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This Oven Baked Barbecue Chicken recipe is super easy to prepare! The breaded chicken is perfectly cooked, always moist, and it’s done fast. Barbecue chicken in the oven? I like it better than the real thing!
This oven baked BBQ chicken breast recipe is my foolproof chicken recipe. I start off lightly breading the chicken and then baking it, then halfway through I add the BBQ sauce to have it bake into the chicken. This recipe will be done in under 45 minutes and produces juicy chicken breast that is always tender. It’s the perfect easy weeknight meal!
I always use chicken breasts because we prefer white meat. If you like dark meat you can also use chicken thighs, but I don’t recommend using bone-in chicken for this recipe. This method is my favorite way of cooking chicken and I know you’re going to love it too.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are what I always use, but you can also use chicken thighs (internal temperature and bake time will be different).
- Italian style Breadcrumbs are a favorite, or you can use Panko for more crunch and a better texture than standard crumbs.
- Herbs and Spices: Smoked Paprika, Black Pepper, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, and Kosher Salt
- Barbecue Sauce: Any kind you would like! My favorite right now is G. Hughes brand, it’s sugar-free but it doesn’t taste fake.
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions. See below the recipe card for even more information: process shots, variations, FAQ and more.
How to make Baked Chicken Breasts
- Pound them even: If your chicken breasts aren’t uniform in thickness, pound them with a meat mallet or rolling pin to ensure even cooking. You can also use a heavy skillet for this!
- Double dip for extra crunch: Dip your chicken in the egg, then the breadcrumbs, and repeat for an extra crispy coating.
- Add the barbecue sauce halfway though to prevent the sugars in the BBQ sauce from burning at the high 450°F temperature.
- If you want, you can add cheese on top when you add the barbecue sauce.
- For the juiciest results, do not rely on a kitchen timer alone. Because chicken breasts vary in size, always use an instant-read thermometer. Your BBQ chicken is perfectly cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Pulling it at this exact moment ensures the meat stays tender and doesn’t turn ‘woody’ or dry.
- Let your chicken rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to allow the juices to redistribute. This will make your chicken more juicy and flavorful.
How to make this without breading
Want a more traditional plain baked BBQ chicken recipe without breadcrumbs? Just leave them out! Baking chicken at high temperatures like this, and adding the BBQ sauce halfway though, keeps the chicken moist.
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Expert Tips
- I love eating this chicken alone, but it is also delicious when added into any kind of salad or with a vegetable on the side, like Brussels sprouts. It brings an extra spice and texture into your meals!
- I like to split the breasts in half to make them even throughout for even cooking.
- Would also be great with a side of mashed potatoes, French fries, rice, pasta, or sweet potatoes!
- Once you have the method for cooking chicken this way you can customize the flavors to your mood. Use cajun seasoning or taco seasoning, or herbs like oregano, thyme, and rosemary. You can even switch out the BBQ sauce for salsa, pasta sauce, or pesto.
Baked Barbecue Chicken Recipe
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 4 4-6 ounces each boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce use your favorite
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- If your chicken breasts are not even thickness, pound them even, or slice them so they are uniform in size and thickness.
- Place beaten egg in a shallow dish.
- Place breadcrumbs and spices in another shallow dish; stir to combine.
- Dip each chicken breast in the egg then in the breadcrumbs, coating both sides with the crumbs. Place in an even layer in the baking dish.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken looks golden and crisp. Do not turn.
- Pour the BBQ sauce evenly over the chicken and continue baking for 5-10 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and chicken is cooked through to 165°F.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
FAQs
Yes! You can easily swap the breasts for boneless, skinless chicken thighs. However, keep in mind that thighs have a higher fat content and require a longer bake time (usually 20–25 minutes) to reach an internal temperature of 175°F, which is the ‘sweet spot’ for tender dark meat.
How to make BBQ Chicken in the Oven (step-by-step)
- Pound chicken to even thickness. Dredge each breast in egg.
- Place breadcrumbs and spices in a shallow dish. Coat each chicken breast in the crumbs.
- Place in a 9×9-inch baking pan. Cook at 450°F.
- Halfway though baking, add BBQ sauce on top.
What to Serve with BBQ Chicken
- Air Fryer Broccoli is a great vegetable side dish. Or try roasted brussels sprouts!
- Crockpot mashed potatoes or oven roasted potatoes.
- Corn Casserole would complement the barbecue sauce!
Delicious and so moist. But l used drumsticks rather than the breasts because that’s what l had on hand.
I sooo Sppreciate your great recipes. IWILL be making these
I couldn’t believe how quick and easy this was. Thank you so much for posting this recipe. My chicken turned out delicious and hubby approved.
My 11 year old is super picky. He is not a big fan of chicken. He has a texture thing when it comes to the way certain foods are prepared or cooked. BUT!! This recipe was absolutely right on time. He loves this chicken recipe. He asked for seconds! Keeping this one on the top of the recipe list. Thank you!!!
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