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Overhead view of finished bbq chicken thighs in cast iron skillet.
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5 from 2 votes

BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

These oven-baked BBQ chicken thighs use a cast iron skillet and homemade barbecue sauce for the juiciest, most flavorful results. Ready in under an hour!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs, bbq chicken thighs, cast iron bbq chicken thighs
Servings: 6
Calories: 540kcal
Author: LaKita Anderson

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 cast iron skillet or baking dish
  • 1 Medium Saucepan

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
  • Chicken Marinade:
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 ½ teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons brown sugar, light or dark
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • BBQ Sauce:
  • ¾ cup onion, chopped
  • ⅔ cup ketchup
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 3 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

  • Begin the baked chicken thighs by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, add the 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 ½ teaspoons chili powder, 1 ½ teaspoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper.
    Overhead view of seasoned chicken in glass mixing bowl.
  • Whisk to combine. Add the 3 pounds chicken thighs to the marinade and toss to combine, until the thighs are fully coated and the marinate is almost completely gone. 
  • Add the chicken to an oven-safe baking dish or cast iron skillet, chicken thighs skin side down. Place into the preheated oven and allow it to bake for 20 minutes.
    Chicken thighs skin side down in cast iron skillet.
  • Carefully remove the chicken thighs from the oven and flip each thigh to the opposite side. Return to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes.
    Chicken thighs in cast iron skillet.
  • Remove from the oven and add the homemade BBQ sauce or your favorite barbecue sauce from the grocery store.
  • Make a quick and easy barbecue sauce by grabbing a medium saucepan and placing it on the stovetop over medium heat.
  • Add the ¾ cup chopped onion, allow it to soften, and release the water. Continuously stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the ⅔ cup ketchup, ⅓ cup water, 3 tablespoons molasses, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Stir to combine. 
    BBQ sauce ingredients combined in saucepan.
  • Adjust the heat, cover the saucepan with a lid, and allow the sauce to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. You can prepare the sauce while the chicken is in the oven. 
    Close up view of chicken thighs topped with sauce in cast iron skillet.
  • Toss the chicken thighs in the sauce. Place it into the oven and allow it to warm for about 5 minutes. Return to the oven for 5 minutes, just long enough for the sauce to set and get sticky on the surface. For extra caramelization, switch to broil for the last 2–3 minutes, but watch it closely. Carefully remove the barbecue chicken from the oven, serve warm, and enjoy!
    Overhead view of finished bbq chicken thighs in cast iron skillet.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 540kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 862mg | Potassium: 701mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 542IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2mg
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