Barbecue chicken is a classic summertime favorite. The smoky sweet and tangy barbecue sauce pairs perfectly with chicken. While grilling is the traditional method for cooking barbecue chicken, baking it in the oven is an easy and convenient alternative especially when the weather is too hot or cold for grilling. The key to oven-baked barbecue chicken is ensuring the chicken cooks long enough to become tender and absorb the sauce’s robust flavor.
Factors That Determine Baking Time
Several factors impact how long you need to bake barbecue chicken
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Cut of Chicken – Dark meat chicken thighs and legs take longer to bake than white meat chicken breasts. Bone-in pieces also require more time than boneless.
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Amount of Chicken – The more chicken you have in the oven, the longer it will need to cook
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Oven Temperature – Chicken bakes faster at higher temperatures like 400°F vs. 350°F.
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Thickness of Chicken – Thicker, larger pieces of chicken need more time than thinner cuts.
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Doneness Preference – Chicken can be baked until no longer pink inside, or longer for very tender and falling off the bone.
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Baking Vessel – Metal pans heat faster than glass or ceramic.
How to Tell When Barbecue Chicken is Done
Since so many factors impact bake time, the best way to test doneness is by:
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Temperature – Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches 165°F internally.
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Piercing – Meat should feel firm when pierced with a knife or fork. If the juices run clear, it is fully cooked.
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Cutting – Slice into a piece of chicken. It should not be pink inside.
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Skin – The skin will become crispy and browned when chicken is fully baked.
Recommended Bake Times for Barbecue Chicken
Here are general guidelines for how long to bake boneless, bone-in, and whole chickens with barbecue sauce:
Boneless Chicken Breasts
- 325°F oven – 35-40 minutes
- 350°F oven – 30-35 minutes
- 375°F oven – 25-30 minutes
- 400°F oven – 20-25 minutes
Chicken Thighs and Legs
- 325°F oven – 45-60 minutes
- 350°F oven – 35-50 minutes
- 375°F oven – 30-45 minutes
- 400°F oven – 25-40 minutes
Whole Chicken
- 325°F oven – 1-1.5 hours
- 350°F oven – 1-1.25 hours
- 375°F oven – 50-70 minutes
- 400°F oven – 45-60 minutes
Note that these times are for chicken that has already been coated in barbecue sauce before baking. Chicken baked plain and then coated in sauce the last 10-15 minutes may need slightly less time.
Always rely on visual tests like piercing and cutting to determine if the chicken is thoroughly cooked rather than just going by time alone. Every oven heats differently which can lead to variances.
Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Juicy Barbecue Chicken
Follow these simple steps for barbecue baked chicken that turns out moist and full of flavor:
1. Prepare the Chicken
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For bone-in chicken, season all sides with salt, pepper, and spices if desired.
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For boneless chicken breasts, pound them to an even thickness so they cook evenly.
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Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before baking for more even cooking.
2. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
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Preheat oven to 350°F-400°F. Higher temperatures in this range help the chicken brown.
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Line a baking sheet or baking dish with foil or parchment for easy cleanup.
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For more browning and crispiness, use a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. This allows air flow under the chicken.
3. Bake the Chicken Plain
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Arrange chicken pieces skin side up on the prepared pan, leaving space between each piece.
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Bake for 20-25 minutes for bone-in chicken. 10-15 minutes for boneless chicken breasts.
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Baking the chicken plain first helps render the fat and start the browning process.
4. Brush on Some Barbecue Sauce
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Remove chicken from the oven and brush liberally with barbecue sauce using a basting brush.
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Flip bone-in chicken over and coat the other side with sauce too.
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Return chicken to oven for 5-7 more minutes.
5. Repeat Sauce Application and Finish Baking
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Remove chicken from oven again and apply a second coating of barbecue sauce to each piece.
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Place back in oven and bake until chicken registers 165°F internally and/or juices run clear when pierced.
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If desired, apply one final layer of barbecue sauce in the last 5 minutes of baking so it caramelizes onto the chicken.
6. Let Chicken Rest and Serve
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Once chicken is done baking, remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
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This allows the juices to reabsorb back into the meat.
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Serve barbecue chicken warm alongside classic sides like cornbread, coleslaw, baked beans, or mac and cheese.
The key is allowing enough bake time for the chicken to become very tender. Frequent basting with sauce helps keep the chicken moist while also infusing tons of barbecue flavor. Letting the chicken rest before serving ensures it stays juicy when you bite into it.
So next time you get a craving for saucy barbecue chicken, just turn on your oven instead of the grill. In around an hour or less, you can enjoy bakery tender, tangy and sweet oven-baked barbecue chicken right from your kitchen. Adjust the bake time as needed based on thickness and doneness preference, and you will have finger lickin’ good barbecue chicken anytime without having to grill.
Other Cuts of Chicken
This recipe works for a variety of cuts of chicken, both bone-in and boneless.
Use the marinade and sauce to make barbecue chicken wings, chicken drumsticks, skin-on chicken thighs, BBQ chicken tenders, dark meat—whatever! Just note that the cooking times will vary.
Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
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- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts see notes
- BBQ Chicken Marinade below
- Homemade Barbecue Sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce, optional
- Pat the chicken dry, then place chicken breasts on a cutting board; if desired lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the top to keep things tidy. With a meat mallet or rolling pin, gently pound the breasts into an even thickness. Place in a sturdy ziptop bag or a small dish that will hold it snugly.
- In a small bowl, stir together the marinade ingredients: ketchup, maple syrup, vinegar, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Add the marinade to the chicken (either the bag or the dish). Seal the bag (if using), squeezing out as much air as possible. Turn to coat the chicken in the marinade. Marinade the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
- When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature while you preheat the oven. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet or baking dish large enough to hold the chicken without it touching with parchment paper.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the parchment paper. Bake BBQ chicken for 14 to 16 minutes (for small/medium breasts that are about 6 to 7 ounces), 16 to 20 minutes (for medium/large breasts that are 8 to 10 ounces), or 20 to 25 minutes (for larger breasts). For best results, use an instant-read thermometer. When the breasts reach 165°F, they are done. Note that the chicken’s temperature will rise as it rests; I prefer to remove mine at 155°F. If desired, when the chicken has about 5 minutes left, brush it liberally with BBQ sauce.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate or cutting board. Cover and let rest for a minimum of 5 minutes. Enjoy hot with a side of barbecue sauce as desired.
- This recipe works for a variety of cuts of chicken, both bone-in and boneless. For cooking times, for other cuts, see Baked Bone In Chicken Breast and Chicken Thighs in the Oven.
- Adapted from my Baked Chicken Breast and BBQ Chicken Marinade
- TO STORE: Refrigerate baked BBQ chicken breast in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Leftover chicken can be reheated in a baking dish in the oven at 350°F.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat according to the directions above.
THE BEST OVEN BAKED BBQ CHICKEN RECIPE! | SERIOUSLY IT’S BOMB!
FAQ
How long do you cook chicken on the barbecue at 350 degrees?
Cover with plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet, or even a rolling pin, until the breast is an even 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Grill over direct medium heat (350º to 450º) until the chicken breast reads 165º F with an instant-read thermometer. Flip once. Approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
How long does it take to cook chicken at 350 degrees in the oven?
At 350 degrees you should count on 20-25 minutes per pound for a 3 to 8 pound chicken. As with all meats, check the temperature 15-20 minutes before the time it should be done. You never know how accurate your oven is, and you don’t want to overcook and dry out the chicken.
What is the proper cooking temperature for barbeque chicken?
BBQ Chicken Temperature: The FDA recommends that bbq chicken reaches 165°F at the thickest point.
How do you cook chicken in a BBQ oven?
Getting your oven ready and preparing your chicken correctly are crucial for a successful BBQ chicken meal. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This temperature strikes a balance that allows the chicken to cook thoroughly while developing a nice glaze from the BBQ sauce.
How do you cook BBQ chicken all year round?
Baked BBQ Chicken is the best way to enjoy BBQ chicken all year round! We use only 2 ingredients and have perfected our baking method so that the chicken turns out juicy with the best sweet and sticky glaze every time! Place the chicken in a bowl and pour ½ cup of the BBQ sauce over top.
What is baked BBQ chicken?
Baked BBQ Chicken is the best way to enjoy BBQ chicken all year round. I use only two ingredients and have perfected our baking method so that the chicken turns out juicy with the best sweet and sticky glaze every time! This is a recipe that I make at least once a month, so I have a lot of experience getting it just right.
What temperature should BBQ chicken be cooked to?
Chicken needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and cooking times will always vary based on the size and thickness of your chicken. Can I make Best Oven Baked BBQ Chicken on the grill?
How long do you cook chicken thighs in the oven?
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. For easy cleanup, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chicken on the baking sheet skin side down. (Reserve any extra BBQ sauce left in the bowl.) Bake the chicken for 25 minutes. Flip the chicken over and baste the top with the BBQ sauce that was in the marinating bowl.
How do you reheat BBQ chicken?
To reheat your BBQ chicken, you want to maintain its moisture. Here’s a great method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the chicken in a baking dish and add a splash of chicken broth or water. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to trap moisture. Heat for about 20 minutes, or until warmed through.