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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Oven Baked BBQ Chicken recipe

    LAST UPDATED: December 7, 2020 • FIRST PUBLISHED: August 2, 2020 By Toni Dash 30 Comments

    Oven Baked BBQ Chicken recipe

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Oven Baked BBQ Chicken title image

    Love barbecue chicken but don’t have the time to make it? This Oven BBQ Chicken recipe is the solution! Moist, juicy chicken with classic bbq flavor that’s easy to make. Works for any type of chicken too.

    Oven Baked BBQ Chicken title image

    Spicy, sweet barbecue chicken is always a favorite. But slaving over a hot grill or smoker isn’t always possible. 

    This method of making BBQ Chicken in the oven makes juicy, flavor-packed chicken every time!

    Some special tricks seal the chicken, develop a delicious barbecue coating and skin without the grilling hassle.

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • What Type of Chicken to Use?
    • When is Chicken Done Cooking?
    • The Method
    • How to Make It – Step-by-Step
    • Variations
    • Pro Tips
    • Storing Leftovers and Reheating
    • More Recipes You’ll Love!
    • Recipe

    Recipe Ingredients

    The ingredients for this recipe are simple: chicken, barbecue sauce, salt and pepper. 

    You can use your favorite store-bought sauce or homemade barbecue sauce.

    ingredients BoulderLocavore.com

    What Type of Chicken to Use?

    Use Bone-in, Skin-on chicken for this recipe

    There are multiple reasons this recipes features bone-in skin-on chicken. 

    It has more natural flavor due to the bone. The skin keeps the chicken moist and juicy.

    The cooking times have been developed and tested for this type of chicken.

    Substituting boneless or skinless chicken is not recommended. Skinless chicken will not retain the moisture in the same way. 

    Any chicken parts may be used: leg quarters, drumsticks, thighs, split breasts. 

    Chicken wings may also be used but may cook more quickly.

    Size Does Matter

    The size of the chicken pieces will effect how quickly they cook.

    Three pounds total could be 8 chicken thighs or 4. The smaller thighs will cook faster than the larger, even though the total weight is the same.

    partial pan of bbq chicken drumsticks

    When is Chicken Done Cooking?

    For food safety purposed chicken must reach 165 degrees internally.

    Once the chicken is taken out of the oven to rest, the temperature will still increase a few degrees.

    The Method

    There are a few things that make this method a winner.

    The Cooking Set Up

    A foil-lined rimmed baking sheet is fitted with a wire rack. This allows air circulation around the chicken while cooking. This helps the chicken cook evenly.

    The chicken is also not sitting in any cooking juices so it cooks on all sides (and is less greasy) with crisp skin.

    Lastly the foil in the pan allows for easy clean up.

    Cooking at High Temperatures

    Cooking the barbecue chicken at higher temperatures seals the meat for juicier chicken and develops a crisp satisfying exterior.

    Basting with BBQ Sauce multiple times

    The chicken is basted three times during cooking allowing it to build up a thick barbecue coating. 

    It’s done on the pan (after the first coating) so the chicken does not need to be moved.

    platter of BBQ chicken drumsticks

    How to Make It – Step-by-Step

    STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and fit with an oven safe wire rack (photo 1). Spray the rack with non-stick cooking spray.

    NOTE: The size used here is a half sheet pan (18-inches by 13-inchs) with a wire rack measuring 17-inches by 12-inches. There are many options on Amazon.com.

    STEP 2: Combine the salt and pepper. Sprinkle evenly over all sides of the chicken (photo 2). Place chicken on the rack with the meatiest portion facing up (breasts or thighs) or the side with the most skin (drumsticks).

    oven bbq chicken recipes steps collage 1-4

    STEP 3: Cook the chicken for 25 minutes (photo 3 is after cooking). Remove the pan from the oven and increase the heat to 425 degrees F.

    STEP 4: Turn the chicken over with tongs and brush the underside with the barbecue sauce (photo 4). Flip back over and brush the tops and sides with the sauce (photo 5). Cook 10 minutes (photo 6 after cooking).

    oven bbq chicken steps 5-6

    STEP 5: Brush the tops and sides of the chicken again (photo 7) with sauce and cook 10 minutes more (photo 8 after cooking). NOTE the underside of the chicken does not need to be brushed. Yuo should not have to take the chicken off the rack.

    oven bbq chicken steps 7-8

    STEP 6: Brush the chicken one last time with sauce (photo 9) and bake 10 minutes (photo 10). The chicken may develop darker blistered spots and this is normal.

    NOTE: for smaller pieces of chicken measure the internal temperature before this step. If having reached 165 degrees, they still can be brushed with sauce and popped into the oven for a few minutes. OR this step can be skipped.

    oven bbq chicken steps 9-10

    STEP 7: Allow the chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before eating.

    Variations

    • Add ½ cup of preserves to the BBQ sauce
    • Add hot sauce or vinegar to the BBQ sauce
    • Use a rub on the chicken before cooking
    • Try sweet barbecue sauce or spicy barbecue sauce
    platter of BBQ chicken drumsticks close

    Pro Tips

    Use an Instant Read thermometer

    An Instant Read thermometer will check the internal temperature of the chicken instantly.

    This is the best indicator of the chicken being fully cooked.

    The chicken must reach a minimum of 165 degrees internal temperature to be considered done.

    The color of meat or the clearness of the juices do NOT always accurately determine if the chicken is cooked.

    How to take the internal temperature of chicken: insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat avoiding the bone to get the most accurate temperature.

    Spray the wire rack with non-stick cooking spray before starting

    This prevents the skin from adhering to the rack during cooking and pulling off when removing the chicken.

    Smaller pieces of chicken may cook more quickly

    Drumsticks and wings, or even smaller chicken thighs, may cook more quickly and only need to go through two basting cycles.

    Monitor for doneness with the internal temperature.

    Do Not Reuse the Basting BBQ Sauce

    Once raw chicken comes in contact with a sauce it’s no longer safe to eat on its own.

    Because you are basting the chicken, it’s ok to use the same sauce.

    However once the chicken is done cooking do not add any more of the basting sauce onto the chicken.

    Before beginning, measure out 1 cup of sauce into a small bowl to use only for basting the chicken.

    Reserve more sauce in a separate container if desired for dipping or brushing onto the finished chicken (if brushing again use a clean brush).

    Allow the Chicken to Rest

    This step is important because it allows the juices to redistribute in the chicken to create the juiciest result and best texture.

    Storing Leftovers and Reheating

    Store leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. It can be reheated in the microwave. 

    The leftover chicken can also be frozen, in an airtight freezer bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

    single drumstick

    More Recipes You’ll Love!

    • Grilled Chicken Thighs with Thai flavors
    • Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    • Shortcut St. Louis Ribs
    • Fish Tacos
    • Easy Salmon Recipes
    • Mexican Breakfast Casserole
    • Apple Cider Pork Tenderloin
    • Chicken and Biscuits

    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    Recipe

    Oven Baked BBQ Chicken title image

    Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken

    it’s easy to make juicy BBQ chicken without slaving over a grill or smoker. This tried and tested method produces great results for any type of bone-in skin-on chicken.
    5 from 25 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes
    Resting Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 6 (actual serving size will depend on the type and amount of chicken cooked)
    Calories: 522kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 3-4 pounds bone-in skin-on Chicken breasts, leg quarters, thighs or drumsticks
    • 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce homemade or store-bought
    • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place a baking/cooling rack inside the pan. Spray with non-stick spray.
    • Generous salt and pepper both sides of the chicken. TIP: combine the salt and pepper in a small bowl. Mix and use for more even coverage. Place chicken skin side up.
    • Put in the oven for 25 minutes.
    • Remove and turn the oven up to 425 degrees. Using tongs turn the chicken over and baste the underside with BBQ sauce.
    • Turn back over (skin side facing up again) and generously basted with BBQ sauce. Put back in the oven for 10 minutes.
    • Baste the tops again and cook 10 more minutes.
    • Baste one final time and cook 5-10 minutes. Check the internal temperature. If at 165 degrees, remove and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    Nutritional information will vary depending on amount and type of chicken used, as well as the BBQ sauce. The estimates above are based on bone-in chicken thighs and generic store bought sauce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 522kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 1847mg | Potassium: 428mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sylvia says

      February 23, 2022 at 7:52 pm

      5 stars
      Hello,
      Should The chicken be baked in a convection oven at 400 degrees (with the fan on) or simply with the top and bottom components on? Does the temperature change for either?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        February 23, 2022 at 10:47 pm

        Hi Sylvia. This recipe is for a conventional oven, not cooking on convection.

        Reply
    2. Linda Benjamin says

      August 18, 2021 at 6:50 pm

      This was so good. I did cook skinless, boneless chicken breast as well as some legs and thighs. The breast were huge so I waited about 10 minutes before adding them to the rest of the chicken. They turned out moist but without the skin they didn’t brown like the rest of the chicken. Cooking them on cooling racks and basting them every 10 minutes is the secret to great barbecue chicken! And, I got raves from my family!! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        August 19, 2021 at 8:03 am

        So glad to hear Linda! Thanks for all the details too!

        Reply
    3. Emily Liao says

      August 07, 2020 at 2:15 pm

      5 stars
      This oven baked chicken recipe is so delicious! Love the flavoring in this and the texture was perfect.

      Reply
    4. Christian Guzman says

      August 07, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      5 stars
      I’m so glad you posted this recipe for barbecue chicken. I had wanted some barbecue this weekend but I was disappointed that it looked like a lot of rain. This will be perfect! Thank you!

      Reply
    5. Rika says

      August 07, 2020 at 2:04 pm

      5 stars
      I always love oven-baked chicken! I have everything I need to make this chicken tonight!Yum!

      Reply
    6. Jennifer says

      August 07, 2020 at 1:04 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yes, this was delicious! And so juicy! You can’t get that juiciness with the skin on. nom nom nom

      Reply
    7. Jessica Formicola says

      August 07, 2020 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      We made this chicken for dinner last night and OMG was it delicious! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
    8. Romy says

      August 05, 2020 at 12:22 am

      5 stars
      My hubby made a delicious chicken dish tonight. Thanks for sharing some great cooking tips too

      Reply
    « Older Comments

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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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