This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
If you love recipes that are light, kid-friendly, and easy to make this Baked Chicken Breast with barbeque glaze is just for you. The 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 and I think you might also like my baked BBQ chicken drumsticks.
Want to make it a full meal? Serve with my Garlic Parmesan Baked Potato Wedges or my Healthy Potato Salad.
Recipe Overview
Before you get started
→ You do not have to use chicken breasts. This can be swapped with boneless and skinless chicken thighs or another type of protein that you prefer.
→ Don’t overcook the chicken breasts! Listen, the ovens will vary, and the size of the chicken breast you are using will also vary, and thus the time it will take for the chicken breast to cook through will vary. Expect anywhere between 40-50 minutes.
→ Make ahead: Marinate the chicken breasts the night before. It will save a bit of time.
→ Consider adding some veggies. For the last 20 minutes of the bake time, add in some broccoli florets or green beans (rinse and season ahead with salt and pepper).
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.
Yes. If you prefer using boneless and skinless chicken thighs, you can. Just keep in mind the nutritional value change.
Yes. You can use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce. There are many great low-sugar options out there now.
Ovens vary, and the size of the chicken breast you use plays a factor in the bake time. In my oven, they needed 40 minutes until they reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
Ingredients needed
This is just a list of ingredients you will need to make this dish. Full measurements are listed further down below in the recipe card.
- Chicken breasts: If you prefer using boneless and skinless chicken thighs, you can. Don’t like chicken? Use salmon fillets.
- Avocado oil: You may use avocado oil or whatever oil you have on hand.
- 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 my 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.
1️⃣ Season the 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.
✏️ You can do this ahead or even the night before and let it just marinate.
2️⃣ Add BBQ sauce and Bake
Next, when ready to bake the chicken, remove it from the ziploc bag and place it into the prepared dish. Brush the seasoned chicken breast with half of the BBQ sauce (could be homemade or store bought) and bake them in the oven for about 40-50 minutes.
✏️ Flip the chicken breasts 20 minutes in onto the other side, brush again with the BBQ sauce, and continue to bake until cooked through (about another 20 minutes). In my oven they needed 40 minutes, yours may need another 10 minutes. Also, to check for doneness, use a food thermometer and check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken breast. Once it reaches 165°F, it is ready.
Once done, remove from the oven. Slice and serve warm with the remaining BBQ sauce.
What to serve with Barbecue Chicken
You can serve this barbecue Chicken with any sides you like! For a well-rounded meal, choose a vegetable, a 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 them in the microwave or a preheated oven for 5-7 minutes. Feel free to add more BBQ sauce if needed.
Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
Video
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.
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.
More chicken recipes
- Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Creamy Cajun Chicken
- Southwest chicken salad
- Honey Mustard Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Thai Basil Chicken
- Baked Cashew Chicken and Veggies
- Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Skillet
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItYou may also like
- Beef Stew
- BBQ Salmon
- Cottage Cheese Lasagna
- Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- BBQ Shrimp
- Grilled BBQ Chicken Skewers
I made this chicken yesterday and we all loved it! Tender, moist, yum!! Even my son, who does not like chicken or barbecue, said it was really good. That’s saying a lot! I look forward to trying other recipes you have posted. Thank you for sharing your talents with everyone!
Thanks for the feedback Kristi
Yummy! Nice and moist and flavorful
Thank You.
The chicken breasts looked boneless (except if substituting boneless chicken thighs)? I was looking for a boneless recipe but it said neither bone-in nor boneless. I am going to try with boneless breasts as the recipe looks delicious. Thanks so much.
Boneless Yes. I almost never use bone-in chicken breast.
what bbq sauce do you use?
My son who hates chicken because he gets bland chicken all the time at college went back for seconds, then thirds! Terrific, simple, tasty recipe! Thank you! It has become a regular at our house
So glad he loved it.
Loved this oven baked chicken recipe. Will be fixing again soon. I did let the chicken and spices blend for about 30 minutes. Chicken was tender and delicious.
Thank you Leslie
In step 3 you should say cook for 15 minutes, not 30 then step 4. We cooked it too long because we thought you cooked for 30 minutes then flipped and cook 15. The rest of the recipe is perfect. Just should be worded a little different.
I clarified this better. Sorry about the confusion.
I’m still confused. So is the total cooking time just 30 mins..15 on each side or is it 30 mins on each side flipping every 15 mins?
Hi there. All Oven temps vary. But yes about 15-20 mins and flip, and another 15-20 minutes until they look crispy and done.
Sounds Fantastic and I will try it out and serve Greens and potatoes salad and Mac and cheese and Corn bread and A
German Chocolate cake for my Birthday QUEEN Dinner ❤️☺️
Thanks for sharing
Reconcile your cook time of 20 minutes with the actual cook time of 30 minutes AND THEN COOK UNTIL DONE!
THIS IS INCONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO PLAN, BESIDES MAKING PEOPLE SICK!
It is best to cook chicken until it reaches an internal temp of 165 since everyone’s oven varies. I clarified the instructions better. Sorry about the confusion.
You could also, you know, use common sense.
you should know to cook your chicken until its done. use a thermometer always. the only person to make someone sick is the person serving undercooked chicken, not the author of a recipe
Made the bbq chicken yesterday and the family liked it…healthy or not this is a great recipe..the spice mix and sauce meld perfectly…only change made was added a bit of honey to the sauce…thank you kindly for this excellent keeper of a recipe…
Glad you loved it. Thanks for the feedback
Thanks so much kiddos love chicken and just how ways you can make it❤️❤️❤️
I cannot rave about this recipe enough. It was absolutely delicious. My husband can’t stop talking about how good it was! I’ll definitely be making this chicken again!
Yay! If hubby is happy it’s a winner!
Delicious!
So delicious. I made with sugar free BBQ sauce and it was so good! Will definitely make this again.
Thanks for the feedback Hank
Boy this was delicious. I varied the recipe by using honey, hot sauce and BBQ sauce. It made my Memorial Day Weekend fantastic.
This was so good and easy too! Great recipe!
Can I prepare ahead of time and then cook later?
Thank you.
yes!
Our go to chicken dinner from now on. It’s even great without the BBQ sauce
So awesome!
I was so pleasantly surprised by how this came out. Very easy, already has all the ingredients. and came out so juicy! Thank you!
Perfect!
Hi! Do you know of a great tasting sugar free BBQ sauce, that’s either organic or non gmo? Thanks!
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
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!
Perfect
Thanks Debra