Description
Succulent oven baked BBQ chicken delivers a mouthwatering Southern-style feast with perfectly caramelized skin and juicy meat. Home cooks can easily master this crowd-pleasing dish that brings comfort and flavor to dinner tables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 pieces chicken thighs, drumsticks, or breasts
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Prepare a baking dish and position the oven rack in the middle, heating to 400F (200C) for optimal chicken roasting.
- Massage chicken pieces with a blend of olive oil and dry seasonings, ensuring each surface is evenly coated with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika for maximum flavor infusion.
- Arrange seasoned chicken in a single layer within the baking dish, allowing space between pieces to promote consistent heat circulation and crispy exterior.
- Roast the chicken for 25-30 minutes, monitoring internal temperature to ensure thorough cooking and golden-brown coloration.
- Remove chicken from oven and generously coat with BBQ sauce, creating a glossy and caramelized surface layer.
- Return sauced chicken to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and penetrate the meat while preventing burning.
- Once chicken reaches 165F internal temperature and sauce appears beautifully glazed, remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to redistribute juices and enhance tenderness.
- Serve hot, garnishing with optional fresh herbs or additional BBQ sauce for extra flavor complexity.
Notes
- Achieve golden-brown, crispy skin by patting chicken dry before seasoning and placing on a wire rack for better air circulation.
- Customize BBQ sauce intensity by layering sauce in stages, applying first coat halfway through cooking to prevent burning and create rich caramelization.
- Ensure food safety by checking internal chicken temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer at the thickest part of the meat.
- Adapt recipe for low-carb diets by selecting sugar-free BBQ sauce or making homemade sauce with zero-carb sweeteners like monk fruit or stevia.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg