Description
Oven Baked BBQ Chicken features tender, juicy chicken thighs with a homemade tangy and sweet barbecue sauce made from simple pantry ingredients. This recipe is easy to prepare, baking the chicken in a flavorful sauce and finishing under the broiler for a perfect caramelized glaze. Ideal for a family dinner, it yields 5 to 6 servings and can be garnished with fresh parsley or green onions for added freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Barbecue 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 reaches the optimal temperature for baking the chicken evenly.
- Prepare Sauce: In a ceramic or glass baking dish, combine all the barbecue sauce ingredients – ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and water. Stir well to create a smooth sauce base.
- Coat Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the sauce in the baking dish, turning them to coat thoroughly. Arrange the chicken skin side down to start for even cooking.
- Bake First Half: Bake the chicken uncovered for 20 minutes to begin cooking and infusing flavors.
- Turn and Sauce: Remove the chicken from the oven, turn each piece over, and spoon more sauce over the top to keep the meat moist and flavorful.
- Bake Second Half: Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes to finish cooking through and allow the sauce to thicken.
- Remove Fat (Optional): Carefully tilt the baking dish to spoon off or drain any excess fat that has rendered during cooking to reduce greasiness.
- Broil to Caramelize: Switch the oven to broil or grill on high. Generously spoon sauce over the chicken, then place the dish under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes. Watch closely as the sauce caramelizes and thickens quickly, creating a sticky, flavorful glaze.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with chopped fresh parsley, chives, or green onions. Serve hot, perfect alongside mashed potatoes and a green bean salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces such as thighs, drumsticks, or wings for juicy results.
- The sauce can be adjusted for sweetness or tanginess by varying the brown sugar or vinegar amounts.
- Broiling at the end creates a delicious caramelized crust; do not leave unattended to avoid burning.
- Skimming fat is optional but helps reduce greasiness if desired.
- Leftover sauce can be reduced separately to use as a dipping sauce or extra glaze.
