Baked BBQ Chicken with Sweet and Sticky Glaze
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Baked BBQ Chicken is the best way to enjoy BBQ chicken all year round. I use only two ingredients and have perfected our baking method so the chicken turns out juicy, with the best sweet, sticky glaze every time!
This is a recipe I make at least once a month, so I’ve had plenty of time to get it just right. Over the years, I’ve tried several cooking methods, but this one consistently delivers the best results.
Here’s why you’ll fall in love with baked BBQ chicken: it gets coated in a thick, sticky glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven, while the chicken underneath stays tender and juicy. The recipe is almost hands-off—pop it in the oven, flip it once, then finish with a quick broil. You can use my favorite homemade BBQ sauce or whatever bottle you already have in the fridge. Either way, it’s sweet, saucy, and downright delicious.
Ingredients to gather
One of the things I love most about this recipe is the SUPER short ingredient list. It’s the recipe that I reach for when I don’t feel like cooking.
- Chicken Thighs: To make this recipe, you’ll need bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. If you don’t like the skin, rub some BBQ sauce underneath it to flavor the meat, but keep it on for baking. The skin will help protect the meat and keep it nice and juicy.
- BBQ Sauce: The bottle you have in your fridge will do just fine! For a flavor that is a bit unique, you can try my bourbon BBQ sauce.
What cut of chicken is best for this recipe?
Chicken thighs! Specifically, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs will yield tender, juicy chicken with a deliciously sticky glaze. Drumsticks work well, too.
Boneless chicken thighs cook very quickly, so if you use them, the BBQ sauce won’t have a chance to caramelize fully. They’ll be good, but not as good. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are best!
If your family enjoys chicken breasts, I recommend my baked BBQ chicken breast recipe.
What to serve with oven baked BBQ chicken
Simple sides are best with BBQ chicken as this recipe will be the star of the show. Here are a few of our favorites:
Veggie sides:
How to store BBQ baked chicken
Leftover chicken can be stored in a sealed container in your fridge for 3-4 days. I enjoy it sliced and served cold over a salad for lunch. Or warm it up on the stovetop or in the microwave with a little extra BBQ sauce.
Baked BBQ Chicken with Sweet and Sticky Glaze
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce (divided (see notes))
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a bowl and pour ½ cup of the BBQ sauce over top. Mix to combine then set aside while your oven heats. Or leave it to marinate in the fridge for up to 4 hours.8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. For easy cleanup, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chicken on the baking sheet skin side down. (Reserve any extra BBQ sauce left in the bowl.) Bake the chicken for 25 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and baste the top with the BBQ sauce that was in the marinating bowl. Return to the oven and bake for another 25 minutes.
- Turn your oven to broil. Baste the top of the chicken with the remaining ¼ cup of BBQ sauce and broil for 3-5 minutes until the top is dark and caramelized. Keep a close eye on it and remove the chicken sooner if it starts to get too dark.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
This is my go to recipe!!!! Chicken turns out amazing every time!!!! My family loves it. P.S. your going to need extra napkins?
Omg!!! I tried this recipe for the first time….SIMPLE ? & YUMMY ?
Marinated chicken for 5 hrs. Cooked as per your directions for the amazing sticky chicken meal
Thank you
Jerry
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I will try this for supper tonight.
This turned out really well. I think basting keeps it from drying out, Delicious
Thank you for this deliciously quick and easy chicken recipe. Made it for dinner today and had no issues with any of the process. Added a side of sautéed squash. Scrumptious.
So glad you said sautéed squash! I am fixing this tonight and now I know what my side will be! Thank you!
I’m gonna try this recipe tonight, it sounds really good, can’t wait…thank you
Made as directed. Used foil. Oven at 425. First 25 minutes chicken was kinda of burned. Sauce on pan burnt and smoking….second 25 minutes at 400 and changed the foil. It was okay.
25 min per side seems like a long time to bake. Is it any quicker with boneless?
It’s much quicker with boneless! They should take about 20-25 minutes total. No need to flip them.
It was cold out and rainy, but we had a taste for barbecue chicken. We fired up Google for barbecue chicken in the oven. We saw your recipe for two ingredients and ready in 50 minutes. So let’s try it. Got to tell you it turned out great and was absolutely delicious BBQ chicken. We served it with a side dish of brown rice.Thanks again for sharing your recipe with us. It couldn’t have been any easier to prepare and we loved it !!
Wish the temp & prep was at the beginning of the article. I had oven on 350 then I decided to
search for recipes on-line. So i cooked chicken on 350 for the 1st 25 mins. So we will see.
Have yet to make this yet. It looks amazing. Will make this tomorrow. Cannot wait. We all love chicken thighs. Thank you for this post!
This recipe delivers outstanding flavor, is moist and tender and the crunchy skin brings it home! Thanks for the great and very simple recipe!! It’s a keeper!
I didn’t use parchment or foil…the skin stuck to the tray on all but one. The liquids dried up and began to smoke. May be a plus….i don’t know yet. We shall see
Yep … unless you have a nonstick baking sheet, the chicken skin will stick to it if you don’t use parchment paper. That’s why it’s in the recipe. 🙂
Hope that it turned out in the end.
I tried it yesterday and it was great! Thank you for an awesome guide!
Easy!!! Tasted DELICIOUS! And I’m not a cook. I was so pleased. Thank you.
You’re welcome!
It was very delicious. such great flavor.