These tender and juicy oven baked BBQ chicken breasts are the perfect dinner. Coated in a simple dry rub and baked to perfection. Then coated with your favorite barbecue sauce and broiled to create a delicious glaze.
Ingredients To Make Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
- Chicken: Use medium skinless and boneless chicken breast that are similar in size. This will allow them to be done at the same time.
- Olive Oil: Keeps the moisture in and lets the dry rub stick to the chicken.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a sweet flavor and caramelizes while being baked.
- Spices: I use a combination of mustard powder, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. To make a tasty dry rub to the chicken while it bakes in the oven.
- BBQ Sauce: I like to use my homemade barbecue sauce, but you can use your favorite store-bought kind.
The Key To Moist, Flavorful BBQ Chicken
It is all about adding the most flavor and keeping the chicken moist during the cooking process. I coat the chicken in olive oil, then add a combination of spices. Bake it at a high temperature to help it stay moist and juicy. Then, add a thick coating of barbecue sauce and broil it to give it a sticky-sweet caramelized sauce on the exterior.
How To Make Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
Here is how to make the best baked BBQ chicken.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl add brown sugar, mustard powder, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Whisk together the barbecue seasoning until any lumps are gone. Then, set aside.
- Next, coat the chicken with olive oil on both sides. Then, generously coat both sides of the chicken breasts with the barbecue dry rub.
- Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes or until the chickens internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Remove from the oven and turn the oven to broil. Then, generously brush barbecue sauce on all sides of the chicken.
- Return the chicken to the oven and broil for 3 minutes to caramelize the BBQ sauce.
- Remove and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
How Do You Make Barbecue Sauce?
I like to use my easy to make homemade barbecue sauce. But here are a few of the most popular types out there from some of my favorite food bloggers.
- Kansas City BBQ Sauce: Thicker with a sweet flavor and is my favorite.
- Carolina BBQ Sauces: Thin and has a tangy flavor from the vinegar
- Memphis BBQ Sauce: Thin and has a sweet smokey flavor with a little kick.
What Temperature is Chicken Done At?
To check if your chicken is fully cooked. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of the chicken breast. This should be the thickest part of the chicken and should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can I Use Bone In Chicken Breasts?
Yes, bone in chicken will give you the most flavor and help keep the chicken moist. You will need to add 2-3 minutes to the baking time. When you are checking the internal temperature. Make sure not to insert the probe next to the bone. I will cause an inaccurate reading on your thermometer.
How To Store/Freeze
If you happen to have leftovers, store it in a airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It also can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp brown sugar (packed)
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl add brown sugar, mustard powder, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Whisk together the barbecue seasoning until any lumps are gone. Then, set aside.
- Next, coat the chicken with olive oil on both sides. Then, generously coat both sides of the chicken breasts with the barbecue dry rub.
- Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes or until the chickens internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Remove from the oven and turn the oven to broil. Then, generously brush barbecue sauce on all sides of the chicken.
- Return the chicken to the oven and broil for 3 minutes to caramelize the BBQ sauce.
- Remove and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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Serving this tonight with broccoli crunch salad and bbq baked beans! I’m sure it will be a hit based on the flavor profile! I’m stepping it up to the spicer version using your BBQ dry rub extras: garlic & smoked paprika, both are ingredients my family loves! Thank you!
My family also likes things a little spicier. Thank you for sharing.
This recipe was a hit, what a weeknight savior! Really any night you want a quick and easy crowd pleaser, this is it. I used boneless chicken breasts and our favorite store bought BBQ. Thanks for sharing!
So glad you liked it. This is one of my families favorite ways to each chicken.
Everyone loved this! I had planned to grill, but the weather changed my plans and I found your recipe. The rub was enough for double the amount of meat. (I left out the cayenne since we prefer less heat.) I put the chicken on a broiler rack for more even cooking. I cooked for a crowd and everyone complemented it.