Grandma Barb’s Baked BBQ Chicken
I grew up on a lot of bbq chicken recipes. Just like macaroni and cheese, it seems like everyone in my family has their own way of preparing baked bbq chicken. This is my grandma Barb’s recipe. I feature a lot of her down-home, tried, and true recipes on this site, like her fluffy yeast rolls, moist cream cheese pound cake, and cornbread dressing to name a few. They never disappoint which is why I’ve been begging her to create a cookbook.
This bbq chicken recipe is pretty easy. It’s super juicy and tender. Grandmother would whip this up on weekdays and serve it with roasted corn, stove-top mac n cheese, yeast rolls, green beans, and of course some good ol’ fashioned, ice-cold sweet tea to wash it all down. Ahhhh…to be a child again. I didn’t know how good I had it!
This bbq chicken recipe isn’t saucy like your typical baked barbecue chicken. The homemade bbq sauce is thin and bakes right into the chicken as it cooks. Â This isn’t a very bold style sauce which makes it pair up great with just about any side dish. It has that nice taste of tangy, sweet BBQ flavor without being too overpowering (not that I would ever complain about an overpowering bbq sauce)
Out of all the baked BBQ chicken recipes I make, my son seems to like this one the best. I guess because it’s not too spicy or smokey.
Watch me make this easy, baked bbq chicken recipe from start to finish!
Get the Recipe: Grandma Barb's Baked BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 small chicken, cut up (5 lbs)
- garlic pepper seasoning
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water, I don't always add water but in the video, I did, forgot to mention
- 6 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2-3 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons prepared mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450.
- Place chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet and season both sides generously with garlic pepper seasoning.
- Mix all of the remaining ingredients in a bowl to create the bbq sauce.
- Place the sauce in the microwave to melt the butter if needed.
- Cover both sides of the chicken with bbq sauce.
- Bake skin side up for 40-45 minutes, basting with the bbq sauce every 15 minutes.
- Turn the oven to broil for the last two minutes of baking and broil for 1-2 minutes to crisp up the skin. Watch it carefully.
- Remove from oven and let chicken rest for about 5-7 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a smoky flavor, sprinkle the chicken with hickory salt or liquid smoke before baking.
Be careful not to overcook. Depending on the size of your chicken, you may need to adjust the cooking times.
Made this a few days ago and it was delicious! I never thought about making my own bbq sauce. Baked bbq chicken was never my favorite because it was just too saucy with the pre-made sauce. This sauce was perfect and my chicken was not saucy, but nice and sticky.
I’ve made this recipe twice in one week and my husband is requesting I make it again this weekend. Even his co-workers who cook a lot were complimenting this chicken. So happy I found you on youtube. I’m a little chef now.
left my last name on previous comment can that be adjusted? thanks
I am a beginner when it comes to cooking. I am always trying new recipes and my husband usually hates them. I decided to use your recipe for bbq chicken and when my husband (very plain eater) saw the ingredients he said “I guess I’ll be ordering Pizza tonight.” I followed your recipe to the T adding water, and the chicken came out great!! When my husband ate the chicken he said “I am both shocked and surprised”, then he went back for seconds. No chicken left. lol. Thank you so much! I love the videos and pictures. I am not one to leave reviews but I had to thank you for the recipe. I will continue to use your site. 🙂
I just tried this tonight for dinner and my partner absolutely loved this recipe. So you have officially got my partner not only hooked on your BBQ Sauce but he now likes chicken. All I have to say is that I loved it and it will be a regular from now on thank you so much for sharing this recipe and I will be defiantly be trying more of your other recipe’s.
Really delicious. Sauce is great on rice. My 4 year old is gobbling up seconds…and me too. Thanks for this recipe!