Hamdi Saidani This Pioneer Woman Oven Barbecue Chicken is a saucy and tender recipe, which calls for brown sugar and chipotle adobo sauce for a sweet and smoky flavor. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about 50 minutes.
Pioneer Woman Oven Barbecue Chicken Ingredients
- 18 whole Chicken Legs
- 1 Tbsp. Canola Oil
- 1/4 whole Onion, Diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
- 1 cup Ketchup
- 1/4 cup Packed Brown Sugar
- 2 Tbsp. (additional) Brown Sugar
- 4 Tbsp. Distilled Vinegar (less to taste)
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/3 cup Molasses
- 4 Tbsp. Chipotle Adobo Sauce (the adobo sauce chipotle peppers are packed in)
- Dash Of Salt
How To Make Pioneer Woman Oven Barbecue Chicken
- Roast the chicken: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Arrange the chicken legs on a broiler pan or a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack and roast for 20 minutes.
- Make the barbecue sauce: While the chicken roasts, heat the canola oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes until softened, being careful not to burn them. Reduce the heat to low, add all the remaining ingredients, and stir to combine. Let the sauce simmer gently while the chicken finishes roasting.
- Broil the chicken: After 20 minutes of roasting, turn on the oven’s broiler and broil the chicken for 5 minutes to get some color and crisp up the skin.
- Sauce and bake: Remove the chicken from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Using tongs, dip each chicken leg into the warm barbecue sauce, making sure it’s completely coated. Place the sauced chicken back onto the rack.
- Finish baking and serve: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 5 minutes, until the sauce is hot and sizzling. Remove from the oven and brush generously with any remaining sauce. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips
- How to get extra crispy skin? Using a wire rack is key, as it allows hot air to circulate around the entire chicken leg. Also, the final broiling step is crucial for crisping the skin before the sauce goes on.
- Can I use other cuts of chicken? Absolutely. This recipe works wonderfully with chicken thighs, drumsticks, or even wings. You may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the size and cut.
- How can I adjust the sauce’s spice level? The heat comes from the chipotle adobo sauce. For a milder sauce, use less. For a spicier kick, add more.
- Can I make the barbecue sauce ahead of time? Yes, the sauce can be made up to a week in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just warm it up before using.
What To Serve With Oven Barbecue Chicken
This chicken is perfect with all the classic barbecue sides.
- Creamy coleslaw
- Macaroni and cheese
- Cornbread with honey butter
- Baked beans
- Corn on the cob
How To Store Oven Barbecue Chicken
- Refrigerate: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: You can freeze the cooked chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through.
Oven Barbecue Chicken Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 2 chicken legs
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Protein: 28g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Why do you roast the chicken before adding the sauce?
Roasting the chicken first allows the skin to get crispy and renders some of the fat. If you add the sauce too early, the sugars in it can burn before the chicken is fully cooked.
Can I make this on an outdoor grill?
Yes. You can grill the chicken until it’s almost cooked through, then brush it with the sauce during the last few minutes of grilling.
My sauce seems too thin. What should I do?
If your sauce is thinner than you’d like, simply let it simmer on low for a few extra minutes. It will thicken as the liquid reduces.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- Pioneer Woman Chicken Dorito Casserole
- Pioneer Woman Chicken Tortilla Casserole
Pioneer Woman Oven Barbecue Chicken Recipe
Description
Tender, juicy chicken legs are roasted, broiled, and then smothered in a sweet and smoky homemade barbecue sauce before a final bake to sticky perfection.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Roast chicken legs on a wire rack at 425°F for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, simmer all other ingredients in a saucepan to create the barbecue sauce.
- Broil the roasted chicken for 5 minutes to crisp the skin.
- Reduce oven to 350°F. Dip each chicken leg into the sauce to coat completely.
- Place chicken back on the rack and bake for 5 minutes until the sauce is sizzling.
- Brush with remaining sauce and let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- u003cliu003eUsing a wire rack is essential for crispy chicken, as it prevents the bottom from getting soggy.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eTaste the sauce after it simmers and adjust seasonings to your preference—more sugar for sweetness, more adobo for spice.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eDon’t sauce the chicken until the very end. This prevents the sugar in the sauce from burning during the initial high-heat roasting.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThis sauce is also excellent on ribs, pulled pork, or grilled chicken.u003c/liu003e
Pioneer Woman Oven Barbecue Chicken Recipe
