Baked BBQ Chicken

Barbecue Chicken is one dish that is American to its core. There is no discussing whether it is or not. It is a purely American invention and has been perfected here. There are many ways in which you can prepare your barbecue chicken. Whether it be on the grill, or in the oven it will be a crowd favorite no matter what you do besides burning it obviously. For this recipe I used a new barbecue sauce that I had not tried before. I saw that Annie's Naturals makes their own barbecue sauce and decided to give it a try. I gave their smoky maple flavored barbecue sauce a try. If you like maple flavored things you should try this barbecue sauce. For this recipe I decided to cook the chicken in the oven. I used only the legs and thighs for this recipe due to the fact that is what I had on hand, but you could use chicken breasts also just make sure it is on the bone and not boneless.

Ingredients:
bone-in chicken legs and thighs. Two legs and two thighs
Annie's Naturals smoky maple flavored barbecue sauce
5 sprigs fresh thyme
salt
pepper
teaspoon smoked paprika
teaspoon garlic powder
teaspoon onion powder

Method:
About three hours before you want to start cooking your chicken, wash under cold water and pat dry. Sprinkle salt onto the skin of the chicken and make sure to rub it into the skin and not the meat. This process makes the skin become crispier and it helps render more of the fat. Place in your refrigerator until you are ready to cook. I would not do this process for more than five hours. When you are ready to start cooking, preheat your oven to 400° F. Make sure to wipe off the salt and moisture from the chicken with a paper towel. You will notice that the salt has brought out some of the moisture from the skin. Season the chicken with onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Cook for 30 minutes at 400° F. After cooking for 30 minutes, baste the chicken with a kitchen safe brush with the barbecue sauce. Baste with barbecue sauce every five minutes so that the barbecue begins to caramelize on the skin. Continue cooking for another 30 minutes while basting the chicken every five minutes. Serve with whatever side dishes you like. Freshly made coleslaw, cornbread, corn on the cob, or steamed vegetables are good suggestions as side dishes to serve with your barbecue chicken.