Oven Baked BBQ Chicken

There are days I crave that smoky, sweet, tangy flavor of barbecue chicken but have zero intention of stepping outside to fire up the grill. This oven-baked version is my weeknight savior. It’s quick to prep, uses everyday ingredients, and fills the kitchen with that mouthwatering smell that makes everyone wander in asking, “When’s dinner?”

The best part? The chicken cooks right in a simple homemade barbecue sauce that’s so good, I sometimes find myself scooping extra from the pan just to drizzle over mashed potatoes. One dish, one oven, minimal cleanup — exactly the kind of cooking I can get behind after a long day.

Why This Recipe Will Be on Repeat in Your Kitchen

• It’s fast – Just 5 minutes of prep and the oven does the rest.

• One pan wonder – Chicken and sauce cook together, so fewer dishes.

• Maximum flavor – Baking in the sauce means juicy meat and a sticky, caramelized coating.

• Versatile cuts – Works beautifully with thighs, drumsticks, wings, or bone-in breasts.

I’ve made this for family dinners, casual get-togethers, and even on nights when I needed something hands-off while catching up on laundry. Every time, the sauce clings perfectly, the chicken stays moist, and the whole table goes quiet — the surest sign that it’s a hit.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Bone-in, skin-on chicken – Thighs are my favorite for their tenderness, but legs, wings, or bone-in breasts work great. The skin is key for that glossy glaze.

• Homemade BBQ sauce – A simple mix of pantry staples thinned with water so it doesn’t dry out in the oven.

• Salt & pepper – The basics for seasoning.

Tip from my kitchen: The sauce soaks up flavor from the chicken drippings while baking, creating an extra-rich, almost smoky taste — no grill required.

How I Make It – My Simple Routine

1. Arrange chicken in a baking dish, skin side down.

2. Pour over the BBQ sauce – it should be thin enough to coat everything generously.

3. Bake for the first half of the cooking time skin side down so the underside absorbs flavor.

4. Flip the chicken, baste with sauce, and return to the oven.

5. Broil for a few minutes at the end for that deep, caramelized finish.

The flipping step is key — it ensures both sides get coated and cooked evenly.

Serving Ideas

For that classic BBQ plate, I love pairing this with:

• Creamy coleslaw or a tangy vinegar-based slaw

• Corn on the cob brushed with butter

• Potato salad or mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce

• Warm cornbread or dinner rolls for mopping up the extra

If I’m keeping things lighter, I’ll serve it with a big leafy salad and grilled vegetables.

Leftovers and Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or on the stovetop, spooning extra sauce over the top so it stays moist. The flavor actually deepens by the next day, so this makes a fantastic make-ahead dish for meal prep.

Oven Baked BBQ Chicken

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

When the craving for sticky, saucy BBQ chicken hits but firing up the grill feels like too much work, this oven-baked version steps in to save the day. Juicy chicken pieces are bathed in a sweet-tangy homemade sauce, then finished under the broiler for that irresistible caramelized glaze.

Print

Ingredients

For the BBQ Sauce

• 1 cup ketchup (or Australian/UK tomato sauce)
• 1 cup water
• 4 tbsp brown sugar
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp mustard powder
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• ½ tsp salt

For the Chicken

• 1.5 kg (3 lb) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, drumsticks, or wings
• Fresh parsley, chives, or sliced green onions, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F).
2. In a glass or ceramic baking dish, whisk together all the sauce ingredients until smooth. Place the chicken in the dish, turning to coat each piece well in the sauce. Arrange them skin-side down.
3. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven, flip the chicken pieces, and spoon more sauce over the top. Return to the oven for another 30 minutes.
4. For extra flavor, tilt the dish slightly and spoon off any excess fat. Switch your oven to the broiler/grill setting on high, generously baste the chicken with sauce, and broil for 2–3 minutes until the skin is caramelized and the sauce thickens. Keep a close eye — this happens fast!
5. Serve hot, sprinkled with fresh herbs. Pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, cornbread, or a crisp green salad.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 169Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 651mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 0gSugar: 16gProtein: 10g

Chickenrecipes.blog, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although allchickenrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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Final Thoughts

This oven-baked BBQ chicken is proof that you don’t need a grill to get that sticky, flavorful barbecue experience. It’s easy enough for a busy weeknight but satisfying enough for weekend company. If you keep a few pantry staples on hand, you can whip this up anytime the craving strikes — no charcoal, no fuss, just tender, saucy chicken straight from your oven.

Try other Chicken recipes:

• Baked Chicken Strips
• Baked Chicken Legs
• Keto Chicken Korma