Oven Baked BBQ Chicken

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I love an easy dinner and this Oven Baked BBQ Chicken is just the ticket. Chicken thighs and legs are seasoned with seasoning salt, slathered with homemade BBQ sauce and baked until sticky sweet perfection. Similar to my classic baked chicken legs recipe, but covered in bbq sauce.

 

The Best Chicken to Bake in the Oven

Everyone has their preference as to which kind of chicken they like best: thighs, breasts, legs or wings. While you can certainly bake ANY of these cuts as BBQ Chicken in the oven, the baking time will be dependent on whether or not they have a bone in them or not.

Baking Chicken Legs & Thighs vs. Chicken Breasts

As a general rule of thumb, if chicken has a bone inside of it, it will take longer to bake than the same piece without a bone. For this recipe, I used chicken drumsticks and chicken thighs that still have their bone but I removed the skin. This is so they will both cook at about the same rate. I love using dark meat for this recipe.

If I was cooking boneless, skinless chicken breasts, I wouldn’t need to bake it as long because it doesn’t have a bone. Chicken wings happen to have a quicker baking time (if you are choosing to bake them) because they are quite small and don’t need all that much time. Check out my Crockpot Chicken Wing recipe, they’re really tasty!

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken drumsticks + thighs – Dark meat stays juicy and forgiving in the oven. Skinless keeps it from getting greasy while still giving great texture.
• Seasoning salt – This is where flavor starts. It seasons the meat all the way through, not just the surface.
• BBQ sauce – Go with one you already love. Sweet, smoky, tangy, use what you like. The sauce thickens and caramelizes as it bakes. I used my homemade barbecue sauce, but feel free to use a store bought sauce for ease and speed.
• Fresh parsley (optional) – Adds a little color and freshness right at the end.

How to Make BBQ Chicken in the Oven

This baked chicken recipe is about layering flavor and letting the oven do the heavy lifting. You’ll find the full printable recipe card below, but here’s the quick breakdown so you know exactly what’s coming.

1. Prep Chicken

Preheat oven to 375° F. Line half sheet pan with aluminum foil (for easy clean up!) and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Blot extra moisture off of chicken using paper towels and place pieces onto prepared foil. Sprinkle both sides with seasoning salt, to taste. (I used about a tablespoon for all 8 pieces.)

2. Bake BBQ Chicken in Oven

Spoon or brush chicken pieces with bbq sauce, then transfer to oven to bake 35-45 minutes or until chicken registers an internal temperature of 165° F. The best way to check for doneness is using a digital, instant read thermometer. This is the one I own, and it works perfectly!

Half way through cooking, feel free to brush with more BBQ sauce. Remove from oven, cover and rest 10 minutes before serving.

Tips for Success

A few small tweaks make a big difference here:

• Pat the chicken dry before seasoning so the skin cooks properly
• Use a rimmed baking sheet to catch any sauce drips
• Reapply BBQ sauce halfway through for better layering
• Let the chicken rest so it stays juicy
• Space pieces out on the pan so they roast instead of steam

Tools You’ll Need

Before you start, grab these so everything runs smoothly:

• Sheet pan (rimmed baking sheet) – Gives the chicken space to roast evenly and catches all the saucy drips
• Aluminum foil – Makes cleanup fast and keeps the pan from sticking
• Tongs – Easy flipping and handling without tearing the chicken
• Meat thermometer – Takes the guesswork out…165° F and you’re done

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken

While I’m sure you have your go-to favorite side dishes to serve with a simple chicken dinner, here are some of mine! My whole archive of side dishes can be found here in case you’d like to browse.

• Favorite Wedge Salad
• Butter Rice
• Perfect Baked Potatoes
• Buttery Mashed Potatoes
• Classic Coleslaw
• Italian Pasta Salad
• Chinese Cabbage Salad

Making Ahead & Storage Directions

While you can certainly bake this chicken ahead and store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve, it really is best served hot and fresh from the oven. To reheat, simply microwave until warm. Feel free to add more BBQ sauce as desired. Because this recipe calls for chicken thighs and drumsticks (both dark meat!) they maintain their moisture well. I don’t recommend freezing this, unless you remove the bbq chicken from the bones first. Then store in an airtight plastic bag or container with a tight fitting lid.

FAQ

Variations for Oven Baked BBQ Chicken

Switch things up if you want to keep it interesting:

• Use spicy BBQ sauce for a little heat
• Add a sprinkle of smoked paprika for extra depth
• Try honey BBQ for a sweeter finish
• Swap parsley for green onions for a sharper bite

More Recipes to Try

• Baked Chicken Legs – Simple, juicy, and crispy every time. This is your go-to baked chicken dinner when you want something low effort but still solid. 
• Oven Roasted Chicken – Classic whole roasted chicken with crispy skin and tons of flavor. Great for Sunday dinner or meal prep. 
• Chicken Parmesan – Breaded, saucy, cheesy. Basically everything you want when comfort food is calling. 
• Tuscan Chicken – Creamy, garlicky, and loaded with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Feels a little fancy without extra work. 
• Cajun Chicken Pasta – Bold flavor, creamy sauce, and just enough spice to keep things interesting. Perfect for switching up your usual chicken routine.

This baked chicken hits that sweet spot…easy enough for a weeknight, good enough for company. You’ll make it once and then keep it in rotation. The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.