BBQ chicken is a classic favorite, but not everyone has a grill or wants to spend time outside tending to food on the hot grill. Luckily, you can make insanely delicious BBQ chicken right in your own oven with ease. Oven-baking locks in moisture and infuses the chicken with finger-lickin’ good barbecue flavor. Follow this simple guide to learn how to bake BBQ chicken indoors for a fuss-free, crowd-pleasing meal.
Select the Right Chicken Pieces
For oven BBQ chicken, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks are your best bet The bone keeps the meat moist and juicy during cooking, while the skin gets super crispy when baked Chicken thighs are especially flavorful and don’t dry out. You can use a combination of drumsticks and thighs or just one type. Legs or wings would also work well. Avoid boneless, skinless breasts which can easily overcook.
Season the Chicken
Before baking, you’ll want to coat the chicken in a blend of spices and oil. This seasoning mix not only amps up the flavor, it helps the skin get extra crispy in the oven. Try a mixture of smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and olive oil or avocado oil. Place the chicken and spices in a Ziploc bag, seal, and shake to distribute evenly.
Make a Simple Homemade BBQ Sauce
One of the secrets to incredible oven-baked BBQ chicken is making your own sauce. It’s surprisingly easy using pantry staples like ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. Simmer the sauce for 10-15 minutes to meld the flavors. Sweet preserved fruit like peach or apricot jam can be added for even more flavor. A homemade BBQ sauce takes the chicken to the next level, but a good store-bought sauce works too if you’re in a pinch.
Brush on the Sauce Liberally
Once the chicken is seasoned, place it in an oiled baking dish and brush generously with BBQ sauce Resist the urge to skimp on the sauce – more is better for flavor and moisture! Bake the chicken for 25 minutes skin-side down to allow the underside to cook through before flipping Baste the chicken with more sauce, flip, then bake 20-25 more minutes until completely cooked through and the juices run clear.
Finish with High Heat for Crispy Skin
Here’s where the oven really shines compared to the grill After baking, switch the oven to broil on high heat Brush the chicken once more with sauce and broil 2-3 minutes until the sauce bubbles and caramelizes slightly. Watch it closely to prevent burning. This last broiling step crisps up the sticky sauce and skin for finger-lickin’ good BBQ chicken straight from your oven.
Let It Rest Before Serving
Once out of the oven, let the BBQ chicken rest at least 5 minutes before slicing into it. This allows the juices to re-distribute for juicy, tender meat. Serve the baked chicken warm with extra sauce on the side for dipping. Round out the meal with classic BBQ sides like corn on the cob, coleslaw, baked beans, cornbread or biscuits.
Storage Tips
Leftover BBQ chicken will keep well refrigerated for 3-4 days. Reheat individual pieces in the microwave or a 300°F oven until warmed through. You can also shred or chop the chicken and use it in BBQ chicken sandwiches, nachos, pizza and more. For longer freezer storage, seal the baked chicken in an airtight container or bag for 4-6 months. Defrost frozen chicken slowly in the fridge before reheating.
Troubleshooting Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken
Chicken is dry: Be sure to use bone-in, skin-on pieces and coat generously with sauce during baking to keep moisture locked in. Brush on sauce early and often!
Skin isn’t crispy: Letting the chicken air dry in the fridge before seasoning helps. Broiling at the end also crisps up the skin. Try baking at a higher temp like 425°F if skin still lacks crunch after broiling.
Chicken isn’t cooked through: Thicker cuts like bone-in thighs and drumsticks may need a higher internal temp of 175°F-180°F to fully cook. Use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness.
Sauce burns: The high sugar content of BBQ sauce means it can burn if subjected to prolonged high heat. Brush on sauce later in baking and watch closely during broiling.
Sauce is too thin: Simmer homemade BBQ sauce for 15-20 minutes to reduce and thicken to a nice saucy coating consistency before basting chicken.
Oven-baked BBQ chicken is mess-free, fuss-free and downright delicious. Ditch the grill and give this easy indoor method a try for your next barbecue chicken craving. Just be ready for requests for seconds!
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients: Only 2 ingredients to be exact make this so quick and easy!
- Tender and juicy: The BBQ glaze helps keep the chicken so tender and juicy. You will love every mouthwatering bite!
- Family favorite: Sticky BBQ sauce is finger-licking good, the whole family will agree on it!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chicken breasts: You will need 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- BBQ sauce: I love to use my homemade BBQ sauce recipe, but your favorite store-bought brand works, too.
- Kosher salt and pepper: To taste.
How to Make Baked BBQ Chicken
In only 4 steps, this baked BBQ chicken breast recipe is ready to be served! It couldn’t be any easier.
- Prep chicken: Place chicken breasts between 2 pieces of parchment paper and lightly pound with a mallet or rolling pin until they are about 1-inch thick.
- Season with salt and pepper: Place chicken in a baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet then season with salt and pepper.
- Add BBQ sauce and bake: Pour barbecue sauce evenly over the top. I typically add 1/2 cup and then more half way through baking time. Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 400°F, or until the internal temperature reads 165°F on a digital thermometer.
- Rest and serve: Let the baked BBQ chicken rest 5 minutes before slicing. Serve while warm.
- Thickness. If the chicken is too thick, the outsides can burn while the center is still undercooked. Using a mallet helps ensure that the meat cooks evenly in the oven.
- Marinate. This definitely isn’t required, but I like to brine my meat for a few hours in advance if I have the time. It makes the meat more tender and gives it a bolder BBQ chicken flavor. If you don’t have time to marinate, don’t worry. Your chicken will still taste delicious!
- Additional seasoning ideas: Italian dressing or try the seasoning from my baked chicken bites which also includes paprika and garlic powder. Liquid smoke adds smoky flavor!
- Covered or uncovered. You may be wondering if you need to cover the pan with foil while baking. The answer is no! The sauce keeps the meat nice and moist, so it won’t dry out if it’s uncovered.
- Keep moist. About halfway through baking, make sure to flip the meat AND baste with more sauce. I usually add about 1/2 cup sauce before baking, then baste with another 1/4 to 1/2 cup depending on how much it needs.
- Let rest. This is a tip that many people forget. Let your meat rest before slicing! After removing it from the oven, let it sit in the pan for about 5 minutes so that the juices flow back in and create a super moist and tender result.
THE BEST OVEN BAKED BBQ CHICKEN RECIPE! | SERIOUSLY IT’S BOMB!
FAQ
How to cook chicken barbecue in the oven?
- Heat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with foil. …
- Season the chicken with salt and garlic powder. …
- Roast the chicken skin-side down for 25 minutes. …
- Reduce the barbecue sauce by simmering on the stove. …
- Increase the oven temperature to 450°F and brush with the reduced sauce.
Do you put barbecue sauce on chicken before or after baking?
It’s generally recommended to apply barbecue sauce to chicken towards the end of the baking process. Applying it too early can cause the sauce to burn, especially if it contains a lot of sugar, according to lowslowbbqshow.com. A good approach is to brush the sauce on during the last 8-10 minutes of baking, or even just before serving, says Quora.
How do you barbecue in the oven?
Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wash your meat first. Begin by adding all seasoning including 1/2 of the bbq sauce (set the other half aside) while meat is raw. Massage into the meat. Place into an oven safe pan and cover with foil. Place into the oven for 1 hour.
How to make barbecue sauce stick to chicken in the oven?
You could hit the chicken with a bit of cornstarch and let it brown in the oven first. That way the sauce has something to stick on. Crank the heat for the last 5-10 minutes, too.Jul 31, 2018
How long does BBQ chicken breast take to cook?
Baked BBQ chicken breast is an easy weeknight dinner recipe that is always a winner. The chicken is smothered in BBQ sauce and baked for 30 minutes. It turns out tender, juicy, and delicious every time. If you’re looking for an oven-baked BBQ chicken breast recipe, this is the one that you want to make!
How long does it take to cook BBQ chicken thighs?
Quick and easy Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs are juicy, inexpensive and a total crowd-pleaser. From the flavorful BBQ rub to the tangy barbecue sauce, this bbq chicken thighs recipe is a year-round favorite. Making oven baked chicken thighs requires minimal ingredients and only 30 minutes of cook time (+10 minutes of prep).
How to make BBQ baked chicken thighs?
There aren’t many steps to make bbq baked chicken thighs. Here’s a brief overview of the key steps. The full list of instructions are in the recipe card below: Season the Chicken- Generously season the chicken thighs with olive oil, BBQ rub and half the BBQ sauce.
How long does it take to cook chicken in the oven?
Place the chicken back in the oven for 7 minutes. Repeat the process of removing the chicken, coating with sauce, and returning to the oven for 7 minutes, two more times. This will give you a thick, sweet, sticky layer of BBQ sauce. The chicken will have cooked for a total of 46 minutes.
How do you reheat BBQ chicken?
To Reheat: Preheat the oven to 325°F, cover the chicken with foil, and heat for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. Or, microwave on high in 15-30 second increments until hot. This oven-baked BBQ chicken is the next best thing to the grill! The smoky, sweet, and delicious sauce is enough to make anyone come back for more. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Can you make BBQ sauce while cooking chicken?
While the chicken is cooking, you can make your BBQ sauce or get your store-bought sauce ready. For a homemade sauce, combine ketchup, brown sugar, water, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, and spices. Remove the chicken from the oven and turn the temperature up to 425°F (220°C).