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.
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.
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
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.
faqs
Chicken drumsticks cook differently than chicken breasts. To make drumsticks, try this Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe.
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.
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.
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:
- 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
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
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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 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
Nancy says
Great recipe and instructions. It came out delicious. The spice rub is the perfect blend as a base for the BBQ sauce.
Nicole says
So easy and delicious!
Renee says
Sooooo delicious and moist! Thank you!! I’ll certainly be making this often.
Deann says
Delicious!!! I shared this recipe with my sister she will be making it too. Everyone loved it. Thank you much!!!
Marianne Scott says
I tried making this chicken and planning everything in the whole meal to be done by the time the chicken would be finished (according the the recipe!!!) Tookthe temp on the chicken 4o minutes later, and as all the sides were also finished, I realized the chicken was still not done, your recipe is very off on the cook time and ruined my dinner…thanks “chef” !!
Rena Awada says
Hi. it all depends on the oven. Some ovens will need a longer bake time.
Stormy says
Marianne, please don’t be ugly and rude when the error is not on Rena’s recipe or cook times.
Rena Awada says
Thank you Stormy. So kind of you
Katherine H McCoin says
One of my chicken breasts weighed 16 oz. So I basically had 4 lbs of chicken breast. I couldn’t figure out how to adjust. So I estimated. Let you know if my family eats it.
Laura says
Mine came out super watery after cooked. But didn’t taste too bad.
Jenelle says
Super tender and delicious! My husband loved it.
Louise says
I’ve made this recipe several times and it has always been delicious. Other than using olive oil in place of avocado oil, I follow the directions exactly as stated. Perfect every time!
Bryan says
This was super yummy! I smacked the chicken with a mallet a few times to get it a more consistent thickness and baked for 15 minutes. Then when I flipped I put in my internal read thermometer which is hard for me to live without. It just beeps when it gets to the temperature I have set and then no worries! I cook to 160 then take out and cover with foil and the temp goes up a bit. I also cooked at 450 as I have had a lot of luck in the past cooking for a shorter time at higher temp. Doesn’t matter much if you’ve got the thermometer though! I may try the broiler for a couple minutes at the end next time but the recipe was great as it is! Thanks again!
Debra Arlene Richardson says
Do you cover or put a lid on the chicken while it is baking?
Rena Awada says
No I don’t cover it. You can and for the last 10-15 minutes you should uncover it
Jean says
So easy to make i used sweet baby rays bbq sauce cooked chicken for 1 hr after 45 mins I brushed on more sauce. Rested chicken for 5 mins before serving. Made with parmesan potato wedges and mixed greens