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!
No need to fire up the grill for grilled BBQ chicken this recipe is just as easy as my crockpot BBQ chicken or oven roasted chicken but made in a quarter of the time!
Table of Contents
Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
This dish usually makes an appearance whenever I need something quick and easy for dinner. It takes just 5 minutes to prep and is a delicious 30-minute meal that your family will keep coming back to.
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.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients: Only 2 ingredients to be exact make this so quick and easy!
- 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
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.
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.
- 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. I typically add 1/2 cup and then more half way through baking time. 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.
Tips and Variations
- 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!
- Additional seasoning ideas: Italian dressing, sprinkle of red pepper flakes, paprika, smoked paprika, liquid smoke or hot sauce, minced garlic or garlic powder and for a sweet taste a few tablespoons of honey or brown sugar.
- 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.
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.
- Potatoes: Loaded baked potato casserole or baked Parmesan potato wedges
- Veggies: Oven roasted vegetables or roasted cauliflower
- Rice: Easy rice pilaf or plain white rice on the stove.
- Mac and cheese: Homemade mac and cheese or baked macaroni and cheese.
FAQs
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).
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.
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.
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.
Love easy chicken recipes? Try this Parmesan ranch chicken, baked lemon chicken, homemade chicken wings or chicken tenders, next!
More BBQ Chicken Recipes
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Baked BBQ Chicken
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
- 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
- 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Chicken, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! My family enjoyed it so much, we’ve added it to our weekly dinner menu!
We have made this so many times this summer! We love bbq chicken! It’s a family favorite & goes great with so many sides!
I love chicken and I’m always looking for more yummy recipes. We all loved this and can’t wait to make it again.
Easy peasy BBQ squeezy! lol! Love this simple and flavorful chicken – thanks!
Thank you! It was SO tasty and flavorful. I served it with veggies and brown rice. Will definitely be making this again in the future.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for leaving a comment Tanya! :)