If you’re looking for a flavorful, juicy chicken recipe that’s easy to throw together, you’ll love this Baked Barbecue Chicken Breasts recipe. Thanks to the homemade BBQ sauce, it’s a weeknight-friendly dish packed with tangy, sweet, and smoky flavors. Bonus: it’s all baked in the oven with minimal fuss!
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This recipe delivers on taste and convenience, making it a dependable dinner choice when time is short but you still want something homemade and hearty. The ingredients are pantry-friendly, the prep is minimal, and the result is flavorful and crowd-pleasing. Make it once, and it’ll earn a spot in your regular dinner rotation!
How to make baked barbecue chicken breasts
First, gather your ingredients.
Ingredients
For best taste, always use the highest quality ingredients you have access to.
To make this easy BBQ chicken breast recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
For the Chicken:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
For the Homemade Barbecue Sauce:
- Ketchup
- Apple cider vinegar
- Water
- Worcestershire sauce
- Packed light brown sugar
- Soy sauce (regular or gluten free)
- Yellow mustard
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Smoked paprika
Feel free to customize this recipe to suit your preferences. You can swap the chicken breasts for boneless skinless thighs, use a gluten-free soy sauce, or even grab your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce in a pinch. Add a dash of hot sauce for some kick, or mix in a bit of honey for extra sweetness.
Making BBQ Chicken in the oven
BBQ Chicken Breasts are a simple dish that can be made in just a few steps. Here is how to make it.
Preheat and Prep:
Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray it with cooking spray for easy cleanup.
Make the BBQ Sauce:
Combine all barbecue sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Prep the Chicken:
While the sauce simmers, pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place it in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Add 1 cup of the BBQ sauce (reserve the remaining 1/2 cup for serving) and toss to coat.
Bake:
Arrange the coated chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet. Spoon any remaining sauce from the bowl over the top.
Bake for 23-28 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F-175°F.
Optional Broil:
Turn on the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking for an extra-glossy and caramelized finish.
Tips For Success
- Shortcut: You can totally use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce in place of homemade if you’re in a pinch.
- Serving Ideas: This chicken is great with rice and steamed broccoli, or sliced over a hearty salad.
- Chicken Swap: Boneless skinless chicken thighs work beautifully in this recipe, too.
Leftovers
Store leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Always use common sense and good judgment when it comes to leftovers, though! If something looks or smells funky, don’t eat it.
I hope y’all enjoy this easy baked barbecue chicken recipe! Let me know if you try it.
More Recipes Like This
- BBQ Chicken Salad
- Grilled Chicken Thighs
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe
- Baked Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
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Baked Barbecue Chicken Breast
This easy baked barbecue chicken recipe will make your whole family happy and full! Simple to make, and tastes delicious!
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
For the Homemade Barbeque Sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce regular or gluten free
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a rimmed cookie sheet with foil and grease with cooking spray.
- In a medium saucepan, combine all the Homemade Barbeque Sauce ingredients. Turn the heat to medium and bring to a simmer. Reduce to low and simmer for 10 minutes, mixing occasionally.
- Meanwhile, pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Place chicken in a large bowl and drizzle the chicken with the oil, salt and pepper.
- Add 1 cup of the Homemade BBQ sauce to the bowl (saving 1⁄2 cup sauce for later) and turn chicken to coat.
- Place chicken onto the prepared baking sheet and spoon any of the excess sauce from the bowl over the chicken.
- Bake for 23-28 minutes or until the chicken registers 165°F-175°F on an instant read thermometer.
- Optionally, turn the broiler on for 2-3 minutes to make the glaze extra golden and bubbly.
- Let cool for 10 minutes, then slice and serve with remaining 1⁄2 cup sauce for dipping.
Recipe Notes
- You can use store-bought BBQ sauce, but this recipe is super easy and tastes amazing! If you use store-bought sauce, you’ll need 1.5 cups total.
- Slice and serve with rice and broccoli, or even serve in a large salad.
- Feel free to swap the chicken breast with boneless skinless chicken thighs.
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