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Crispy Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Thighs

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A quick and easy sheet pan recipe for crispy, juicy BBQ chicken thighs with caramelized sauce and perfect crunch, ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (organic or free-range preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (smoky, slightly sweet, e.g., Sweet Baby Ray’s or homemade)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to remove moisture.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper, and chili powder (if using). Toss the chicken thighs in this spice mixture until well coated.
  4. Arrange the chicken thighs skin-side up on a wire rack set over a rimmed sheet pan, spacing them apart for air circulation. If no rack is available, place directly on the pan with gaps between pieces.
  5. Bake for 25 minutes until the skin starts to look golden and crisp.
  6. Brush each thigh generously with BBQ sauce.
  7. Return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes to let the sauce caramelize without burning.
  8. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should read 165°F (74°C). If not, bake a few more minutes, watching closely.
  9. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Patting the chicken dry is essential for crispy skin. Using a wire rack helps air circulate for extra crunch. Watch the BBQ sauce during the final bake to prevent burning. Let the chicken rest after baking to keep it juicy. For a gluten-free version, verify your BBQ sauce is gluten-free. To keep BBQ sauce glossy, add a splash of water or apple cider vinegar before brushing if it thickens too much.

Nutrition

Keywords: BBQ chicken, sheet pan chicken, crispy chicken thighs, easy weeknight dinner, baked chicken, smoky chicken, quick chicken recipe

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