If you’re looking for a chicken recipe that’s both comforting and bright with a little bit of a sweet twist, you’re going to absolutely love this Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe. I first tried this dish on a lazy weekend afternoon and was instantly hooked by how the peach preserves add a gentle fruitiness that perfectly balances the tangy BBQ sauce. It’s the kind of recipe that works beautifully for family dinners or when you want something fuss-free but still special enough to impress guests.
What makes this Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe stand out, in my opinion, is how simple ingredients come together to create layers of flavor and a juicy, tender chicken with a gorgeous caramelized glaze. You’ll find that it’s ideal for busy nights because most of the work is hands-off roasting — which means more time for you to kick back or prep a quick side. Plus, peach preserves add that unexpected, delightful sweetness that feels just like a little secret in your sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sweet & Tangy Flavor Fusion: The peach preserves add a luscious sweetness that perfectly complements the BBQ sauce’s tang.
- Easy, Hands-Off Cooking: Roasting the chicken with minimal prep means you can multitask or relax.
- Juicy, Crispy Skin Every Time: The method ensures tender meat with a beautifully caramelized, sticky glaze.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether a casual dinner or a weekend cookout, this recipe fits right in.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients are straightforward, but each plays an important role in creating the magic of this Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe. I always recommend using good quality peach preserves and BBQ sauce since they’re the flavor stars here.
- BBQ sauce: Choose a BBQ sauce you love — homemade or store-bought, smoky or sweet, it’s up to your taste preference.
- Peach preserves: This adds a fruity sweetness that pulls all the flavors together beautifully.
- Garlic: Freshly grated gives a gentle punch without overpowering the dish.
- Hot sauce (optional): Adds a nice kick if you like a bit of heat in your BBQ; feel free to skip or adjust the amount.
- Olive oil: Used for brushing to help crisp the chicken skin and prevent sticking.
- Chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on: I prefer thighs because they stay juicy and flavorful during roasting.
- Kosher salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Ground black pepper: Adds just a touch of warmth and complexity.
Variations
One of the things I love about this Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe is how flexible it is. Personally, I like to tinker with the heat level or even switch up the fruit preserves depending on the season or what I have on hand.
- Spicy Kick: Sometimes I add a little extra hot sauce or even chipotle powder to amp up the smoky heat — my family goes crazy for this twist.
- Different Fruit Preserves: If you don’t have peach preserves, apricot or mango preserves make a lovely substitute and keep that sweet fruity vibe.
- Lean Option: Swap chicken thighs for boneless chicken breasts, but keep an eye on cooking times so they don’t dry out.
- Gluten-Free Twist: Confirm your BBQ sauce and hot sauce are gluten-free, then you’re good to go for allergy-friendly meals.
How to Make Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Sauce
In a medium saucepan, combine your BBQ sauce, peach preserves, freshly grated garlic, and hot sauce if you’re using it. Heat the mixture over medium heat for about 5 to 10 minutes until everything is warm and melded together. This step lets the peach preserves gently soften and mingle with the smoky BBQ flavors, creating that irresistible glaze you’ll be smothering the chicken with later.
Step 2: Prep the Oven and Chicken
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Then line two rimmed baking sheets with foil — it makes cleanup so much easier, trust me! Lightly drizzle olive oil on the foil, then place the chicken thighs skin-side down on the sheets. Sprinkle the thighs evenly with kosher salt and ground black pepper. The olive oil and salt help the skin crisp up beautifully as the chicken roasts.
Step 3: Roast and Sauce the Chicken
Roast the chicken thighs for 25 minutes, then pull them out and brush the sauce all over. This is where the magic starts to build — I like to use a spatula to flip the chicken carefully so the skin stays intact and crispy. Brush on more sauce, roast for another 7 minutes, then repeat the sauce brushing and roast for another 7 minutes. This layering builds a sticky, rich coating that everyone raves about.
Step 4: Finish Off for Big Flavor
After the third saucing, crank up the oven to 425°F and roast for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Keep an eye out for the sauce to start browning and caramelizing around the edges — this deepens the flavor and gives you that irresistible BBQ look. When you think it’s perfect, remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for at least 10 minutes before serving to lock in all those juices.
Pro Tips for Making Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe
- Use Bone-In, Skin-On Thighs: They stay juicy and flavorful, plus the skin crisps up so well when roasted.
- Don’t Skip the Resting: Letting the chicken rest after roasting makes a big difference in juiciness.
- Layer the Sauce Generously: Multiple brushings build up that sticky, caramelized BBQ coating we all crave.
- Line Baking Sheets with Foil: Saves you scrubbing pans later and keeps the skin in perfect shape.
How to Serve Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe
Garnishes
I love finishing this chicken with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley or cilantro — it adds a pop of color and a fresh note that cuts through the sweetness. Sometimes I toss on thinly sliced green onions or even a few toasted sesame seeds for a little crunch and flair.
Side Dishes
My go-to sides with this Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe are simple but hearty. Creamy mashed potatoes or buttery corn on the cob make excellent companions. If you want something lighter, a crunchy coleslaw or a crisp garden salad balances the richness of the chicken beautifully. You can’t go wrong with classic baked beans or roasted veggies either.
Creative Ways to Present
For dinner parties, I like to arrange the chicken thighs on a large platter surrounded by fresh peach slices and grilled lemon wedges — it ties into the peach preserves theme and looks stunning. Another fun idea is to serve individual portions with a small cup of extra peach BBQ sauce on the side for dipping. It’s always a conversation starter!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce-soaked thighs stay surprisingly moist, even cold, which makes for great next-day lunches. Just be sure to cool the chicken fully before refrigerating to keep flavors fresh.
Freezing
This Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe freezes well — I recommend freezing in portions with some sauce to keep the chicken juicy. When you’re ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge overnight before reheating. This is a lifesaver for busy weeks when you want homemade meals ready to go.
Reheating
I gently reheat leftover chicken in a 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes, covered loosely with foil to avoid drying out the meat. You can also heat it in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water or extra BBQ sauce to keep things moist and delicious.
FAQs
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Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs for this Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe?
Absolutely! You can substitute boneless chicken breasts, but keep in mind they cook faster and can dry out more easily. Reduce the roasting time accordingly and consider marinating a bit longer or adding an extra brush of sauce to keep them juicy.
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Do I have to use peach preserves, or can I swap other fruit preserves?
You can definitely experiment! Apricot, mango, or even pineapple preserves work well and bring their own unique sweetness. Just pick a preserve that you enjoy and adjust quantities to taste.
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How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?
Using a meat thermometer is the best way: the internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). If you don’t have one, the juices should run clear and the meat should not be pink near the bone.
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Can I prepare the sauce ahead of time?
Yes! The sauce can be made a day or two ahead and stored in the fridge. Just reheat gently before applying to the chicken during cooking.
Final Thoughts
I truly enjoy making this Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe because it perfectly balances ease, flavor, and that little touch of homemade charm. It never fails to bring smiles around my dinner table, and I’m confident you’ll find it just as satisfying. Give it a try the next time you want a juicy, flavorful chicken dinner that feels like a special treat without hours in the kitchen — you won’t regret it!
Print
Oven BBQ Chicken with Peach Preserves Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Oven BBQ Chicken recipe combines tender bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs roasted to perfection with a rich and tangy homemade BBQ sauce enhanced by peach preserves and garlic. Oven-roasting ensures crispy skin and juicy meat, while multiple brushings of the flavorful sauce create a caramelized, sticky glaze that is irresistibly delicious.
Ingredients
BBQ Sauce
- 3 cups your favorite BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup peach preserves
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- Hot sauce, optional, to taste
Chicken
- Olive oil for brushing
- 12 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the BBQ Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the BBQ sauce, peach preserves, grated garlic, and optional hot sauce. Heat the mixture over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until it is hot and well blended. Set aside.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for roasting the chicken thighs.
- Arrange Chicken: Lightly drizzle olive oil onto two foil-lined rimmed baking sheets. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down on the sheets, spacing them evenly. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with kosher salt and ground black pepper.
- Initial Roast: Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. This step starts cooking the meat and renders the fat under the skin.
- First Sauce Brush and Flip: Remove the baking sheets briefly from the oven, brush the hot BBQ sauce all over the chicken thighs. Using a spatula, carefully flip each thigh over to the other side without tearing the skin. Brush the skin side with more sauce and return the pans to the oven.
- Second Roast: Roast the chicken for 7 minutes, then remove from the oven again to brush on more sauce evenly.
- Third Roast: Return the chicken to the oven for an additional 7 minutes, then remove and brush on more sauce once more.
- Final High-Heat Roast: Increase the oven temperature to 425°F (218°C) and roast the chicken for another 5 to 7 minutes. This step caramelizes the BBQ sauce and crisps the chicken skin, ensuring the thighs are fully cooked through.
- Rest: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. This allows juices to redistribute, keeping the meat juicy and tender.
Notes
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for the best flavor and juiciness.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce according to your preferred heat level.
- Let the chicken rest after roasting to retain moisture and improve texture.
- Foil-lined baking sheets make cleanup easier and prevent sticking.
- You can prepare the BBQ sauce ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to use.
