Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs

This sweet and spicy Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe is a breeze to make in your oven for a quick, budget-friendly weeknight meal year-round or a gathering with friends. You can whip up the Apricot Chipotle Barbecue Sauce in just a few minutes using your favorite barbecue sauce for finger-licking goodness!

“My family loved this chicken. It was simple and it kicked store-bought bbq sauce up a few notches.”

Why This Recipe is a Keeper!

Bone-in chicken thighs are a great economical protein option that’s perfect for any occasion, from weeknight family dinners to entertaining friends. In this oven BBQ chicken thigh recipe, this budget-friendly portion is baked until the skin is lovely and crispy, then brushed with a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce no one will ever guess is not homemade!

The sauce starts with your favorite barbecue sauce. Add a few more simple ingredients like apricot preserves, chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, and apple cider vinegar for a kicked-up barbecue sauce sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

This Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe is:

• Effortless! Oven BBQ Chicken Thighs in the oven are super easy, and if you line your baking sheet or dish, clean-up is also a breeze!
• Economical!
• Easily modified! Use lower-sugar barbecue sauce, sugar-free apricot preserves and boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breasts) to make this recipe healthier.
• Easily scaled for additional servings.

Let’s make it!

How to Make Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs:

Recipe Ingredients:

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this oven BBQ chicken thigh recipe, along with how to prep. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

• Bone-In Chicken Thighs: Bone-in chicken thighs are ideal for this recipe; however, other chicken portions can be used. You can also use drumsticks, a combination, whole leg portions, boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts.
• Apricot Preserves: You can also use peach preserves.
• Barbecue Sauce: Use your favorite basic bottled barbecue sauce that doesn’t have additional flavorings like hickory smoke or added sweeteners such as brown sugar or honey. With the apricot preserves, the sauce could be over-the-top and cloyingly sweet. We love Corky’s Barbecue Sauce, a Memphis original!
• Chipotle Chiles in Adobo Sauce: Chipotle chiles are dried smoked jalapeno peppers. Canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce are available in the international food aisle near Mexican foods. When using these hot chiles, be sure to read the recipe calling for them carefully. One chipotle chile is very different from one can of chipotle chiles.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

• Gather and prep all the ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a small rimmed sheet pan with nonstick aluminum foil. (You may also use a ceramic baking dish–you want something easy to clean.)
• Place the chicken thighs, skin side up, on the sheet pan (or baking dish). Season with salt and black pepper.
• Place in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

• Meanwhile, place the apricot jam and cider vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl. Place in the microwave and heat for 20 seconds on HIGH.
• Stir and heat again for 10-15 seconds or until the jam is melted and the jam and vinegar can be easily combined.

• Remove all the seeds from the chipotle pepper (wear gloves if necessary). Finely chop the chipotle, then mash the chipotle with the blade of a large knife, such as a chef’s knife, until you have somewhat of a paste.

• Add the mashed chipotle chile and the adobo sauce to the melted jam/vinegar combination, then stir in the barbecue sauce.

• When the chicken has cooked for 40 to 45 minutes, remove it from the oven. Drain the excess liquid and fat from the pan.
• Check the temperature of the chicken. It should be 165 degrees in the center of each thigh or the juices should run clear.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees.

• Brush each chicken thigh with a generous amount of the Apricot Chipotle Barbecue Sauce.

• Return the chicken to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes.

• If you like it saucier, brush it with additional barbecue sauce if desired.
• Serve immediately!

• Sticky, spicy, sweet, tangy, delicious!

Chef Tips and Tricks:

• Bone-in chicken thighs take longer to cook than boneless skinless chicken thighs. However, the result is well worth the extra time. Chicken cooked on the bone is more flavorful and juicy.
• Be sure not to touch the bone when checking the temperature. The bone retains more heat, resulting in an inaccurate temperature reading. Consequently, the meat may not have reached the required safe internal temperature of 165 in the case of chicken.
• You can also use a mini food processor to combine the barbecue sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Storage:

• Store any leftover barbecue chicken thighs in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven at 350 degrees until heated through in the center to 165 degrees.

For more great bone-in chicken thigh recipes, check out: 30 Best Bone-In Chicken Thigh Recipes.

Serve with:

• Roasted Potato Wedges
• Baked Beans
• Creamy Cucumber Salad with Yogurt
• Cool and Creamy Potato Salad
• Black-Eyed Pea Salad
• Cream Cheese Corn Casserole

More great baked chicken recipes you’ll love!

• Garlic Herb Butter Roast Chicken with Root Vegetables
• Pesto and Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chicken with Roma Tomatoes
• Green Chile Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Cornmeal Pecan Crust
• Walnut-Crusted Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce

Get all my chicken recipes at: Chicken Recipes – From A Chef’s Kitchen