Southern Baked BBQ Chicken
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You don’t have to go to a restaurant when you crave Southern BBQ. With my easy soul food recipe for Southern baked BBQ chicken, you can enjoy the same delicious savory BBQ flavors right in your own kitchen!
Is BBQ chicken soul food?
Chicken, especially fried chicken, is a food thrown on the doorsteps of Black people as a way to identify us. However, it’s important to note that African Americans didn’t invent chicken—we just perfected how to season it!
This principle also applies to Southern baked BBQ chicken. There is a rich cultural legacy within the Black community when it comes to preparing chicken—whether fried, BBQ, or seasoned in other delightful ways. Chicken undoubtedly qualifies as a specialty of soul food.
Ingredients
This classic recipe embraces Southern soul food traditions and an understanding of the essence of BBQ chicken. Starting with a selection of quality ingredients like Famous Dave’s seasoning and Weber Roasted Garlic & Herb for effortless seasoning and flavor. Mastering these simple techniques ensures a dish that resonates with Southern cooking’s rich history.
Measurements can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- 6 chicken pieces or a whole chicken cut: The foundation of any Southern BBQ chicken dish. These pieces soak up all the flavors you introduce. (Pro tip: Bone-in chicken is traditionally used in this BBQ recipe. However, you can use this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or wings.)
- Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning: A spice blend that infuses your chicken with aromatic flavor, crucial for authentic Southern soul food chicken and BBQ recipes.
- Weber Roasted Garlic & Herb Seasoning: Adds a savory depth with roasted garlic and herbs, elevating the flavor complexity.
- BBQ sauce: The finishing touch unites all the flavors under a sweet, tangy, and smoky banner, making each bite unforgettable.
Pro tip: If you don’t have the above spice blends, check out my seasoning guide for chicken HERE.
What makes this the best BBQ Chicken?
Pro tip: When cooking any chicken, barbecued, roasted, fried, air fried – make sure your chicken is seasoned first because this dish is steeped in a tradition of flavor. A Southern soul food culinary masterpiece that hinges on a symphony of spices, each playing its part to create a taste unlike any other.
It was through years of perfecting techniques and sauces that the distinct Southern barbecue flavor was born. Casting the right ingredients into the mix is crucial for hitting those high-taste notes. Thus, the foundation of this classic dish is seasoning the meat.
How to bake Southern BBQ chicken
Southern baked BBQ chicken is a flavorful Deep South recipe. Soul food seasoned chicken doused in sweet, sticky, saucy BBQ.
You can get your fix of Southern barbecue sauce flavor without leaving the comfort of your home—no matter where in the country you live!
Follow the easy instructions below for soul food seasoned BBQ chicken. Despite its simplicity, this Southern soul food recipe packs a punch!
Step-by-step guided instructions with pictures can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (Pro tip: You can also cook this Southern BBQ baked chicken recipe on the grill.)
- Mix the chicken seasoning and rub the seasoning mixture on the chicken.
- Coat the chicken with the BBQ sauce with a basting brush.
- Place the chicken on a baking sheet and into the oven and halfway through baking, flip the chicken and coat it with a second brushing of BBQ sauce.
- Optionally, broil or air fry the chicken for a nice smokey char, then serve and enjoy! For a quicker recipe, check out my soul food air fryer BBQ chicken!
When to flip BBQ chicken
Halfway through baking, after about 10 minutes, flip the chicken over and return to the oven to bake for an additional 10 minutes.
How to know when baked BBQ chicken is done
Chicken is done when the inside temperature reaches 165 degrees. 175 degrees F for chicken breasts, which are the thicker pieces. You can easily use a thermometer to determine the internal temp.
Southern sides to serve with baked BBQ chicken
Favorite soul food sides to pair with Southern baked BBQ chicken, especially for a cookout or BBQ menu, include Southern soul food baked beans, Southern coleslaw, Southern potato salad, and a Southern macaroni salad recipe.
Equipment
- Basting brush
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken or 6 chicken pieces
- 2 tablespoons seasoning salt Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning or similar (it contains soulful flavors such as paprika, mustard seed, garlic powder, onion powder, bell pepper, and lemon zest all in one!). You can also check out my seasoning guide for chicken HERE.
- 2 tablespoons garlic & herb seasoning Weber Seasoning Roasted Garlic & Herb, or similar
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce Homemade BBQ sauce recipe HERE!
- ½ cup BBQ sauce To baste the chicken after cooking
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, spray a baking sheet with cooking oil, or line it with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Mix the chicken seasoning and garlic & herb seasoning in a small bowl.
- Rub the seasoning mixture on the chicken pieces to coat them.
- Then, coat the chicken with the BBQ sauce using a basting brush.
- Place the chicken on the baking sheet and place it in the oven.
- Bake at 400 degrees F for a total of 20 minutes.
- Halfway through, after about 10 minutes, flip the chicken over and return to baking.
- Remove the cooked BBQ chicken from the oven and use the ½ cup of BBQ sauce to coat the chicken with a second brushing of sauce.
- Optionally, broil the chicken in the oven for 3-5 minutes for a nice smokey char, keeping a close eye on the chicken so as not to burn it. Alternately, air fry the baked chicken for 10 minutes at 360 degrees F.
- Serve this Southern soul food BBQ chicken recipe right away, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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This recipe is perfect for weekend get away or for camping.