By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 4, 2026
Serves 4
623 cal · 95 min
Easy Oven Baked Barbecue Chicken
Recipe GLPR4ff017d625c732
Succulent barbecue chicken legs baked low and slow, then finished with a caramelized glaze. This simple weeknight dinner combines smoky spice with tangy sauce for tender, juicy results in under 90 minutes.
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Ingredients
3 to 3½ pounds chicken legs
2 cups barbecue sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Pat the chicken legs completely dry using paper towels to help the seasoning adhere and promote browning.
Season all sides of the chicken legs generously with garlic powder, seasoned salt, salt, and black pepper, rubbing the spices in evenly.
Arrange the seasoned chicken on a wire rack placed inside a baking sheet or jelly roll pan. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil to retain moisture during cooking.
Place the covered pan on the lower rack of the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and carefully peel away the foil. Brush all sides of each chicken leg thoroughly with barbecue sauce, making sure to coat evenly.
Return the uncovered pan to the oven and bake for 30 minutes at 350°F, allowing the sauce to set and develop flavor.
Increase the oven temperature to 450°F and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the thigh, not touching bone) and the sauce caramelizes slightly. The meat should be tender and easily pull away from the bone.
Remove from the oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving with coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or baked fries on the side.
Comments
All six ingredients are staples at every major Charlotte grocer, with no special stops required—chicken, barbecue sauce, and basic seasonings are ubiquitous. The stated 95 minutes is honest for a full roast at 350°F or lower, though active prep time is negligible, making this genuinely low-effort for a weeknight. Cost per serving lands around $3–4 depending on chicken price and barbecue sauce brand, which is reasonable for four servings of mains-ready protein. The only minor drawback is that oven-baked barbecue chicken doesn't reheat as vibrantly as grilled versions, and the dish is best eaten the same night while the exterior still has some texture.
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