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Easy • Chicken

Oven-Baked Honey BBQ Chicken Thighs

Succulent, sticky-sweet, and perfectly tender chicken thighs with a quick homemade BBQ sauce, all baked in one pan.

Prep
10 min
Cook
30 min
Servings
4
Level
Easy
Oven-Baked Honey BBQ Chicken Thighs

Get ready for some serious flavor with these Oven-Baked Honey BBQ Chicken Thighs! The chicken bakes up incredibly tender and juicy, coated in a sticky-sweet and tangy BBQ sauce that you whip up yourself. It’s comforting, easy, and absolutely finger-licking good! Pair it with roasted potatoes or a simple green salad.

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

Chicken

  • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or boneless, skinless for shorter cook time)

For the Sauce

  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the chicken thighs in a single layer.

  2. Step 2

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  3. Step 3

    Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.

  4. Step 4

    Arrange the chicken thighs in the prepared baking dish. Spoon or brush about half of the BBQ sauce evenly over the chicken.

  5. Step 5

    Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, brush with the remaining BBQ sauce, and return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C) and the sauce is bubbly and slightly caramelized. If desired, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes for extra char, watching carefully.

  6. Step 6

    Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy the juicy, saucy goodness!

Tips

  • Adjust the amount of honey or cayenne to your preferred sweetness and spice level.
  • For extra crispy skin, lightly score the skin of the chicken thighs before seasoning.
  • This sauce also works wonderfully on pork or even as a dipping sauce for fries!

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