Description
This Oven Baked BBQ Chicken recipe features juicy chicken thighs coated in a quick homemade barbecue sauce, baked to perfection, then broiled to create a delicious sticky glaze. Easy to make in the oven without needing a grill, the chicken is tender, flavorful, and perfect for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup (or Australian/UK tomato sauce)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp mustard powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp fresh black pepper
- 1 cup water
Chicken
- 1.5 kg (3 lb) chicken thighs (bone in, skin on), drumsticks or wings
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chives or finely chopped green onions
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the chicken thoroughly and evenly.
- Prepare Sauce: In a ceramic or glass baking dish, combine all BBQ sauce ingredients: ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and water. Stir well to blend the flavors together.
- Add Chicken: Place the chicken pieces into the sauce in the baking dish, turning them to coat thoroughly. Arrange the chicken skin side down to start the cooking process.
- First Bake: Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, allowing it to start cooking and absorbing the BBQ flavors.
- Turn and Sauce: Remove the dish from the oven, turn the chicken over to skin side up, and spoon the BBQ sauce over each piece generously to keep them moist and flavorful.
- Second Bake: Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes, ensuring it cooks through and the sauce thickens nicely.
- Remove Fat (optional): Tilt the pan carefully to one side and spoon off or drain any excess fat that has rendered from the chicken for a leaner finish.
- Broil for Caramelization: Set your oven to the broiler or grill on high. Spoon more BBQ sauce over the chicken to coat it well, then broil for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce caramelizes and creates a sticky, glossy finish. Watch closely as this can happen quickly.
- Serve: Garnish the BBQ chicken with chopped fresh parsley, chives, or green onions. Serve immediately with your choice of sides like mashed potatoes and green bean salad.
Notes
- This recipe uses a quick homemade BBQ sauce, braising the chicken in it for maximum flavor and a sticky glaze.
- Using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks keeps the meat juicy and flavorful.
- Broiling at the end caramelizes the sauce and adds a deliciously sticky texture to the chicken skin.
- Optional step to skim off excess fat after baking for a lighter dish.
- Pairs well with mashed potatoes, salads, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- A great oven alternative when you want BBQ chicken without firing up an outdoor grill.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 256 g
- Calories: 392 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 655 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 168 mg
