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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.
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.
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 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! This baked BBQ Chicken recipe 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 recipe. Full measurements are listed further down below.
- 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.
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 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. 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
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
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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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Why is this called 30 minute baked chicken if the directions call for you to cook for 40-50 minutes?
a typo. Fixing now
This was a great bbq recipe. Fixed it with cheesy corn, baked beans and garlic and butter asparagus. Made a wonderful dinner that we thoroughly enjoyed.
Perfect! Thank you. Glad you loved it
I’m amazed nobody commented on the part of the recipe where they say “Feel free to ASS more barbecue sauce if needed.” Doesn’t anyone care enough anymore to check before they post something.
Most people don’t spend their time rudely pointing out smalls errors people make. If you absolutely felt the need to point it out, you could have done so more kindly.
I made this for my very picky daughter…it was a risk but she loved it, said it was so flavorful. I gave her leftover BBQ sauce in case she wanted more and she didn’t even use it. I did use black pepper instead of white because that’s all I had and I took an idea from another recipe and mixed about a quarter cup of teriyaki sauce into the BBQ sauce.
That sounds yummy with the addition of teriyaki. So glad she loved it. Thanks for the feedback. Always appreciate it
Really good and very easy! Will make again!
Thanks, Pam. Glad you liked it
Made this last night. Easy, tender, and delicious. Definitely a keeper! Thanks so much for sharing !
Thanks for the feedback Nancy
I just made this. Very easy and delicious! I will definitely make this again. Thanks for the recipe.
My wife always tells me she doesn’t like BBQ chicken but I tried this recipe and she LOVED it!
Amazing!
It’s looks so delicious
We loved this recipe! My son said it was the best bbq chicken I’ve ever made!!! And it’s super easy!!! Thank you!
Nice. Thank you so much
What brand of BBQ sauce did you use?
My husband twists his nose when we have chicken. His own words after eating this chicken recipe: “May I have some more? This might be my chicken favorite recipe of all times”.
Fast (I slice the chicken breast and it cooks in half the time), easy, tasty…a win-win!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for such a nice feedback. Glad he loved it
Great recipe and instructions. It came out delicious. The spice rub is the perfect blend as a base for the BBQ sauce.
So easy and delicious!
Sooooo delicious and moist! Thank you!! I’ll certainly be making this often.
Delicious!!! I shared this recipe with my sister she will be making it too. Everyone loved it. Thank you much!!!
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” !!
Hi. it all depends on the oven. Some ovens will need a longer bake time.
Marianne, please don’t be ugly and rude when the error is not on Rena’s recipe or cook times.
Thank you Stormy. So kind of you
Time to get a new oven. Mine is brand new and perfectly 165 at exactly 40 min – just as chef suggested! Yum.
Probably having Karen at the table is what ruined your dinner – not the recipe.
Blaming someone else for your cooking failures is diabolical LOL.
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.
I have to agree. Anytime I bake chicken breasts in the oven, I always put it on 375 degrees for about 50 minutes, depending on thickness. So, don’t know why they’re being so hateful about it. Mine is in the oven now
Right. All ovens vary too. The cooking time of the oven in basement is way different than the one in my main floor! Its just hard to specify the “exact” time anything needs in the oven.
Can I prep this and freeze it to be ready for another day
Yes you can
Mine came out super watery after cooked. But didn’t taste too bad.
Super tender and delicious! My husband loved it.