The Best Whole Baked BBQ Chicken Recipe
This Whole Baked BBQ Chicken recipe is a perfect blend of juicy, tender chicken with a flavorful, smoky barbecue crust. Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, this recipe exceeds on taste and satisfaction. The whole family will love it!
Why you will love making Whole Baked BBQ Chicken
Besides the mouthwatering aromas that will fill your kitchen, here are more reasons you will love this recipe:
- Simple: It’s surprisingly easy to make, with minimal prep work required.
- Tastes amazing: It’s incredibly flavorful thanks to the mix of spices and BBQ sauce that coat the chicken, infusing it throughout the cooking process.
- Lots of serving options: This dish can be the star of a hearty dinner or sliced for sandwiches, salads, and more.
- Crowd-pleaser: whether you’re dining with family or entertaining guests, everyone loves this dish.
- Healthier option: Since it’s baked, you can control the amount of added fats.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.
How to make Whole Baked BBQ Chicken with Step-By-Step Instructions
A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.
Baking a whole BBQ chicken at home is super easy. Here’s how to do it, step by step:
Preparing Your Chicken
Start by preheating your oven to 425°F (220°C). Take your whole chicken and remove any giblets from inside. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; this is crucial for getting that crispy skin later on. Mixing your spices and room-temperature butter in a small bowl, you’re ready for the next step.
Seasoning Under the Skin
Carefully lift the skin above the chicken breast and tuck in about half of your butter mixture. Try to spread it evenly under the skin to flavor the meat deeply. This method ensures your chicken is juicy and flavorful from the inside out.
Basting and Tying the Chicken
Melt the remaining butter mixture and generously baste the entire chicken. This not only adds flavor but helps the skin get that golden color. Tie the chicken legs together with string and tuck the wings underneath to prevent them from burning. Place your chicken on a wire rack in a baking dish for an even roast.
Cooking the Chicken
Before you start baking, combine your BBQ sauce with low-sodium chicken broth in a saucepan. Bring it to a low boil for 2-3 minutes, then set aside. Bake your chicken at 425°F for 20 minutes to start. After that, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C), baste your chicken with the BBQ sauce mixture, and return it to the oven.
Bake for about 1 hour and 30 minutes more, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) at the thickest part of the chicken. Baste again with the BBQ sauce about 20 minutes before it’s fully cooked to ensure a flavorful and moist finish.
Rest Before Carving
Once your chicken is cooked, let it rest outside the oven for about 10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring your chicken is moist and flavorful when you carve it. Now, it’s ready to serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes and Expert Tips
Making the perfect roasted BBQ chicken doesn’t have to be a mystery. Here are some expert tips to elevate your chicken game:
- Dry the chicken thoroughly: The drier the skin, the crispier it will be after baking. Take your time with this step.
- Don’t skip the resting time: Allowing your chicken to rest after baking ensures that the juices redistribute, making every bite juicy and delicious.
- Be generous with seasoning: Getting the seasoning under the skin flavors the meat more deeply than just seasoning the outside.
- Adjust the BBQ sauce to taste: If you like it spicier or sweeter, feel free to tweak the BBQ sauce mixture.
- Experiment with different BBQ sauces: Depending on your preference for smoky, sweet, or spicy, try various BBQ sauces to find your favorite combination.
How to Store Leftover Whole Baked BBQ Chicken
Here’s how to keep your delicious barbecue chicken tasting great for later:
- Cool down: Let the chicken cool to room temperature before packing it up.
- Refrigerate: Store the chicken in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap. It’ll stay good for up to four days in the fridge.
- Freeze: If you won’t be eating the leftovers within a few days, freeze them. Wrap the chicken well and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating tips: To keep the chicken moist, reheat it covered, with a splash of chicken broth or water. You can use the oven, microwave, or even stovetop. Remember, the goal is to warm it through without drying it out.
Our Top 3 Money-Saving Tips for This Recipe
Everyone loves to save a bit of cash, especially when it comes to cooking delicious meals like whole baked BBQ chicken. Here are our top money-saving tips:
- Make your own BBQ sauce: Store-bought sauces can be pricey. Making your own is cost-effective and lets you customize the flavor.
- Use every part of the chicken: After your meal, use the carcass to make broth or soup. This maximizes your purchase and adds another meal to your menu.
- Look for sales: Chicken often goes on sale. Keep an eye out and stock up when the price drops.
What to Serve with Whole Baked BBQ Chicken
Here are some ideas to complement your chicken and boost your meal:
Classic Potato Salad
Nothing says barbecue like a creamy, tangy potato salad. Its cool, refreshing taste balances the smokiness of the BBQ chicken, making it a crowd-pleaser at any gathering. Plus, it’s a dish you can prepare in advance, saving you time.
Grilled Vegetables
Grill up some vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and asparagus for a healthy and colorful side. The char from the grill adds an extra layer of flavor that pairs wonderfully with the BBQ chicken, and it’s a great way to get those veggies in.
Homemade Coleslaw
A crunchy, tangy coleslaw is another classic that goes hand-in-hand with BBQ chicken. It’s quick to whip up and adds a fresh, crisp texture to your meal. Plus, you can easily customize it to your taste with different vinegars or add-ins like apple or carrot for extra sweetness and crunch.
Cornbread
For a touch of sweetness and a lot of comfort, serve your BBQ chicken with a side of warm, buttery cornbread. It’s the perfect vessel for soaking up any extra BBQ sauce and adds a Southern flair to your meal that’s hard to beat.
Once you’ve made BBQ chicken, you’ll get the taste for it, and you should try this amazing Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken to switch up the flavors.
More Chicken Recipes You Will Love
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets Recipe
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe
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BBQ Whole Baked Chicken
Ingredients
- 6.5 pounds whole chicken*
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1.5 teaspoons pepper
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter room temp
- String for trussing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Remove any giblets from the chicken. Pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Take your time during this step as it will result in a crispier skin.6.5 pounds whole chicken*
- Combine all spices and room-temperature butter in a small bowl.½ tablespoon salt, 1.5 teaspoons pepper, ½ tablespoon chili powder, ½ tablespoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Lift the skin above the breast and insert roughly half the butter mixture. Spread the mixture as much as possible under the skin.
- Melt the remaining butter in the microwave and baste the entire chicken. To ensure an even bake on the chicken, tie the legs together with baking string and tuck the wings under the bird so they don’t burn.String for trussing
- Place the chicken on a wire rack in your baking dish.
- In a small saucepan, combine BBQ sauce and chicken broth. Bring to a low boil and cook for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.1 cup BBQ sauce, ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- Bake chicken at 425°F for 20 mins. Then, lower the temp to 350°F (175°C) and remove from the oven. Baste with half of the BBQ sauce. Place back in the oven and cook for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the bird reaches 165°F (75°C). You will want to bake the chicken a second time – about 20 minutes before it is fully cooked.
- Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Notes
- Dry the chicken thoroughly: The drier the skin, the crispier it will be after baking. Take your time with this step.
- Don’t skip the resting time: Allowing your chicken to rest after baking ensures that the juices redistribute, making every bite juicy and delicious.
- Be generous with seasoning: Getting the seasoning under the skin flavors the meat more deeply than just seasoning the outside.
- Adjust the BBQ sauce to taste: If you like it spicier or sweeter, feel free to tweak the BBQ sauce mixture.
- Experiment with different BBQ sauces: Depending on your preference for smoky, sweet, or spicy, try various BBQ sauces to find your favorite combination.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Cool down: Let the chicken cool to room temperature before packing it up.
- Refrigerate: Store the chicken in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap. It’ll stay good for up to four days in the fridge.
- Freeze: If you won’t be eating the leftovers within a few days, freeze them. Wrap the chicken well and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating tips: To keep the chicken moist, reheat it covered, with a splash of chicken broth or water. You can use the oven, microwave, or even stovetop. Remember, the goal is to warm it through without drying it out.
