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If there’s one dish that can win over any crowd, it’s baked BBQ chicken. The crispy skin holds that smoky, sweet barbecue sauce perfectly, while the meat stays tender and juicy. It’s one of those recipes that tastes like I’ve been working hard in the kitchen all day, but it’s shockingly easy to whip up.

Sides for oven baked BBQ chicken
Oven baked BBQ chicken is great on its own, but even better paired with delicious side dishes. Here are some of my favorite choices:
- Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
- Jiffy Cornbread Recipe
- Garlic Parmesan Mac and Cheese
- Soul Food Collard Greens
Ingredients for baked BBQ chicken

- Chicken (bone-in, skin-on): Provides a juicy and flavorful base while the skin crisps up beautifully.
- Garlic powder: Adds a subtle, earthy flavor.
- Onion powder: Enhances the savory depth.
- Smoked paprika: Brings a touch of smokiness to complement the BBQ sauce.
- Salt & pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing all the flavors.
- Olive oil: Helps the seasoning stick to the chicken and promotes crispy skin.
- BBQ sauce: The star of the dish, delivering a smoky, tangy, and sweet finish.
How to bake BBQ chicken
Rub olive oil all over the chicken. Season the chicken with a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

Bake at 400°F for 25 minutes on a foil lined baking sheet.

Brush with BBQ sauce in stages, baking until the sauce caramelizes and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Serve immediately and enjoy the smoky, sweet flavors!

Commonly Asked Questions
Yes, boneless chicken can be used, but adjust the cooking time since it cooks faster. Keep an eye on the internal temperature to avoid overcooking.
Use your favorite! Whether you prefer smoky, tangy, or sweet, any BBQ sauce will work.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or use a spicy BBQ sauce for an extra kick.

Baked BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Bone in skin on chicken, dark meat
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 ½ cups bbq sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Clean and pat dry the chicken. Rub with olive oil all over. Mix the seasonings together in a small bowl and season the chicken all over with the rub. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, add half of the bbq sauce all over the chicken and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove and add the remaining BBQ sauce. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until a thermometer reads an internal temperature of 165.
- Serve, eat and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.