Super juicy Baked BBQ Chicken Breast is easy to make in your oven! I’ve got a few simple tricks for authentic sweet, tangy, and smoky barbecue flavor.
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True BBQ flavor in the oven.
This isn’t your ordinary baked BBQ chicken breast! By both marinating the chicken in an easy BBQ Chicken Marinade, and finishing it with Homemade Barbecue Sauce, you get more moisture, and sweet and tangy flavor in every bite.
- When it comes to weeknight dinners, this baked BBQ chicken breast recipe is a hero. You can prep it the night before and then have it cooked and ready to eat in under 30 minutes (find even more ideas in my 30 Minute Meals!).
- The technique in this BBQ chicken recipe is based on my wildly popular Baked Chicken Breasts, so it’s guaranteed to be a winner winner chicken dinner.
- Like my BBQ Chicken Salad and Crockpot BBQ Chicken, this baked BBQ chicken uses easy ingredients to create restaurant-worthy flavor. If you want to make it even faster, use your favorite brand of storebought BBQ sauce!
5 Star Review
“I made this chicken yesterday and we all loved it! Tender, moist, yum!”
— Bernadette —
My Tips for Perfect Barbecue Baked Chicken
- Pound the Chicken. This allows you to make sure your chicken is the same thickness throughout, which means that all of your chicken breasts will finish cooking at the same time.
- Marinate Overnight. If you have time, marinating the chicken overnight will help make it extra flavorful. That said, longer isn’t better—after 24 hours, the marinade will begin to break down the fibers in the chicken making it mushy.
- Don’t Brush the Chicken Right Away. Applying the sauce after the chicken has been in the oven for a while is key to getting the sauce to stick. Apply the first coating of sauce when the chicken reaches 150 degrees F, then slather more BBQ sauce on after serving.
- Use a Meat Thermometer. Don’t watch the clock! The best way to know when your chicken is done cooking is to use an instant-read thermometer.
Leftover Ideas
Add leftover chicken to sandwiches, wraps, and salads. I also love the flavor of BBQ chicken breasts with Instant Pot Mac and Cheese. Or, layer it pizza dough for a riff on my BBQ Chicken Pizza.
What to Serve with Baked BBQ Chicken
- Potatoes. Complement your protein with some carbs! Roasted Red Potatoes and Air Fryer Baked Potatoes would both work well with baked BBQ chicken.
- Fries. Make your baked BBQ chicken into a sandwich and serve it with a side of Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.
- Vegetables. You can’t go wrong with a simple vegetable side like Roasted Asparagus or Grilled Corn on the Cob.
- Salad. Keep it light with Healthy Coleslaw or Black Bean Corn Salad on the side.
Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
The secret to this tender oven baked BBQ chicken breast recipe is using a BBQ marinade AND a sauce for double the flavor and extra juiciness!
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Ingredients
For the Baked Chicken:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts see notes
- BBQ Chicken Marinade below
- Homemade Barbecue Sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce, optional
For the Marinade:
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry, then place chicken breasts on a cutting board; if desired lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the top to keep things tidy. With a meat mallet or rolling pin, gently pound the breasts into an even thickness. Place in a sturdy ziptop bag or a small dish that will hold it snugly.
- In a small bowl, stir together the marinade ingredients: ketchup, maple syrup, vinegar, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Add the marinade to the chicken (either the bag or the dish). Seal the bag (if using), squeezing out as much air as possible. Turn to coat the chicken in the marinade. Marinade the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
- When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature while you preheat the oven. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet or baking dish large enough to hold the chicken without it touching with parchment paper.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the parchment paper. Bake BBQ chicken for 14 to 16 minutes (for small/medium breasts that are about 6 to 7 ounces), 16 to 20 minutes (for medium/large breasts that are 8 to 10 ounces), or 20 to 25 minutes (for larger breasts). For best results, use an instant-read thermometer. When the breasts reach 165°F, they are done. Note that the chicken’s temperature will rise as it rests; I prefer to remove mine at 155°F. If desired, when the chicken has about 5 minutes left, brush it liberally with BBQ sauce.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate or cutting board. Cover and let rest for a minimum of 5 minutes. Enjoy hot with a side of barbecue sauce as desired.
Notes
- This recipe works for a variety of cuts of chicken, both bone-in and boneless. For cooking times, for other cuts, see Baked Bone In Chicken Breast and Chicken Thighs in the Oven.
- Adapted from my Baked Chicken Breast and BBQ Chicken Marinade
- TO STORE: Refrigerate baked BBQ chicken breast in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Leftover chicken can be reheated in a baking dish in the oven at 350°F.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat according to the directions above.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 (of 4)Calories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 37gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 109mgPotassium: 764mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 632IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 2mg
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Super tasty! Enjoyed for a late summer dinner
Hi Gary! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
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 Bernadette!
Really good BBQ chicken. I never have good results baking chicken in the oven but this recipe was so good. I used boneless skinless chicken and adjusted the cooking time. So easy and good!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it, Karen!
I have been on the hunt for a really good oven baked barbecue chicken recipe and I finally found it with this one!! I followed this recipe to the tee and it came out perfect.
So happy to hear that Beverly! Thank you!
I made the chicken this evening, everyone loved it. Easy and delicious. I served it with Hawaiian Coleslaw and steam rice. Perfect combo!
Yay! So happy to hear that, Pauline! Thank you!
Thank you for this deliciously quick and easy chicken recipe. Made it for dinner today and had no issues with any of the process. Added a side of sautéed squash.
Yay! Thank you Nicole!
This was delicious!! Took a little longer to cook but chicken always varies. Such an easy, simple but absolutely delicious recipe. I’ll definitely be making it again
This BBQ Chicken was easy and delicious! My elderly picky eaters cleared their plates! I will be making this again soon!
Yay! Thank you Anais!
I came across this recipe last week, it was so delicious that it has become a regular on our dinner rotation, we just had it for dinner last night! The chicken is always delicious even my picky 5 year old loves it! Since I came across it again I wanted to leave a review since our family loves it so much!!
I am so thankful that Well Plated has basic every day recipes like this one. This chicken turned out exactly like she said it would and this will now be in our monthly meal rotation. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed the chicken, Erin! Thank you!
Can you freeze uncooked chicken in marinade?
Hi Diane, Yes! Just thaw overnight, then cook the same day. Enjoy!
Made this tonight after work and honestly, I was impressed. I don’t usually bake chicken breasts because they turn out dry, but this one stayed juicy. I used store-bought BBQ sauce (whatever was in my fridge) and it still came out tasty. Super easy, no weird steps. Definitely a keeper for busy nights. Thank you!
So happy to hear, Georgina! Thank you!
This was exactly what I needed after a long day. Nothing complicated, just basic ingredients and clear instructions. I didn’t have a meat thermometer but still managed to keep the chicken from drying out. Definitely saving this one. Thanks, Erin!
So glad to hear it worked well for you, Dorothy! Thank you!
This came out well and my kids liked it, which is a win in my book. I used my homemade BBQ sauce I had leftover. The chicken was done in about 20 minutes, so just be careful not to overbake. I served it with mashed potatoes and coleslaw and it made a nice meal.
Love to hear that, Samantha! Thank you!