Baked BBQ Chicken (Tastes Like Grilled!)
Baked BBQ Chicken (Tastes Like Grilled!)
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4 chicken pieces, bone-in, skin-on (thighs, drumsticks, or breasts)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for the baking pan
- 3 tablespoons BBQ rub, or as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke, mesquite flavor recommended
For the BBQ Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon BBQ rub, same as used on chicken
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, optional
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking pan or sheet with a little vegetable oil and place it in the oven while it preheats.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400
- 2
Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken pieces thoroughly dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. This helps the skin crisp up.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Season the chicken: Drizzle 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over the chicken pieces and rub it in to ensure even coating. Generously season the chicken with the BBQ rub, making sure to lift the skin and rub some seasoning directly onto the meat underneath for maximum flavor. Drizzle the liquid smoke over the chicken.
⏱️ 7 min
- 4
Initial bake: Carefully remove the hot baking pan from the oven. Arrange the seasoned chicken pieces on the hot pan. Bake for 20 minutes, uncovered, until the chicken is golden brown and the skin is starting to crisp.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 400
- 5
Make the BBQ sauce: While the chicken is baking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and 1 tablespoon of BBQ rub. Stir until well combined. Stir in the yellow mustard, hot sauce (if using), and honey. Continue to stir until the sauce is smooth, slightly thickened, and all ingredients are incorporated. Remove from heat.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Sauce and finish baking: After 20 minutes, remove the chicken from the oven. Pour or brush the prepared BBQ sauce generously over each piece of chicken, ensuring it's fully coated. Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce is caramelized, sticky, and the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F).
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400
- 7
Serve the baked BBQ chicken immediately and enjoy!
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Baked BBQ Chicken (Tastes Like Grilled!)
For the Chicken
- 4 chicken pieces, bone-in, skin-on (thighs, drumsticks, or breasts)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for the baking pan
- 3 tablespoons BBQ rub, or as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke, mesquite flavor recommended
For the BBQ Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon BBQ rub, same as used on chicken
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, optional
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking pan or sheet with a little vegetable oil and place it in the oven while it preheats.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400 - 2
Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken pieces thoroughly dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. This helps the skin crisp up.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Season the chicken: Drizzle 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over the chicken pieces and rub it in to ensure even coating. Generously season the chicken with the BBQ rub, making sure to lift the skin and rub some seasoning directly onto the meat underneath for maximum flavor. Drizzle the liquid smoke over the chicken.
⏱️ 7 min - 4
Initial bake: Carefully remove the hot baking pan from the oven. Arrange the seasoned chicken pieces on the hot pan. Bake for 20 minutes, uncovered, until the chicken is golden brown and the skin is starting to crisp.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 400 - 5
Make the BBQ sauce: While the chicken is baking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and 1 tablespoon of BBQ rub. Stir until well combined. Stir in the yellow mustard, hot sauce (if using), and honey. Continue to stir until the sauce is smooth, slightly thickened, and all ingredients are incorporated. Remove from heat.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Sauce and finish baking: After 20 minutes, remove the chicken from the oven. Pour or brush the prepared BBQ sauce generously over each piece of chicken, ensuring it's fully coated. Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce is caramelized, sticky, and the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F).
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400 - 7
Serve the baked BBQ chicken immediately and enjoy!