Dry Rub BBQ Chicken Thighs

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Ryman Auditorium & Broadway

📍 Where this dish comes from: Nashville, Tennessee · Ryman Auditorium & Broadway
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Dry Rub BBQ Chicken Thighs, plated and ready to serve

Not every barbecue dish needs a sticky glaze — a good dry rub, cooked low and slow, builds its own deeply flavored bark right on the skin. This one leans smoky and a little sweet from a sugar-free brown sugar substitute, delivering barbecue flavor with a fraction of the sugar of a traditional sauce.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Dry Rub BBQ Chicken Thighs

Dry Rub BBQ Chicken Thighs

Bone-in chicken thighs coated in a bold, smoky dry rub and roasted until the skin crisps and caramelizes.
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 400kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 2 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar substitute
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack on top.
  • Pat chicken thighs dry and rub with avocado oil.
  • Mix smoked paprika, brown sugar substitute, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Rub generously over the chicken.
  • Arrange thighs skin-side up on the wire rack.
  • Roast 35–40 minutes, until skin is crisp and a thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
  • Rest 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 400kcal | Protein: 32g | Fat: 27g | Fiber: 1g
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Cooking Dry Rub BBQ Chicken Thighs in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • A dry rub delivers bold barbecue flavor without the added sugar found in most bottled sauces.
  • Roasting on a rack allows fat to render away from the meat, keeping the dish lighter.
  • Chicken thighs provide flavorful, moist protein that holds up well to high heat.

Pairs Well With

  • Slow-Simmered Southern Green Beans
  • Cauliflower "Potato" Salad, Mustard Style
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