I find it liberating that I can make this barbecue chicken year round. I don’t have to rely on agreeable weather conditions. Rain, snow or shine I can still enjoy a good barbecue chicken because these are oven baked, comfortably cooked indoors at my own whim.
Whimsical or not, this oven baked barbecue chicken is a must in your repertoire. And this one right here is not only finger-licking delicious, but is also worthy of being a fuss-free weeknight dinner. All because of the sauce, which is luscious and delicious and can be easily made ahead. The list of ingredients for the sauce may seem to be long but you just need to plop everything in a pot and simmer for a bit. The outcome is a sauce that is sweet, smoky, spicy with a little bit of tang. A perfect barbecue sauce to slather on the chicken.
The chicken gets a dry rub before being slathered with the sauce. Those double flavor components make for a chicken that is tender, juicy and incredibly delicious. So even if your outdoor grill is covered in snow right now, warm up your insides with these oven baked chicken.
Recipe for Oven Baked Barbecue Chicken
| Ingredients | |
|---|---|
 | 8 pieces of legs and thighs |
| 1 teaspoon salt |
| 1 teaspoon onion powder |
| ½ teaspoon garlic powder |
| 1 teaspoon paprika |
| 2 tablespoons peanut oil |
| 1 cup barbecue sauce – ½ cup to brush the chicken, ½ cup to pass around the table (recipe below) |
| Instructions | |
|---|---|
| Preheat oven to 375 degree F |
| Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a wire rack on top |
| Rub chicken pieces with salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika and 2 tablespoons oil |
| Transfer the chicken to the baking sheet fitted with wire rack |
| Bake chicken in the 375 degree hot oven for 30 minutes |
| After 30 minutes remove the chicken from the oven and generously brush the pieces on all sides with barbecue sauce |
| Raise the oven temperature to 400 degree FÂ |
| Return the chicken to the oven and cook for 15 to 20 more minutes until the chicken is cooked and a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 165 degree F |
| If the chicken takes more than 15 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees, then loosely cover it with foil. This will prevent the sauce from burning in high heat |
| Serve chicken hot with extra barbecue sauce and some corn on the cob |
Recipe for Barbecue Sauce
| Ingredients | |
|---|---|
| 1 medium onion, minced |
| 2 tablespoons vegetable oil |
| 3 garlic cloves, minced |
| ½ inch peeled ginger, minced |
| 1 dried ancho chile |
| 15 ounce can of tomato sauce |
| ¼ cup soy sauce |
| ¼ cup apple cider vinegar |
| ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce |
| 1 teaspoon salt |
| ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper |
| â…“ cup packed dark brown sugar |
| 1 teaspoon cumin powder |
| 1 teaspoon coriander powder |
| Instructions | |
|---|---|
| Heat a dry heavy skillet, preferably cast-iron, over moderately high heat until hot. Toast chile, turning and pressing with tongs, until slightly darker, about 1 minute. Remove stem and soak chile in hot water until softened, about 5 minutes. Lift out and coarsely chop the chile |
| Heat oil in a heavy saucepan over moderate heat |
| Add onion and cook, stirring until softened, about 2 minutes |
| Add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring for 2 minutes |
| Add the remaining ingredients and the chopped chile |
| Bring the sauce to simmer |
| Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes |
| Turn off the heat and with an immersion blender puree the sauce until it is nice and smooth |
| Use sauce immediately or pour into a container and refrigerate |
Note: The barbecue sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 weeks.
If you make these Oven Baked Barbecue Chicken, please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you! And if you do make this recipe, please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or your favorite social media platform! I would love to see pictures of your creations.
Inspiration: To create really good barbecue at home
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