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This Baked BBQ Chicken Breast recipe is a fast and easy dinner that the whole family will love. The chicken is covered in a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce and then baked until perfectly juicy and caramelized. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and can be made with low-sugar BBQ sauce.
You may also like my baked BBQ chicken drumsticks. Check it out!
If you love recipes that are healthy, kid-friendly, and easy to make this Baked BBQ Chicken Breast recipe is just for you. This chicken is smothered in a tangy, sticky BBQ sauce that is so tasty! It’s packed with protein and completely gluten-free, plus it can be made with low-sugar or sugar-free BBQ sauce or even use a homemade BBQ sauce for a lighter option. My kids love it as much as they love this pesto chicken recipe.
Want to make it a full meal? Serve with our Garlic Parmesan Baked Potato Wedges or our Healthy Potato Salad. Check out more side suggestions below.
Why I love this recipe
- A handful of simple ingredients. You only need a few ingredients and you likely have them on hand already.
- Fast and easy. You can have dinner on the table in less than an hour with this recipe. It’s so simple to make, perfect for busy days.
- Delicious! This baked BBQ Chicken recipe is juicy, tender, and covered in the most flavorful sticky BBQ sauce.
Ingredients needed
This is just a list of ingredients you will need to make the Baked BBQ Chicken recipe. Full measurements are listed further down below in the recipe card.
- Chicken breasts: if you prefer using boneless and skinless chicken thighs you can.
- Avocado oil: you may use avocado oil.
- Seasonings: smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and white pepper
- Kosher salt
- BBQ sauce: you can get a good low-sugar store-bought BBQ sauce or make your own at home. Check out our Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe.
How to make baked BBQ chicken breast
- Preheat the oven to 375° F. Then grease a casserole dish with a bit of oil.
- Season chicken: Place the chicken breast into a large Ziploc bag. Add oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper, and salt. Shake well until fully coated with oil and spices.
- Add BBQ sauce and bake: Next, place the chicken into the prepared dish. Brush the breast with half of the BBQ sauce and bake the chicken in the oven for about 40-50 minutes. (Flip the chicken breasts 20 minutes in onto the other side and let it cook for another 20 minutes.)
- Flip and add more sauce: After 20 minutes (halfway through baking) flip the chicken and brush again with the BBQ sauce and continue to bake until cooked through.
- Serve: Once done, remove from the oven. Slice and serve warm with the remaining BBQ sauce.
Tips and Substitutes
- Chicken: Try to use chicken breasts that are close in size so that they bake evenly. You may use boneless chicken thighs.
- Avocado oil: You can also substitute it with canola oil, olive oil, or grapeseed oil.
- Smoked paprika: You can also use regular paprika, but smoked paprika adds a lot more flavor.
- White pepper: Substitute with ground black pepper if needed.
- BBQ sauce: For a healthier dinner, choose a low-sugar or sugar-free BBQ sauce.
- Want to make this sweeter? Add in some brown sugar or honey with the BBQ sauce.
Frequently asked questions
Chicken drumsticks cook differently than chicken breasts. To make drumsticks, try this Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe.
I like using a food thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken, and once the thickest part of the breast reaches 165 degrees, the chicken is ready to eat. Be careful not to overcook the chicken, or it will be dry.
Store this chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can reheat it in the microwave or in the oven until warmed through.
What to serve with Barbecue Chicken
You can serve this Baked barbecue Chicken with any easy sides you like! For a well-rounded meal, choose a vegetable, healthy grain, and a serving of fruit to go with the protein-dense chicken. What you can serve it with:
- Potatoes: Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges or Healthy Potato Salad
- Mac and cheese: Vegan Mac and Cheese or Buffalo Mac and Cheese
- Roasted veggies: Roasted Garlic Cauliflower or Roasted Smoked Sweet Potatoes
- Rice: White Rice on the Stove or some Cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
- Fruit: Fresh seasonal fruit or Easy Mixed Berry Fruit Salad
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: To store leftovers, place them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: You may either reheat the barbeque chicken breasts in the microwave or a preheated oven for 5-7 minutes. Feel free to add more BBQ sauce if needed.
More easy chicken recipes
- Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Creamy Cajun Chicken
- Honey Mustard Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Thai Basil Chicken
- Baked Cashew Chicken and Veggies
If you try a recipe and you like it, leave me some feedback in the comment section below, and don’t forget to rate it! I would love it if you shared it with friends and family.
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Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breasts, about 1.5 lbs. total
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil, plus more to grease the pan
- 1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F. Grease a casserole dish with a bit of oil. About one tablespoon.
- Place the 4 large chicken breasts into a large Ziploc bag. Add the remaining one tablespoon of the 2 tablespoons avocado oil, 1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Shake well until fully coated with oil and spices.
- Next, place the chicken into the prepared dish. Brush the breast with half of the 1 cup BBQ sauce and bake in the preheated oven for about 40-50 minutes total.
- After 20 minutes of baking the chicken breasts, flip the chicken brush again with the BBQ sauce, and continue to bake until cooked through. for a total of 40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F.
- Once done, remove from the oven. Slice and serve warm with the remaining BBQ sauce.
Video
Notes
- Chicken: Try to use chicken breasts that are close in size so that they bake evenly.
- Avocado oil: You can also substitute it with canola oil, olive oil, or grapeseed oil.
- Smoked paprika: You can also use regular paprika, but smoked paprika adds a lot more flavor.
- White pepper: Substitute with ground black pepper if needed.
- BBQ sauce: For a healthier dinner, choose a low-sugar or sugar-free BBQ sauce.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove.
- Cook time: Cook time varies depending on the oven
- Please note: ovens are different, so the baking time for individual ovens will vary
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
As delicious as stated! I made it 2x in one month!! I used large, bone in, skinless chicken breasts and just baked them longer for approximately 15 minutes per side. They were moist tender and bursting with flavor. Yummmmmy!!
Thanks for the feedback.
This was soooo good! Chicken came out super moist and tasty. Best bbq chicken I’ve made. I did make a couple changes:
-I added apple cider vinegar, worcestershire sauce, and Japanese bbq sauce to the marinade. I also used sweet baby rays bbq sauce, black pepper instead of white and olive oil instead of avocado. Went heavy on the bbq sauce and spices amount too.
Served with mashed potatoes, green beans, and baked beans.
Perfect!
Absolutely delicious! Wouldn’t change a thing
Thanks Lex. Glad you loved it.
This is now my go to baked bbq chicken recipe. it is quick and easy and taste delicious.
Amazing. So glad you loved it
Just a quick comment…so many of the recipes on Pinterest advertise that a recipe may be ready in xx amount of minutes, such as this one at the top says 30 minutes. When you read the actual recipe, you find out that it actually takes 45 – 50 minutes to cook. How is this a 30-minute recipe?
It shouldn’t? I would have to check this out. Maybe it was a typo. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I thought the same and after rereading it I realized it meant to cook 30, the flip them over and continue to cook until total cooking time is 40-50 mins, which would mean cook for another 10-20 mins.
I let the chicken rest for 10 minutes tented with foil before serving. Juicy and amazing! Will 100% make again!
Thanks Mel. Glad you loved it
Can you use boneless, skinless chicken breasts?
Yes. You sure can
Should I reduce the cooking time?
It all depends on the oven. Most chicken thighs will need 20-25 minutes at 400F