Oven BBQ Chicken Breasts

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/25/21
Tested by
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Tested by Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Baked BBQ chicken breast with white rice
The Spruce
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 chicken breasts

Barbecuing chicken can take a lot of time that sometimes isn't available during busy weeknights. But our simple oven BBQ chicken simplifies the process by baking boneless chicken breasts in a delicious homemade sauce. This quick recipe using pantry staples brings dinner to your table in just 40 minutes. During the cooking time, you can toss a salad and make quick microwave mashed potatoes for a complete and filling dinner. Other tasty options to accompany this chicken are mac and cheese, a potato salad, or a simple steamed rice.

A basic grill seasoning adds excellent flavor to the chicken breast, and if you don't have a blend at home, simply mix to taste items from your spice rack such as cumin, cayenne, paprika, salt, and powdered garlic and onions. Our recipe also includes a quick and easy homemade barbecue sauce to provide that quintessential smokey taste. For an even speedier preparation, use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce, but be mindful of the sugar content of the sauce as the higher it is, the more likely it is to burn easily in the oven.

Although chicken breasts can dry out fast, by rubbing them with oil first you're adding additional moisture and also providing a layer for the rub to stick to. Our BBQ chicken breasts always come out with the perfect amount of juiciness. If the chicken breasts you're using are very thick, you may be able to get by with just two. In order to feed more people and have the chicken cook evenly, slice them horizontally to make four cutlets. For extra flavor add sliced onions at the bottom of the baking dish.

"This delicious weeknight meal is simple and quick to prepare, making it an ideal family dinner for busy nights. The homemade barbecue sauce alone is worth keeping in your recipe collection. It may be a bit heavy on the ketchup for some tastes, so adjust it to your liking while still in the mixing bowl." —Colleen Graham

Oven BBQ Chicken Breast Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 4 boneless chicken breast, skin removed

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil, or canola oil

  • Grill seasoning, to taste

For the Barbecue Sauce:

  • 1 cup ketchup

  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, or canola oil

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for baked BBQ chicken breast
    The Spruce

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Rub the chicken breasts with the oil and sprinkle generously all over with the grill seasoning. Arrange in a greased shallow 2-quart baking dish. Alternatively, and for a quicker cleanup, line the baking dish with foil and grease the foil before adding the chicken to prevent sticking. 

    Seasoned chicken for baking
    The Spruce

  3. Combine the barbecue sauce ingredients in a bowl and stir to blend.

    Sauce for BBQ chicken
    The Spruce

  4. Pour the sauce over the chicken.

    BBQ chicken and sauce
    The Spruce

  5. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 40 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through. The chicken should register at least 165 F inside on an instant-read food thermometer, the minimum safe temperature for chicken consumption.

    Barbecue chicken covered in foil before baking
    The Spruce

  6. Serve with your favorite sides and enjoy.

    Baked barbecue chicken in a glass baking dish
    The Spruce

Flavorful Homemade Chicken Seasoning

Making your own grill seasoning for chicken is very easy. Here's one of our favorites:

  • Combine 2 teaspoons of freshly ground black pepper with one teaspoon each of kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, and ground coriander. Blend well and store in a small, clean spice jar or container. 

Recipe Variation

  • For the barbecue sauce, you can replace the maple syrup with either honey or packed brown sugar.

How to Store and Reheat Oven BBQ Chicken

Leftovers of BBQ chicken keep moist thanks to the sauce, which also will ensure they keep juicy when reheated. To safely store this chicken dish, cover and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat it in a 300 F oven, covered, for about 15 minutes or until heated through. If the dish looks dry, add a little extra barbecue sauce.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
359 Calories
10g Fat
29g Carbs
38g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 359
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 102mg 34%
Sodium 934mg 41%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 10%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 23g
Protein 38g
Vitamin C 4mg 18%
Calcium 57mg 4%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 598mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)