Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
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This Oven Baked BBQ Chicken is sweet, savory, and smoky with a delicious homemade BBQ sauce and so easy baked up in the oven!
If you’ve ever wanted rich, savory, perfectly sticky BBQ chicken without standing outside at the grill, this Homemade Oven Baked BBQ Chicken is going to be your new go-to. It’s easy, it’s baked right in the oven, and the homemade BBQ sauce might just be my favorite part.
Let’s talk about this sauce. It’s a simple blend of pantry staples – ketchup, brown sugar, maple syrup, a little vinegar, and the perfect combination of seasonings that make it rich and savory with just the right amount of sweet and tangy. Honestly, once you make this homemade sauce, you may never want to go back to store-bought again. And the best part? It comes together in minutes while your oven preheats.
You know we love Chicken dishes! Click here to see my others. Also, click here to see my delicious BBQ Chicken Salad which tastes so good with this Oven Baked BBQ Chicken!
Why Oven Baked?
I love a grilled BBQ chicken as much as anyone, but let’s be real: grilling isn’t always convenient. Sometimes it’s raining, sometimes the grill isn’t cooperating, and sometimes I just don’t want to stand outside monitoring it. Baking the chicken in the oven means:
- Less hands-on time
- More consistent cooking
- Perfectly tender chicken every time
- No special equipment required
The oven does all the work, and you still get that sticky, caramelized BBQ coating we all love.
Ingredients for the Homemade BBQ Sauce
Such a simple list of ingredients! You likely have everything you need already:
- ketchup
- brown sugar
- pure maple syrup
- vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- chili powder
- salt
Serve Oven Baked BBQ Chicken With…
This Oven Baked BBQ Chicken pairs perfectly with my mashed potatoes for a heartier meal or with summertime salads for an outdoor BBQ. My Corn off the Cob Salad or Watermelon Salad go great with this Chicken!
Why You’ll Love It
- Easy and approachable – no grill needed!
- The homemade BBQ sauce – sweet, tangy, savory, and completely customizable.
- Family-friendly – the sticky BBQ glaze is always a hit with kids and adults alike.
- Minimal prep time – most of your time is hands-off while the oven does the work.
When you realize you can get rich, sticky BBQ chicken this easily – all from your oven – you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner. The hardest part is trying not to lick the extra sauce straight from the spoon.
Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
Equipment
- large rimmed baking sheet
- wire cooling rack to be placed into baking sheet
- aluminum foil
- basting brush
- meat thermometer
Ingredients
Homemade BBQ Sauce
- 1⅓ cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2½ tablespoons white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons salt (divided)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Chicken
- 2-3 lbs chicken thighs (boneless or bone-in)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 420°F.
- Line your rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (I like to do 2 layers because it can get sticky). Place your wire cooling rack inside this rimmed pan and set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the ketchup, brown sugar, maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon of salt, and all the other seasonings.
- Whisk well over the heat to combine, and continue to whisk until it comes to a simmer. Continue whisking over the heat as it bubbles for 2-4 minutes.
- Place the chicken in a large bowl and toss with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Add 3/4 cup of the BBQ sauce and toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Using tongs, remove the chicken pieces from the bowl one by one and place on the prepared baking pan / wire cooling rack.
- Use a basting brush to coat the chicken with 1/3 of the remaining BBQ sauce.
- Bake for 20 minutes, then remove pan from oven, flip the chicken over with tongs, and coat the other side with 1/2 of the remaining sauce.
- Bake for another 20 minutes, then remove from oven and flip it over one more time.
- Add the remaining BBQ sauce, and place back in the oven with the Broiler turned on low, and broil to brown 4-5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and test the internal temp of the chicken – it should be at least 165°F.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving, and serve with your favorite sides. Enjoy!
- (Stores well for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.)
I hope you love this Oven Baked BBQ Chicken! Be sure to check out my other main dish recipes here, and tag me me @plumstreetcollective when you make any of my recipes! Love to see what you’re cooking. Enjoy!
