Oven Baked BBQ Chicken – A Beautiful Mess

I love BBQ sauce. Like, no really, I LOVE it. So this BBQ chicken recipe really highlights this love. This is also a super simple, easy and quick way to make BBQ chicken. Being from Missouri I love slow roasted, charcoal barbecue and certainly smoked meats of all kinds (although brisket will probably always have my heart), but this recipe is none of those. This is any kind of chicken part covered in BBQ sauce and baked in the oven.

While this recipe can be made in less than 30 minutes (depending on what type of chicken pieces you are using), I do have some suggestions to spice this up! First off, if you want to make your own homemade BBQ sauce, please do. But, you can also use something store bought and jazz it up a bit.

Related: Love easy chicken recipes? Next up, try our Chicken Parmesan, Crispy Baked Chicken Wings, or Chicken Alfredo.

Ingredients

• Chicken- if frozen thaw first
• BBQ sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• Honey
• Seasoning salt – I like Lawry’s

I like to use skin-on chicken for this recipe, but you can use skinless if you like. It doesn’t make a huge difference to the process.

I also highly recommend covering your baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up.

How to Make BBQ Chicken

If you are using frozen chicken, thaw it first. Season the pieces of the chicken with seasoning salt and place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.

In a small bowl, stir together the sauce ingredients: BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and honey. Brush this over the chicken pieces.

Bake at 425°F for 25-30 minutes total (for drumsticks). Every 8-10 minutes remove the pan from the oven, flip or rotate the chicken pieces (I use tongs for this) and brush with the sauce again. The chicken should reach 165°F internally when done. I usually stop baking when it reaches 160° and then broil for 2-3 minutes at the very end to get a few crispy bits.

Let the chicken rest on the pan for a few minutes before serving.

How Long to Bake Different Chicken Pieces

• Chicken Breasts: 14-18 minutes
• Chicken Wings: 40-42 minutes
• Chicken Thighs: 16-18 minutes
• Chicken Tenders: 15-16 minutes
• Whole Chicken: 70-80 minutes (for 3.5-4 lb chicken)

Bake times can vary as not all chicken cuts are universal. The best way to check is to use a meat thermometer and make sure the thickest part of the cut (not hitting bone) reaches 165°F when done.

Tips and Notes

• I keep the seasoning simple but you could add more than seasoning salt or even use a rub for the chicken before baking. Try garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne or paprika.
• There are many ways to spice up a store-bought BBQ sauce like I have here. Some other additions you might consider: maple syrup, soy sauce, molasses, peach preserves, or hot sauce like Frank’s or sriracha.
• I like to serve BBQ with ranch dressing and celery. Also wet wipes if I serve handheld pieces like drumsticks or wings. 🙂

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken