It may be Fall and while most gear up for winter, I'm bringing a touch of summer with me with these BBQ-style baked chicken legs. It's recipe you will need to keep on hand for when those winter blues kick in to hold you over until spring.
For many, the initials “BBQ” conjure images of sun soaked summer gatherings, and overly blackened meat, more an event than a style of cooking, really. Indeed, it is often the case that the general success of the summer season is measured precisely in relation to how many barbecues are indulged, regardless of what’s actually on offer from the grill. So deeply has this open-fire ritual of the sun become ingrained in our collective culture that the season and the grill are nearly synonymous, with celebrity chefs staking their claim to fame based solely on their grilling prowess, while the debate between gas and charcoal rages eternal.
While I too certainly share some of that enthusiasm, I must admit that I find myself focused more on flavor than event, and more on technique than ritual. Though my opinion on charcoal’s superiority to gas is not an opinion at all…it’s simply fact.
Furthermore, I am entirely unwilling to surrender the flavors of the barbecue to the season’s close. In fact, over the years, I’ve developed a number of ways to include those beloved barbecue flavors into what are undeniably autumn or even wintery dishes, and have learned to cook everything from steaks to bread (yes, from scratch) on my stove top griddle. In other words, grilling is a year round staple for me.
For example, today’s chicken legs feature a marinade with a base of ketchup, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, maple syrup, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper, for an absolutely quintessential barbecue sauce - no grill necessary, or griddle for that matter. Paired alongside a heaping pile of curry steak fries, and you’re well on your way to carrying the flavors of the barbecue into the fall and beyond.
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Baked BBQ Chicken Legs
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 12 chicken legs
For the BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves of garlic - crushed and chopped
- 2 tbs. maple syrup
- 3 tbs. mustard - yellow or spicy
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl a stir.
- Place the chicken legs in a large bowl and pour the sauce over and combine well.
- Cover chicken or place in a zip-lock bag and place in refrigerator for at least one hour or overnight.
- When you are ready to cook, preheat Oven 375 degrees F.
- Place the chicken in a baking pan and bake for 45 – 50 minutes until or until the juices run clear.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
With Love,
Catherine
xo
Comedy Plus says
We eat summer foods all year here. We may be cold for a bit, but not very long. We have more good weather than bad and having a BBQ in the winter is what we do often. Love this.
Have a fabulous day. Big hugs. ♥♥♥
Chiara says
a tasty recipe for a perfect family weekend meal ! xoxo
Dottie Sauchelli-Balin says
Dear Catherine,
This recipe is right up my alley...a great flavor and a fun idea to have the taste of BBQ in the oven...I have to get chicken this weekend and will try this one for sure...The legs look so yummy..I could reach in and take one right now..I always get hungry when I see your recipes...Thanks you dear friend for sharing..Blessings and enjoy your weekend..
Dottie 🙂
Pam says
I just bought chicken this morning and have to try this, the sauce sounds great, Catherine! It has definitely cooled off here so the grilling outside is pretty much over for the rest of the year. Time to crank up the oven with this! Take care
Manila Spoon says
This baked chicken looks so tasty and I'd love to pair this with some Basmati rice as a side - yummy to my tummy!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
What a wonderful way to be able to capture the spirit of summer in a baked dish so come January when I can't take NY and our horrible winters any longer I can reminisce on warmer times 🙂
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Dear Catherine, these BBQ legs look absolutely delicious!!! We love to grill year round also and get really creative when we need to! My husband will grill in all temperatures. It's when the grill is covered in three feet of snow that we resort to indoor grilling! 🙂 Glad to have a great new recipe and wishing you and yours a beautiful autumn weekend! XOXO
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
They look fingerlickingly delicious!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
I am always up for ANYTHING BBQ chicken and these looks look fantastic!
Lisa Huff @ Snappy Gourmet says
Wow, I would have guessed these were grilled they look so fabulous! Looks much easier than grilling and perfect for this time of year! Yum!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Hi Catherine, my daughter and I love some good BBQ'd drumsticks and I think I have all the ingredients to make these! They sound perfect for a quick weeknight meal!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
Those legs look so good. I love that you can hang onto summer a little longer by baking them.
Miz Helen says
We will just love your Chicken Legs! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen