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.
This baked BBQ chicken breast isn’t like other chicken breasts! The chicken gets more moisture and sweet and sour flavor from an easy BBQ Chicken Marinade, and then it’s finished with Homemade Barbecue Sauce.
Barbecue chicken is a classic summertime favorite. The smoky sweet and tangy barbecue sauce pairs perfectly with chicken. While grilling is the traditional method for cooking barbecue chicken, baking it in the oven is an easy and convenient alternative especially when the weather is too hot or cold for grilling. The key to oven-baked barbecue chicken is ensuring the chicken cooks long enough to become tender and absorb the sauce’s robust flavor.
Factors That Determine Baking Time
Several factors impact how long you need to bake barbecue chicken
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Cut of Chicken – Dark meat chicken thighs and legs take longer to bake than white meat chicken breasts. Bone-in pieces also require more time than boneless.
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How Much Chicken: The longer the chicken takes to cook, the more of it you put in the oven.
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Oven Temperature – Chicken bakes faster at higher temperatures like 400°F vs. 350°F.
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Thickness of Chicken – Thicker, larger pieces of chicken need more time than thinner cuts.
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Doneness Preference – Chicken can be baked until no longer pink inside, or longer for very tender and falling off the bone.
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Baking Vessel – Metal pans heat faster than glass or ceramic.
How to Tell When Barbecue Chicken is Done
Since so many factors impact bake time, the best way to test doneness is by:
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Temperature – Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches 165°F internally.
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Piercing – Meat should feel firm when pierced with a knife or fork. If the juices run clear, it is fully cooked.
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Cutting – Slice into a piece of chicken. It should not be pink inside.
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Skin – The skin will become crispy and browned when chicken is fully baked.
Recommended Bake Times for Barbecue Chicken
Here are general guidelines for how long to bake boneless, bone-in, and whole chickens with barbecue sauce:
Boneless Chicken Breasts
- 325°F oven – 35-40 minutes
- 350°F oven – 30-35 minutes
- 375°F oven – 25-30 minutes
- 400°F oven – 20-25 minutes
Chicken Thighs and Legs
- 325°F oven – 45-60 minutes
- 350°F oven – 35-50 minutes
- 375°F oven – 30-45 minutes
- 400°F oven – 25-40 minutes
Whole Chicken
- 325°F oven – 1-1.5 hours
- 350°F oven – 1-1.25 hours
- 375°F oven – 50-70 minutes
- 400°F oven – 45-60 minutes
Keep in mind that these times are for chicken that has already been brushed with barbecue sauce. If you bake chicken without any sauce on top for the last 10 to 15 minutes, it may need a little less time.
Don’t just look at the time to tell if the chicken is fully cooked; always use visual tests like poking and cutting as well. Every oven heats differently which can lead to variances.
Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Juicy Barbecue Chicken
Follow these simple steps for barbecue baked chicken that turns out moist and full of flavor:
1. Prepare the Chicken
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For bone-in chicken, season all sides with salt, pepper, and spices if desired.
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For boneless chicken breasts, pound them to an even thickness so they cook evenly.
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For more even cooking, let the chicken sit at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before putting it in the oven.
2. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
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Preheat oven to 350°F-400°F. Higher temperatures in this range help the chicken brown.
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Line a baking sheet or baking dish with foil or parchment for easy cleanup.
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For more browning and crispiness, use a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. This allows air flow under the chicken.
3. Bake the Chicken Plain
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Arrange chicken pieces skin side up on the prepared pan, leaving space between each piece.
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Bake for 20-25 minutes for bone-in chicken. 10-15 minutes for boneless chicken breasts.
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Baking the chicken plain first helps render the fat and start the browning process.
4. Brush on Some Barbecue Sauce
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Remove chicken from the oven and brush liberally with barbecue sauce using a basting brush.
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Flip bone-in chicken over and coat the other side with sauce too.
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Return chicken to oven for 5-7 more minutes.
5. Repeat Sauce Application and Finish Baking
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Remove chicken from oven again and apply a second coating of barbecue sauce to each piece.
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Place back in oven and bake until chicken registers 165°F internally and/or juices run clear when pierced.
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If desired, apply one final layer of barbecue sauce in the last 5 minutes of baking so it caramelizes onto the chicken.
6. Let Chicken Rest and Serve
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Once chicken is done baking, remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
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This allows the juices to reabsorb back into the meat.
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Serve barbecue chicken warm alongside classic sides like cornbread, coleslaw, baked beans, or mac and cheese.
The key is allowing enough bake time for the chicken to become very tender. Frequent basting with sauce helps keep the chicken moist while also infusing tons of barbecue flavor. Letting the chicken rest before serving ensures it stays juicy when you bite into it.
So next time you get a craving for saucy barbecue chicken, just turn on your oven instead of the grill. In around an hour or less, you can enjoy bakery tender, tangy and sweet oven-baked barbecue chicken right from your kitchen. Adjust the bake time as needed based on thickness and doneness preference, and you will have finger lickin’ good barbecue chicken anytime without having to grill.
Other Cuts of Chicken
This recipe works for a variety of cuts of chicken, both bone-in and boneless.
Use the marinade and sauce to make barbecue chicken wings, chicken drumsticks, skin-on chicken thighs, BBQ chicken tenders, dark meat—whatever! Just note that the cooking times will vary.
Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
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- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts see notes
- BBQ Chicken Marinade below
- Homemade Barbecue Sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce, optional
- Dry the chicken and then put the breasts on a cutting board. If you want to keep things neat, you can put a sheet of plastic wrap on top. Slowly pound the breasts into a flat surface with a meat mallet or rolling pin. Put it in a strong bag with a zipper or a small dish that will hold it snugly.
- Ketchup, maple syrup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper should all be mixed together in a small bowl to make the marinade.
- Add the sauce to the chicken (in the dish or the bag). If you’re using a bag, seal it and squeeze out as much air as you can. Turn to coat the chicken in the marinade. Let the chicken sit in the sauce for at least two hours and up to a day.
- Take the chicken out of the fridge when you’re ready to cook it and let it sit at room temperature while you heat up the oven. Warm the oven up to 425°F and put a rack in the middle of it. Cover a baking sheet or dish with a lid and make sure it’s big enough to hold the chicken without touching.
- Take the chicken out of the marinade and put it on the baking sheet. For breasts that are about 6 to 7 ounces, bake the chicken in the BBQ for 14 to 16 minutes. For breasts that are 8 to 10 ounces, bake it for 16 to 20 minutes, and for breasts that are bigger, bake it for 20 to 25 minutes. For best results, use an instant-read thermometer. When the breasts reach 165°F, they are done. Keep in mind that the chicken’s temperature will rise while it rests; I like to take mine out at 155°F. If you want, brush the chicken all over with BBQ sauce when it has about 5 minutes left.
- 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.
- This recipe can be used for both bone-in and boneless chicken cuts. See Baked Bone-In Chicken Breast and Chicken Thighs in the Oven for cooking times for other cuts.
- Adapted from my Baked Chicken Breast and BBQ Chicken Marinade
- TO STORE: For up to three days, put baked BBQ chicken breast in the fridge in a container that won’t let air in.
- TO REHEAT: You can heat up leftover chicken in the oven at 350°F in a baking dish.
- TO FREEZE: Put leftovers in a container that won’t let air in and freeze them for up to three months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge, and then heat it up as directed above.
THE BEST OVEN BAKED BBQ CHICKEN RECIPE! | SERIOUSLY IT’S BOMB!
FAQ
How do you cook chicken in a BBQ oven?
Getting your oven ready and preparing your chicken correctly are crucial for a successful BBQ chicken meal. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This temperature is just right so that the chicken cooks all the way through and the BBQ sauce forms a nice glaze.
How do you cook BBQ chicken all year round?
Baked BBQ Chicken is the best way to enjoy BBQ chicken all year round! We use only 2 ingredients and have perfected our baking method so that the chicken turns out juicy with the best sweet and sticky glaze every time! Place the chicken in a bowl and pour ½ cup of the BBQ sauce over top.
What is baked BBQ chicken?
Baked BBQ Chicken is the best way to enjoy BBQ chicken all year round. Just two ingredients and a great baking method make sure that the chicken always comes out juicy and with the best sweet and sticky glaze. I make this recipe at least once a month, so I know how to get it just right.
What temperature should BBQ chicken be cooked to?
There should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit of heat inside a chicken thigh. Cooking times will vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken. Can I make Best Oven Baked BBQ Chicken on the grill?.
How long do you cook chicken thighs in the oven?
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. For easy cleanup, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chicken on the baking sheet skin side down. (Reserve any extra BBQ sauce left in the bowl.) Bake the chicken for 25 minutes. Flip the chicken over and baste the top with the BBQ sauce that was in the marinating bowl.
How do you reheat BBQ chicken?
To reheat your BBQ chicken, you want to maintain its moisture. Here’s a great method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the chicken in a baking dish and add a splash of chicken broth or water. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to trap moisture. Heat for about 20 minutes, or until warmed through.
How long do you cook chicken on the barbecue at 350 degrees?
Cover with plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet, or even a rolling pin, until the breast is an even 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Grill over direct medium heat (350º to 450º) until the chicken breast reads 165º F with an instant-read thermometer. Flip once. Approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
How long does it take to cook chicken at 350 degrees in the oven?
At 350 degrees you should count on 20-25 minutes per pound for a 3 to 8 pound chicken. As with all meats, check the temperature 15-20 minutes before the time it should be done. You never know how accurate your oven is, and you don’t want to overcook and dry out the chicken.
What is the proper cooking temperature for barbeque chicken?
BBQ Chicken Temperature: The FDA recommends that bbq chicken reaches 165°F at the thickest point.