Baked BBQ Chicken
Bone-in chicken thighs baked and basted with a homemade barbecue sauce of ketchup, vinegar and brown sugar. Four servings in 1 hour 10 minutes.
How to Cook Baked BBQ Chicken
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Heat the oven to 200°C / 390°F (180°C / 355°F fan). Pat the chicken dry, toss with the oil and salt and arrange on a lined tray.
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Bake for 40 minutes.
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Meanwhile, simmer the ketchup, sugar, vinegar, mustard, paprika and garlic powder in a small pan for 5 minutes.
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Brush half the sauce over the chicken and bake for 10 minutes. Turn, brush with the rest and bake for 10 minutes more until sticky and the juices run clear.
Things to Watch For
- Line the tray with baking paper because the sauce sticks hard.
- If the glaze darkens too fast, cover loosely with foil.
- Pat the chicken dry so the skin crisps before the glaze goes on.
The Short Version
It looks like a grill dish and cooks in the oven, which is why the sauce goes on late. Sugar in the sauce burns at high heat, so the chicken bakes plain for 40 minutes first and gets glazed for the last 20.
The sauce is five things from the cupboard: ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard and paprika. It simmers for 5 minutes and no more.
Brush on a third at a time. Two thin coats give a better glaze than one thick one, because each layer sets and darkens in turn.
Leave the skin on. It protects the meat, absorbs the sauce and turns sticky and mahogany at the edges. The chicken is done when the juices run clear and a thigh reads 75°C in the thickest part. The sauce is sweet and sticky, so line the tray with baking paper and soak any pans promptly. For more heat, add a pinch of cayenne or a few drops of hot sauce to the mix when it simmers.
What to Serve It With
Coleslaw · Corn on the cob · Baked beans · Potato wedges
Keeping Baked BBQ Chicken
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat at 180°C for 15 minutes.
Questions People Ask
How long does Baked BBQ Chicken take to make?
About 1 hour 10 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 1 hour of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Baked BBQ Chicken?
Line the tray with baking paper because the sauce sticks hard. If the glaze darkens too fast, cover loosely with foil. Pat the chicken dry so the skin crisps before the glaze goes on.
What should I serve with Baked BBQ Chicken?
Coleslaw; Corn on the cob; Baked beans; Potato wedges.
How should Baked BBQ Chicken be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat at 180°C for 15 minutes.
Is Baked BBQ Chicken suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is dairy-free, high-protein and low-carb. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Baked BBQ Chicken?
About 726 kcal per serving, with 51 g protein, 18 g carbohydrate and 50 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutrition per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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