Baked BBQ Chicken Breast

By Rena Awada | Updated On August 16, 2023

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, then baked until perfectly juicy and caramelized. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and can be made healthy with low-sugar BBQ sauce.

Top view 4 baked chicken breasts with bbq sauce in white baking dish


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 for a healthier dinner.

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 this Chicken Breast recipe is great

  • 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! Baked BBQ Chicken Breast is juicy, tender, and covered in the most flavorful sticky BBQ sauce.
side shot of baked bbq chicken breast in white dish

Ingredients you’ll need

This is just a list of ingredients you will need to make the Baked BBQ Chicken Breast. Full measurements are listed further down below.

Chicken breasts
Avocado oil
Seasonings: smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and white pepper
Kosher salt
BBQ sauce

Ingredients for baked BBQ chicken breast on counter

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 in the preheated 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.
Up close view of baked BBQ chicken breast covered in BBQ sauce.

faqs

Can I make this with drumsticks instead? 

Chicken drumsticks cook differently than chicken breasts. To make drumsticks, try this Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe.

How do I know when the chicken is done? 

The easiest way to know if your chicken is done is to test it with a thermometer. 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. 

How long does BBQ chicken stay good? 

Store this chicken in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can reheat it in the microwave or in the oven until warmed through.

side shot of baked chicken breastt in a white dish

What to serve with BBQ Chicken

You can serve this Baked BBQ Chicken Breast 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. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Top view of white baking dish with 4 Baked BBQ Chicken Breasts and bowl of BBQ sauce on side

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top view bbq chicken breast in white dish

Baked BBQ Chicken Breast

This Baked BBQ Chicken Breast recipe is a fast and easy 40 minute dinner that the whole family will love. The chicken is covered in a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, then baked until perfectly juicy and caramelized.
4.99 from 249 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Fat
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 4 -6
Calories: 429kcal
Author: Rena

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 tsp ground white pepper
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375° F. Grease a casserole dish with a bit of oil.
  • 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.
  • Next, place the chicken into the prepared dish. Brush the breast with half of the BBQ sauce and bake in the preheated oven for about 40-50 minutes total.
  • After 20 minutes into baking the chicken breasts, flip the chicken and 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 air-tight 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

Serving: 1chicken breast | Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1672mg | Potassium: 938mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1361IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hank says

    5 stars
    So delicious. I made with sugar free BBQ sauce and it was so good! Will definitely make this again.

  2. Cynthia Lyman says

    5 stars
    Boy this was delicious. I varied the recipe by using honey, hot sauce and BBQ sauce. It made my Memorial Day Weekend fantastic.

  3. julies kitchen says

    5 stars
    This was so good and easy too! Great recipe!
    Can I prepare ahead of time and then cook later?

    Thank you.

  4. Natalie says

    5 stars
    I was so pleasantly surprised by how this came out. Very easy, already has all the ingredients. and came out so juicy! Thank you!

  5. Shira Sorensen says

    Hi! Do you know of a great tasting sugar free BBQ sauce, that’s either organic or non gmo? Thanks!

    • Courtenay Bourret says

      Thrive Market has one called Good Food for Good. It’s USDA organic and sugar free. You may be able to find it on Amazon

    • Bri says

      I recommend G Hughes sugar free bbq sauce! You can buy it at target or walmart and other stores like those. Affordable! There are many different flavors as well!

  6. Christina says

    5 stars
    This is the best bbq chicken I’ve ever had. It was so flavorful and juicy. I cooked it for about an hour total.

  7. Melanie says

    5 stars
    This was delicious!! Took a little longer to cook but chicken always varies. Such a easy, simple but absolutely delicious recipe. I’ll definitely be making it again

  8. Annette says

    Planning to bake in a convection oven. Should I cover for a portion of the time so the fan doesn’t dry out the chicken?

  9. Greg Steele says

    5 stars
    I usually don’t comment but this was delicious. I do consider myself an above average cook and am impressed this only took a few simple steps

  10. Meg says

    Why in the word does it say there are 1672 mg of sodium per serving in this? The recipe only calls for 1/2 tsp kosher salt for the whole thing which is only 560 mg. If it’s the bbq sauce (I make my own without salt so no idea how much sodium is in commercial sauce) then this really isn’t a “healthy” meal as one serving would account for 70% of your daily sodium.

  11. Suzanne Dailey says

    I have a question; I’m a little confused about the cooking time. First, times are listed as 10 mins for prep and 20 minutes to cook. Then in the directions, you say to cook for 30 minutes. then after 15 minutes turn the chicken and bake until cooked through. So… if I understand, I cook for 15 mins, turn, baste and bake for… another 15? Less?

    Thank you in advance!

    • Rena says

      Hi There. The total bake time is 30 minutes. So yes, after the first 15 minutes, flip it. Depending on the thickness of the chicken breast, it may need a bit more time.

  12. Beck says

    5 stars
    I am not new to cooking, been cooking family dinners since I was 9. I am now 35 and one of my hobbies us reading recipes in n books, magazines and on the net. I don’t often cook a recipe untwined I saw this recipe and thought YES!

  13. Bake says

    Made this recipe for Sunday dinner. The chicken was delicious. I took my favorite barbeque sauce and added 1/3 cup brown sugar. That made it spicy, sweet, and juicy.

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