Name: Honey BBQ Baked Chicken – Easy Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknights
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs; 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite kind); 2 tablespoons honey; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; Salt and black pepper, to taste; Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

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When I tell you this Honey BBQ Baked Chicken recipe has saved many a weeknight dinner for me, I mean it. There’s just something about that sticky, sweet-and-smoky glaze that feels like a hug from the inside out. And don’t even get me started on how easy it is to throw together. One of my favorite things about this recipe—besides how finger-licking good it is—is that you don’t need a grill. Just a baking dish, a few pantry staples, and a little faith in your oven. The result? Juicy, flavorful chicken with a golden glaze that clings to each bite like it knows it’s home. Whether you’re meal prepping, feeding a crew, or just need something delicious without too much fuss, this one’s a keeper. It checks all the boxes: easy chicken recipes, quick and easy recipes, sweet easy recipes, healthy easy recipes, air fryer easy recipes (yep, you can adapt it), easy recipes for dinner, and even easy recipes with rotisserie chicken if you want to shortcut. So, let’s get this chicken party started.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Honey BBQ Baked Chicken Recipe
3) Ingredients for Honey BBQ Baked Chicken
4) How to Make Honey BBQ Baked Chicken
5) Tips for Making Honey BBQ Baked Chicken
6) Making Honey BBQ Baked Chicken Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Honey BBQ Baked Chicken
8) Try these chicken recipes next!
9) Honey BBQ Baked Chicken
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

Simple and fast recipe using ingredients you likely already have.
Perfectly juicy and flavorful baked chicken with sticky sweet glaze.
Adaptable for rotisserie chicken or even an air fryer version.
Meal-prep friendly and crowd-pleasing for family dinners.

2) Easy Honey BBQ Baked Chicken Recipe

We all need a few easy chicken recipes up our sleeves that never fail. This one is my safety net when I’m tired, hungry, and trying not to burn toast again. With a few pantry staples and a pack of chicken thighs, this dinner basically makes itself. It’s sweet, smoky, and a little sticky—everything you hope BBQ chicken will be when you’re too lazy to light the grill.

Honey BBQ baked chicken brings together the convenience of an oven bake with flavors that scream slow-cooked. I mean, I love a good backyard grill sesh, but most nights I’m just looking for easy recipes for dinner that don’t involve flipping meat like a short-order cook. And yes, it’s just as amazing as leftovers—if there are any.

If you’re into quick and easy recipes that actually make you feel like you’ve got your life together (even if you’re wearing pajama pants while cooking), you’re in the right place. From the first bite, you’ll see why this sits high on my list of healthy easy recipes that don’t taste like they came from a “health” cookbook.

3) Ingredients for Honey BBQ Baked Chicken

Chicken Thighs: I go for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. They stay juicy, and the skin crisps up like magic in the oven. You can swap them out for boneless, but I say keep the bones—they do wonders for flavor.

BBQ Sauce: Use whatever’s in the fridge or your secret stash of condiments. Sweet, smoky, spicy—this is your moment to shine. I usually grab the smoky Kansas City style kind.

Honey: A couple of spoonfuls go a long way. Honey adds that sticky finish we all secretly hope will make our chicken rival a takeout BBQ plate.

Olive Oil: A splash in the sauce mix helps everything cling to the chicken and crisp in the oven. If you skip it, things get sad and sticky in a bad way.

Garlic Powder: Adds depth without effort. It’s lazy garlic, and I respect that.

Smoked Paprika: This one’s non-negotiable for me. It gives the baked chicken that “I-grilled-this-for-hours” kind of smokiness without, you know, having to grill anything.

Salt & Pepper: Always taste as you go. Salt brings everything to life, and pepper gives it just a little kick.

Fresh Parsley: Totally optional, but I like to add a little chopped parsley on top to make it look like I tried harder than I did.

4) How to Make Honey BBQ Baked Chicken

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. While that warms up, grab a mixing bowl and stir together the BBQ sauce, honey, olive oil, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until smooth and glossy.

Step 2. Pat your chicken thighs dry with a paper towel—moisture is the enemy of crisp skin, and we want that golden crunch. Season them with salt and pepper on both sides.

Step 3. Nestle the chicken into a baking dish, skin-side up. Pour that BBQ mixture right over the top, using a spoon to coat every piece generously. Don’t skimp—we want saucy bites.

Step 4. Pop the dish into the oven, uncovered. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the skin looks golden and a bit sticky. Baste once or twice while cooking to layer on flavor.

Step 5. When the internal temp hits 165°F, take it out and let it rest for five minutes. Sprinkle parsley on top if you’re feeling fancy, then serve warm and watch it disappear.

5) Tips for Making Honey BBQ Baked Chicken

If you’re using boneless chicken or breasts instead of thighs, shave a few minutes off the cooking time. Breasts dry out faster, and we want juicy, not jerky.

For crispier skin, turn on the broiler for the last two or three minutes. Keep a close eye—broilers are sneaky and burn faster than you can say “where’s the fire extinguisher?”

If you’re dreaming of air fryer easy recipes, this one adapts well. Just reduce the cook time and check early. The flavor stays strong, the cleanup gets easier.

6) Making Honey BBQ Baked Chicken Ahead of Time

I’ve made this recipe the night before more times than I can count. Just prep everything, coat the chicken in the sauce, and cover the dish with foil or wrap. Stash it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.

When you’re ready, let it sit on the counter while the oven preheats. Throw it in cold and you’ll mess with the cook time. Letting it come to room temp gets you back to even cooking territory.

If you’re using leftover rotisserie chicken, just brush it with the honey BBQ mixture and broil until bubbly. It’s one of those easy recipes with rotisserie chicken that can honestly save dinner when nothing’s defrosted.

7) Storing Leftover Honey BBQ Baked Chicken

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. They’re good cold, but even better reheated gently in the oven or air fryer.

If the sauce thickens too much in the fridge, add a splash of water before reheating. That’ll loosen things up and keep the chicken tender.

You can freeze it, too. I like to wrap individual pieces, then thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat when I need an easy dinner without brainpower.

8) Try these chicken recipes next!

9) Honey BBQ Baked Chicken