A good barbecue is one way to elevate the mood at any event. However, setting up your outdoor grill may be difficult during the winter or rainy season. That’s where the oven-baked BBQ chicken recipe comes in. With this recipe, you can have a nicely done barbecue in any season without subjecting yourself to the stress of using a grill.
This cooking procedure preserves the natural flavors of the chicken and is a healthier way of cooking.
Ingredients
To make the tastiest, juiciest BBQ chicken, you only need two things: your chicken and some barbecue sauce. You will also need an oven. Depending on the number of people eating and the size of your chicken cuts, you can use any quantity of chicken you prefer. For a plate that feeds four, here is our ingredient recommendation.
- Eight regular-sized pieces of chicken. Preferably chicken thighs or other bone-in, skin-on parts
- One cup of BBQ sauce, divided.
Side note: For oven-baked chicken BBQ, it doesn’t matter whether or not the chicken is boneless or skinless. It really isn’t a big deal. Most cooks, however, prefer bone-in, skin-on chicken. The skin protects the chicken from drying out quickly, and the bone is just for added flavor.
Chicken thighs or drumsticks are the most preferable part of the chicken for this meal.
Making your own BBQ sauce
You can try this out if you’re a DIY person and would rather make your barbecue sauce at home. Add equal parts of tomato ketchup, brown sugar, hot pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce into a bowl.
Add an equivalent amount of acidic red wine vinegar and about half a cup of water. The amount of water used can be changed depending on the quantity of ingredients you use.
Sprinkle on salt to taste and mix all the ingredients sufficiently to give a reddish, somewhat thick paste.
Any leftover sauce after cooking can be kept in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to two weeks before being discarded.
Oven-baking instructions
Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) and then carefully line it with parchment paper.
Place the chicken on a cooking tray and coat it with the BBQ sauce using a cooking brush. Do this until a slightly thick layer of sauce covers your chicken. Then, set it aside till your oven is all heated up.
For enhanced flavor, leave it to marinate in the fridge for at least an hour before baking.
Place your chicken in the oven and bake until it is cooked. Periodically coat the chicken with more and more BBQ sauce until the surface of the chicken is dark brown and caramelized.
You can tell if your chicken is cooked when a fork can go through it easily.
An alternative way is to check the internal temperature of the chicken, using a food thermometer. One of Amazon’s best sellers is the ESCALI AH1 Stainless Steel Oven Meat Safe Thermometer.
When the internal temperature of the chicken is up to 165°F (≅74°C), then, you are sure it is cooked.
Flip the chicken over and add more barbecue sauce to any part of the chicken that is left uncovered. Allow it to bake for another fifteen to twenty minutes.
Cooking tips and extras
This recipe doesn’t just work for chicken alone. You can try it out with turkey or sirloin and even steak.
To make your homemade BBQ sauce more gel-like, cook it for a few minutes. Cooking it also makes it more flavorful. Add more sugar to make it sweeter or more Worcestershire sauce to make its color more intense.
Another way to arrive at a thicker sauce is to make the sauce without adding water.
If you can’t get brown sugar or acidic red wine vinegar, substitute them for honey and balsamic vinegar respectively. They work just the same way.
It is okay to cover your chicken during the baking process. Although not necessary, your chicken could, however, benefit from that.
Storing any leftovers of this meal follows the same pattern as other oven-baked foods. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to two weeks. You can also freeze it in a Ziploc for up to 3 months.
To enjoy your oven-baked chicken BBQ better, serve it with potato wedges or a nice bowl of Greek salad.
