- Servings: 6
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
This 3-ingredient BBQ glazed chicken is a simple and flavorful dish that requires very little preparation. The chicken is baked with barbecue sauce and lemon-lime soda, creating a rich, sweet glaze as the sauce cooks down in the oven.
With just a few ingredients and some simple steps, this recipe is a convenient option for family dinners, gatherings, or whenever you want an easy oven-baked chicken dish.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1.5–1.7 kg bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces, such as drumsticks and thighs.
For the BBQ Glaze
- 1 bottle (450 g) of thick, tomato-based barbecue sauce.
- 1 can (320 g) of regular lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite or 7UP. Avoid using diet soda, as the sugar helps the sauce caramelize while baking.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish
Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F).
Line a 23 × 33 cm glass baking dish with parchment paper. You do not need to grease the dish because the chicken will release some of its natural fat as it cooks.
2. Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken pieces thoroughly dry with paper towels. This helps the sauce coat the chicken better during baking.
Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer in the baking dish, keeping the skin side facing up. Avoid stacking the pieces or overcrowding the dish.
3. Prepare the BBQ Sauce Mixture
Pour the barbecue sauce into a medium bowl.
Add the lemon-lime soda and whisk the two ingredients together until they are well combined. The mixture will be fairly thin at this stage, but it will become thicker as it cooks in the oven.
4. Add the Sauce and Bake
Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken, making sure the pieces are well coated.
You can use a spoon to spread the sauce over the tops of the chicken pieces. Make sure there is some sauce around the chicken as well, so it can cook down and develop a rich glaze.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked, tender, and the sauce has thickened and developed caramelized edges.
For food safety, make sure the thickest part of the chicken reaches 74°C (165°F).
5. Let the Chicken Rest
Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This gives the sauce a little time to settle and makes the chicken easier to serve.
Serving Suggestions
This BBQ glazed chicken can be served with a variety of simple side dishes, such as:
- Homemade mashed potatoes.
- Buttered egg noodles.
- Seasoned baked rice.
- Green beans.
- Buttered corn.
- A fresh garden salad.
- Soft white bread to enjoy with the remaining BBQ sauce.
How to Use the Leftovers
If you have leftover chicken, remove the meat from the bones and shred it. You can serve it over rice or place it in a soft sandwich roll with some of the warmed BBQ sauce.
This recipe is a simple way to prepare flavorful baked chicken using only a few ingredients, making it a practical choice for an easy family meal.