Baked BBQ Chicken

We all love a good grilled chicken, and this Baked BBQ Chicken has all the flavors and smokiness, but it’s made quickly and easily in the kitchen instead! You’ll get perfectly juicy and tender chicken without the heat of grilling outside. The secret? A simple honey and barbecue sauce marinade that’s so easy to whip up.

Best Barbecue Chicken in the Oven

The origin of this BBQ Chicken recipe was to take this Chicken Cobb Salad up a level. 

I had the idea to cook my own chicken, but I wanted more pizzaz than a plain ol’ baked chicken breast.

When I added the simple step of marinating juicy, tender chicken breasts in a sweet and savory barbecue sauce, this incredible and flavorful chicken was born.

Fair warning, though… Once your family has this recipe for the first time, they’ll be begging for it again and again. 

And did I mention it only takes 30 minutes to make? Weeknight dinners just got a whole lot easier—and tastier.

Ingredients

The handful of ingredients you need to make the best oven-baked BBQ chicken include:

• Chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are used for this recipe. Be sure to cut them into evenly sized portions, around 4 to 5 ounces. You can use a different cut of chicken, like thighs, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time.
• Barbecue sauce. You can choose any variety you want. Be sure you like the flavors because they’ll come through in the end. Keep an eye on the sugar content, though.
• Honey. A local honey will also help with seasonal allergies! 
• Garlic. Minced garlic adds so much to this chicken dish. Be sure to use fresh garlic if possible. Garlic powder can be subbed if necessary.
• Lime juice. Freshly squeezed lime juice cuts the sweetness of the sauce a little.

How to Make Baked Barbecue Chicken

Below you’ll find the easy steps to make this baked BBQ chicken breast recipe at home:

Make the Sauce

Preheat the oven to 350℉.

Slice the chicken breasts into 4- to 5-ounce portions with a sharp knife.

In a medium-sized or large bowl, stir together your favorite barbecue sauce, honey, lime juice, garlic, and salt. Set aside ¼ cup of the sauce. You’ll use this as the chicken finishes cooking.

Add the raw chicken to the bowl with the rest of the sauce and toss until combined.

If you have some extra time, let the chicken marinate covered with aluminum foil for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the fridge.

Bake the Chicken

After the chicken has marinated, place the chicken pieces into a 9×13-inch baking dish in a single layer. You can also use a rimmed baking sheet if you’re making a large batch. Line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Bake chicken in the preheated 350℉ oven for 24 to 26 minutes. 

When there are about 5 minutes of cooking left, brush the remaining marinade on the chicken breasts. The chicken is done when the middle isn’t pink and an instant-read thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 165℉. (Here’s more on the question, What temperature is chicken done?)

Meal Prep and Storage

• How to prep ahead of time: Make the marinade and let the chicken chill for up to overnight in the fridge.
• How to store: Leftover chicken will last for up to 3-4 days if sealed in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• How to freeze: Place chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 4 to 6 months.
• How to reheat: You can warm the chicken back up in the microwave, air fryer, or oven.

Is baked BBQ chicken healthy?

Because it is baked, BBQ chicken is relatively healthy. However, there is a good bit of sugar in the sauce. Choose a BBQ sauce lower in added sweeteners for a healthier option.

What are some tips for making baked BBQ chicken?

The biggest tips are cutting the chicken into 4- to 5-ounce portions and letting it sit in the marinade for several hours. This will ensure the chicken cooks evenly and has plenty of flavor.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Nice and even. Cut the chicken into 4- to 5-ounce portions so it cooks at the same rate. 
• Be picky. Make sure you choose a BBQ sauce you love!
• Go local. Grab a honey made from local bees.
• Save a little. Don’t forget to reserve ¼ cup of the marinade before adding the chicken to the rest of the marinade.
• Get creative. This chicken is delicious on its own, on top of a salad, or in a sandwich.
• Extra flavor. For some kick on these BBQ chicken breasts, add some brown sugar, onion powder, or even chili powder to the sauce.

What to Serve with Barbecue Chicken

This easy baked BBQ chicken will quickly become a family favorite. It’s the perfect addition to this BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad. 

It also makes a meal with one of these easy sides.

To bring out the sweetness of the sauce, try Instant Pot Glazed Carrots or Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes. Kids will love Cheesy Broccoli Tots.

Get your greens with Sautéed Green Beans, Southern Collard Greens with Bacon, or Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower.

More Chicken Breast Recipes

Can you have too many chicken breast recipes? Not sure that’s possible. Try any of these simple and healthy recipes next.

Gluten-free Chicken Parmesan, Caprese Chicken, Chicken Bryan, and Chicken Piccata are so full of flavor.

Don’t miss this Honey Mustard Chicken, Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Chicken Breast, and Hot Honey Chicken.

Learn How to Thaw Chicken Fast so you can always have chicken ready.