Baked BBQ Chicken
This is the kind of chicken that'll have folks licking their fingers and coming back for seconds. You bake it low and slow until it's tender, then slather it with your favorite BBQ sauce and let it get all sticky and caramelized. It's easier than frying and a whole lot less mess, but still gives you that deep, smoky-sweet flavor everybody loves.
Cooking tutorial
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (about 4 to 5 lbs), cut into 8 pieces
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for a little kick)
- 2 cups BBQ sauce (your favorite store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a large baking pan with aluminum foil, then spray it with cooking spray or brush with a little oil.
- 2
Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels, then rub them all over with the vegetable oil so the seasonings will stick real good.
- 3
In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if you're using it.
- 4
Sprinkle the seasoning mix all over the chicken pieces on both sides, rubbing it in so every piece is well coated.
- 5
Arrange the chicken pieces skin-side up in your prepared pan, making sure they're not crowded so they can cook evenly.
- 6
Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, letting the chicken get nice and golden.
- 7
Take the pan out of the oven and brush a generous coat of BBQ sauce all over each piece of chicken.
- 8
Put it back in the oven and bake for another 30 minutes, brushing on more BBQ sauce every 10 minutes or so until the chicken is sticky, caramelized, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- 9
Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving so all those juices settle back in.
Pro Tips
- ★Don't put the BBQ sauce on too early or it'll burn - that last 30 minutes is all you need for it to get sticky and perfect.
- ★If you want extra-crispy skin, turn your broiler on high for the last 2 to 3 minutes, but watch it close so it doesn't burn.