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Baked BBQ Chicken

Juicy and tender baked chicken breast coated in a sweet and tangy BBQ glaze is an easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. This is a no fuss baked BBQ chicken recipe made with only 2 simple ingredients and 5 minutes of prep!

Baked bbq chicken on white plate.
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Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Breast

This dish usually makes an appearance whenever I need something quick and easy for dinner. No need to fire up the grill for grilled BBQ chicken or prepare anything in advance. It takes just 5 minutes to prep and is a delicious 30-minute meal that your family will keep coming back to.

This oven baked BBQ chicken is an easy, quick, no-fail chicken recipe. It’s the perfect dinner for busy weeknights and only requires 2 simple ingredients (chicken breasts + BBQ sauce) to come together. It’s just as easy as my crockpot BBQ chicken or oven roasted chicken but made in a quarter of the time!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Simple ingredients: Only 2 ingredients to be exact!
  • Quick and easy: It’s perfect for busy days when you need to get dinner on the table fast!
  • Tender and juicy: The BBQ glaze helps keep the chicken so tender and juicy. You will love every mouthwatering bite!
  • Family favorite: Sticky BBQ sauce is finger-licking good, the whole family will agree on it!

Recipe Ingredients

Chicken, bbq sauce, salt and pepper.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Chicken breasts: You will need 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
  • BBQ sauce: I love to use my homemade BBQ sauce recipe, but your favorite store-bought brand works, too!
  • Kosher salt and pepper: To taste.

Sauce and Flavoring Variations

What makes this recipe so great is that you only need BBQ sauce (plus a sprinkle of salt and pepper) to give this dish it’s incredible flavor. I typically start with 1/2 cup sauce and then add more on top about half way through.

You can also give the sauce an extra oomph by mixing in any of the below:

  • A few Tablespoons of Italian dressing
  • A sprinkle of red pepper flakes, paprika, smoked paprika or hot sauce
  • Minced garlic or garlic powder
  • A few Tablespoons of brown sugar or honey
  • A dash of liquid smoke

How to Make Baked BBQ Chicken

In only 4 steps, this baked BBQ chicken breast recipe is ready to be served! It couldn’t be any easier.

Showing how to bake bbq chicken in a 4 step collage.
  • Prep chicken: Place chicken breasts between 2 pieces of parchment paper and lightly pound with a mallet or rolling pin until they are about 1-inch thick.
  • Season with salt and pepper: Place chicken in a baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet then season with salt and pepper.
  • Add BBQ sauce and bake: Pour barbecue sauce evenly over the top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 400°F, or until the internal temperature reads 165°F on a digital thermometer.
  • Rest and serve: Let the baked BBQ chicken rest 5 minutes before slicing. Serve while warm.

Expert Tips

  • Thickness. If the chicken is too thick, the outsides can burn while the center is still undercooked. Using a mallet helps ensure that the meat cooks evenly in the oven.
  • Marinate. This definitely isn’t required, but I like to brine my meat for a few hours in advance if I have the time. It makes the meat more tender and gives it a bolder BBQ chicken flavor. If you don’t have time to marinate, don’t worry. Your chicken will still taste delicious!
  • Covered or uncovered. You may be wondering if you need to cover the pan with foil while baking. The answer is no! The sauce keeps the meat nice and moist, so it won’t dry out if it’s uncovered.
  • Keep moist. About halfway through baking, make sure to flip the meat AND baste with more sauce. I usually add about 1/2 cup sauce before baking, then baste with another 1/4 to 1/2 cup depending on how much it needs.
  • Let rest. This is a tip that many people forget. Let your meat rest before slicing! After removing it from the oven, let it sit in the pan for about 5 minutes so that the juices flow back in and create a super moist and tender result.
Baked bbq chicken in white platter.

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken

Not only does it make a great dinner, but the chicken is also great for meal prep too. I love to use it for stuffed sweet potatoes, sheet pan BBQ nachos or a BBQ chicken pizza. Here are some favorite easy sides I like to serve it with at dinner.

FAQs

What cut of chicken is best for this recipe?

I like using chicken breasts for this recipe. They’re lean, healthy and aren’t super greasy when cooking. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs would also work like I use in my baked chicken thighs recipe.

You could also make this recipe with skin-on chicken thighs, drumsticks, chicken wings or bone-in breasts, although keep in mind that the total cooking time may change depending on how thick the meat is. You can use a meat thermometer to check if it’s ready (the internal temperature should be 165°F). 

What BBQ sauce is best to use?

You can use a homemade BBQ sauce or use your favorite premade bottle. When it comes to a store-bought choice like Stubbs or Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Can this recipe be made on the grill?

This recipe as written is best to bake in the oven otherwise you risk your BBQ sauce burning. If you are firing up the grill, try these grilled chicken breasts and baste with BBQ sauce during the final few minutes.

Why bake the chicken in the BBQ sauce?

Cooking the chicken in the sauce the entire time develops flavor, thickness and the sauce gets sticky, caramelized and delicious.

Storage

Any leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can also freeze the chicken for an easy freezer meal for a busy day. If freezing, I prefer to slice it into pieces first. When ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat in the microwave or oven at 200°F for about 10 minutes.

Sliced bbq chicken on cutting board.

Love easy chicken recipes? Try this Parmesan ranch chicken, baked lemon chicken or chicken tenders, next!

More BBQ Chicken Recipes

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Sliced bbq chicken on cutting board.

Baked BBQ Chicken

5 from 7 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
Juicy and tender baked chicken breast coated in a sweet and tangy BBQ glaze is an easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. This is a no fuss baked BBQ chicken recipe made with only 2 simple ingredients and 5 minutes of prep!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Rest Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4

Video

Ingredients 

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ – 1 cup BBQ sauce , plus more to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Place the chicken breasts between 2 pieces of parchment paper and lightly pound with a mallet or rolling pin until they are an even thickness. I prefer mine about 1-inch thick. Trim any fat. If you have time, brine your chicken (see notes).
  • Place in a baking dish and season with salt and pepper.
  • Then pour BBQ sauce evenly over the top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 165°F on a digital thermometer. To keep the chicken juicy, flip halfway through baking and baste with more BBQ sauce.
  • Let chicken rest 5 minutes before slicing. Serve while warm.

Notes

Brining chicken: To make your chicken even juicier, try soaking it in a brine before cooking. I love to do this when I have extra time. Simply fill a large bowl with lukewarm water (not hot) with 3 to 4 Tablespoons Kosher salt. Place the chicken in and let sit 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with water and pat dry. 
BBQ Sauce – I typically start with 1/2 cup sauce and add more sauce about half way through cooking if it looks like it needs it. My favorite store-bought brands are Stubbs or Sweet Baby Ray’s. You can also kick up the flavor with:
  • A few Tablespoons of Italian dressing
  • A sprinkle of red pepper flakes, paprika or hot sauce
  • Minced garlic or garlic powder
  • A few Tablespoons of brown sugar or honey
  • A dash of liquid smoke
Baking Tips:
  • Type of chicken. I like using chicken breasts for this recipe. They’re lean, healthy and aren’t super greasy when cooking. You could also make this recipe with thighs, drumsticks or bone-in breasts, although keep in mind that the total cooking time may change depending on how thick the meat is. You can use a meat thermometer to check if it’s ready (the internal temperature should be 165°F). 
  • Thickness. Chicken breasts can be a bit thick, so I like to use a meat mallet (or rolling pin) to lightly pound the meat to an even thickness (about 1 inch thick). If the meat is too thick, the outsides can burn while the center is still undercooked. Using a mallet helps ensure that the meat cooks evenly in the oven.
  • Marinate. This definitely isn’t required, but you can marinate your meat in the BBQ sauce for a few hours in advance if you have the time. 
  • Let rest. This is a tip that many people forget. Let your meat rest before slicing! After removing it from the oven, let it sit in the pan for about 5 minutes so that the juices flow back in and create a super moist and tender result.
Storage – Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze up to 3 months.  If freezing, I prefer to slice first. Then allow the chicken to thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in the microwave or the oven at 200°F for 10 minutes, or until warm. 

Nutrition

Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 499mg | Potassium: 501mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 114IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American

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