Roasted Peach BBQ Chicken Bake (Printable)
Juicy chicken thighs baked in sweet, smoky peach BBQ sauce with caramelized peaches for a summery main dish.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp kosher salt
04 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
→ Roasted Peach BBQ Sauce
05 - 2 large ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
06 - 1/2 cup ketchup
07 - 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
08 - 2 tbsp honey
09 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tbsp gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
12 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
14 - 1/4 tsp onion powder
→ Topping & Garnish
15 - 1 large peach, sliced
16 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Rub with olive oil, then season evenly with kosher salt and black pepper. Arrange in the prepared baking dish, skin-side up.
03 - In a small saucepan, combine the 2 sliced peaches, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until the peaches are soft and broken down. Purée with an immersion blender or transfer to a standard blender and blend until smooth.
04 - Pour half of the peach BBQ sauce over the seasoned chicken thighs, spreading it evenly to coat each piece.
05 - Tuck fresh peach slices around and on top of the chicken thighs. Reserve the remaining BBQ sauce for serving.
06 - Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the skin is caramelized. For additional browning, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking.
07 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Serve with the reserved peach BBQ sauce on the side.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sauce practically makes itself while you season the chicken, so the whole thing feels effortless for how incredible it tastes.
- That caramelized peach sitting on top of crispy chicken skin is the kind of combination that makes people close their eyes when they take a bite.
02 -
- Do not use rock-hard peaches for the sauce, they will never break down properly and you will end up with a chunky, tart mess instead of something silky.
- If you decide to broil at the end, set a timer because those extra two minutes cross the line from gorgeous to burnt faster than you would believe.
03 -
- The sauce tastes even better if you make it a day ahead and let the flavors mingle in the fridge overnight.
- Pat the chicken skin completely dry before seasoning, because dry skin is the whole secret to getting it truly crisp in the oven.