Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Legs
Tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken legs coated in a tangy, smoky BBQ sauce and baked until caramelized. Ready in under 45 minutes with minimal prep.
- Total time
- 42 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 385
- Protein
- 42g
Ingredients
- 8 pieces chicken legs (thighs and drumsticks)
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 to taste salt and pepper
Instructions
- 1
Set the oven to 425°F and wait until the indicator light or beep signals it has finished heating, about 10 minutes.
- 2
Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels by pressing firmly on all sides, which helps them brown better.
- 3
Arrange the chicken pieces skin-side up on a large rimmed baking sheet, spacing them so they do not touch.
- 4
Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over all sides of each chicken piece.
- 5
Pour the barbecue sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, and garlic powder into a small bowl.
- 6
Stir the mixture with a spoon until the brown sugar dissolves and everything is evenly combined, about 30 seconds.
- 7
Bake the seasoned chicken legs at 425°F for 20 minutes without any sauce, until the skin begins to look golden.
- 8
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush the sauce generously over the top and sides of each chicken piece.
- 9
Return the chicken to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes, until the sauce looks glossy and caramelized and the internal temperature reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer.
- 10
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the chicken rest for 2 minutes before serving.
Tools you’ll need
- oven
- rimmed baking sheet
- paper towels
- small bowl
- spoon
- pastry brush
- meat thermometer
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