder and avocado oil. Mix it all up and marinate for at least 4 hours up to overnight.
- Remove from the fridge 30 minute before grilling.
- While the chicken is loosing its chill, preheat your grill over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken thighs to the grill plates and drop it to medium heat and close the lid. Cook for a few minutes on each side until they’re starting to char and get grill marks.
- Once cooked almost all the way through, baste the top and bottom of each piece of chicken with bbq sauce and place them in indirect heat. Let the bbq sauce absorb into the chicken and finish cooking.
- Once the internal temperature of the dark meat registers at 175-190 degrees (or 165 degrees F for white meat) pull the chicken and serve with more BBQ sauce.
FOR THE OVEN
- Remove the excess fat and add your boneless chicken thighs to a large bowl. Add brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder and avocado oil. Mix it all together so that each piece of coated. Place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for at least 4 hours up to overnight.
- Remove the marinated boneless skinless chicken thighs from the fridge. Let them come to room temperature, covered, for 30 minute before baking.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 400F degrees.
- Add half of your bbq sauce to the boneless skinless thighs and toss until coated. Place chicken thighs in a single layer on an aluminum foil lined rimmed baking sheet - making sure that they're evenly spaced apart.
- Bake the chicken for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 175-190 degrees (or 165 degrees F for white meat). Baking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of the chicken thighs so use a meat thermometer.
- Once cooked through, add more bbq sauce and place under the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Once done, remove the BBQ chicken thighs from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and the chicken to finish cooking through. Serve with the remaining BBQ sauce and enjoy!
