This easy weeknight dinner is a baked chicken breast with a sweet and sour BBQ glaze that is juicy and tender. The whole family will love it. This is a no fuss baked BBQ chicken recipe made with only 2 simple ingredients and 5 minutes of prep!.
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
If you want to grill chicken in the oven, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks are best. The bone keeps the meat juicy and moist while it cooks, and the skin gets really crispy when it’s baked. Chicken thighs are also very flavorful and don’t dry out. You can use drumsticks and thighs together or just one type. Legs or wings would also work well. Avoid boneless, skinless breasts which can easily overcook.
Season the Chicken
You should coat the chicken in a mix of spices and oil before baking. This spice mix not only makes the food taste better, but it also helps the skin get extra crispy in the oven. Spice up your food with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and either olive oil or avocado oil. Put the chicken and spices in a Ziploc bag, close it, and shake it to spread the flavors out.
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. Heat up each piece again in the oven or microwave at 300°F until they are warm all the way through. You can also chop or shred the chicken and use it in pizza, nachos, BBQ chicken sandwiches, and more. If you want to keep the baked chicken in the freezer for longer, put it in a container or bag that won’t let air in. 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.
The chicken isn’t fully cooked. Thick cuts like bone-in thighs and drumsticks may need a higher internal temperature of 175°F to 180°F to be fully cooked. 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: This is so quick and easy because it only needs two ingredients.
- Soft and juicy: The BBQ glaze helps the chicken stay so soft and juicy. You will love every mouthwatering bite!.
- Family favorite: Everyone in the family agrees that sticky BBQ sauce is really tasty.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chicken breasts: You will need 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- BBQ sauce: I love making my own BBQ sauce, but you can use your favorite store-bought brand 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.
- First, prepare the chicken. Put the chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment paper and use a mallet or rolling pin to lightly pound them until they are about an inch thick.
- Put the chicken in a baking dish or on a baking sheet with a lip around the edge. Season it with salt and pepper.
- Add BBQ sauce and bake: Spread the BBQ sauce out evenly on top. I usually add 1/2 cup at first, and then more halfway through baking. At 400°F, bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a digital thermometer reads 165°F inside.
- Rest and serve: Let the BBQ chicken rest for 5 minutes before cutting it up. Serve while warm.
- Thickness. If the chicken is too thick, the outside can get burned while the inside stays raw. The meat cooks more evenly in the oven when you use a mallet.
- Marinate. In no way is this necessary, but I like to brine my meat ahead of time if I have the time. It makes the chicken meat softer and gives it a stronger BBQ chicken taste. If you don’t have time to marinate, don’t worry. Your chicken will still taste delicious!.
- For more seasoning ideas, try Italian dressing or the seasoning from my baked chicken bites, which has paprika and garlic powder in it. Liquid smoke adds smoky flavor!.
- Covered or uncovered. Some people wonder if they need to put foil over the pan while it bakes. The answer is no. The meat won’t dry out if it’s left out because the sauce keeps it moist.
- Keep moist. After about half an hour, flip the meat over and baste it with more sauce. When I bake something, I add about 1/2 cup of sauce and then baste it with another 1/4 to 1/2 cup, depending on how much it needs.
- Let rest. This is a tip that many people forget. Rest your meat before cutting it! After taking it out of the oven, leave it in the pan for about 5 minutes to let the juices flow back in and make it extra tender and moist.
THE BEST OVEN BAKED BBQ CHICKEN RECIPE! | SERIOUSLY IT’S BOMB!
FAQ
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. This recipe for BBQ chicken thighs is a favorite all year long, thanks to the tasty BBQ rub and tangy barbecue sauce. To bake chicken thighs in the oven, you only need a few simple ingredients and 30 minutes of cooking time (10 minutes of prep time).
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?
Heat the oven to 325°F, cover the chicken with foil, and heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until the chicken is warm all the way 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).
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