Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Breasts

 

This BBQ chicken recipe is one of our favorites.  If you want a little more spice in your barbecue sauce, add some Cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. The chicken stays tender and juicy, while the sauce gives it some kick and flavor.

Ingredients

6 chicken breast halves or 3 lbs. chicken thighs, and/or legs
1 medium-large onion, chopped
1 1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. vinegar
3 Tbs. brown sugar
2 Tbs. molasses
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 - 2 tsp. garlic powder
1 - 2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. ground mustard

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with cooking spray. 

In a cast iron skillet, pour in a little bit of oil to coat the bottom. This keeps the chicken from sticking. Fry the chicken over medium heat until nicely browned, turning as needed.   Remove the chicken from the skillet and transfer to the baking pan.

Add the onion to the skillet that you cooked the chicken in pan. Add more oil if needed. Fry the onions until tender over medium heat. 

Add the water, vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder and ground mustard to the skillet. Cook for about 15 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.  Pour over the chicken. 

Turn the chicken in the sauce so that all sides are coated with the barbecue sauce.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and internal temperature reaches 170°.  Spoon the barbecue sauce over the top occasionally, so the chicken has a great BBQ flavor.

Remove from the oven. Serve and enjoy.

* You can also substitute some of the ketchup with your favorite BBQ sauce. 

** If you aren't in a hurry for making supper, you can bake the chicken in the oven at 180° for 4 or 5 hours or until the internal temperature of 165°. Cooking the meat, low and slow, helps tenderize the meat, and it keeps it juicy.