Baked BBQ Chicken with Sweet and Sticky Glaze Recipe
This Baked BBQ Chicken recipe features tender, juicy bone-in skin-on chicken thighs coated with a sweet and sticky BBQ glaze. The chicken is marinated, baked, basted, and finished under the broiler for a perfect caramelized crust, making it an easy yet flavorful meal perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus optional 4 hours marinating)
- Cook Time: 53 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Chicken
- 8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
BBQ Sauce
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce (divided: ½ cup for marinating and initial basting, ¼ cup for final broiling)
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a bowl and pour ½ cup of BBQ sauce over them. Mix well to ensure each piece is coated and set aside at room temperature while you preheat the oven, or cover and refrigerate to marinate for up to 4 hours for deeper flavor.
- Bake Chicken: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Arrange the chicken thighs skin side down on the baking sheet. Reserve any remaining BBQ sauce in the bowl. Bake the chicken for 25 minutes to start cooking through.
- Baste and Bake Again: Flip the chicken thighs skin side up and baste generously with the reserved BBQ sauce. Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes, allowing the sauce to penetrate and the chicken to develop flavor.
- Broil for Glaze: Switch the oven setting to broil. Baste the chicken with the remaining ¼ cup of BBQ sauce for an extra sticky, flavorful finish. Broil the chicken for 3 to 5 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning, until the top becomes dark and caramelized for a perfect glaze.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for up to 4 hours enhances the flavor, but it can also be baked immediately after coating.
- Keeping the skin on during baking helps retain moisture and adds crispiness after broiling.
- Use your favorite BBQ sauce; homemade or store-bought works equally well.
- Watch closely during broiling as the sauce can burn quickly once it caramelizes.
- For a lower-fat version, skin can be removed before cooking although it will reduce crispiness.
