This Baked BBQ Chicken Breast recipe is perfect those days that you crave BBQ, but don’t want to fire up the grill. The chicken is so juicy and flavorful, and it couldn’t be more simple to throw together for an easy, cheesy, delicious weeknight meal.
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The Best Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
Oven baked chicken breast recipes are the ultimate one-pan, weeknight meals. You can really just toss on your favorite sauces and cheese, and pop them in the oven. This Baked BBQ Chicken Breast recipe is healthy, delicious and perfect for whatever time of year you are craving BBQ.
Our family loves it fully-loaded with mozzarella cheese, bacon and chopped green onions, but it would taste great with all sorts of substitutions. Feel free to skip the bacon and green onions altogether, or else add even more toppings, like diced tomatoes and minced cilantro!
Ingredients in Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
- Chicken Breasts - we use boneless, skinless chicken breasts which has less saturated fat than other cuts, however any type of bone-in or dark meat chicken would taste great.
- Salt & Pepper - be sure to season both sides of your chicken breasts.
- Barbeque Sauce - our favorite brand is Sweet Baby Rays, which you can find at most grocery stores, but you can feel free to use your favorite, or even make your own. If you like your BBQ sauce on the sweeter side, you could even mix in a tablespoon or two of brown sugar.
- Shredded Cheese - we use mozzarella but if you like things a little spicy, pepperjack would taste great too.
- Bacon - you can cook your bacon ahead of time if you want, and just store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
- Green Onions - this is optional, and can be served on the side in a little bowl for each person to sprinkle on themselves.
How to Make Baked BBQ Chicken
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Set the chicken breasts in a baking dish. Use the bottom of a mason jar or sturdy cup to "whack" the chicken breasts a few times on the thickest part of the breast to tenderize the chicken.
- Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper to taste.
- Spoon the BBQ sauce on top of each chicken breast evenly, then sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the BBQ sauce.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, and the juices of the chicken run clear.
- While the chicken is in the oven, slice bacon into ½" strips.
- In a saucepan on med-high heat, add the bacon strips and saute for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown and slightly crispy.
- Scoop the bacon bits out of the pan with a slotted spoon or spatula, and drain on a paper towel until cool. Set aside.
- When the chicken is done baking, remove from the oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes to let the juices evenly distribute.
- Sprinkle the thinly sliced green onions and bacon bits over the chicken, and enjoy!
How Long to Bake BBQ Chicken Breast at 350 degrees
For this recipe, at 350 degrees, it will take about 30-35 minutes to bake your chicken breasts. The exact time will always depend on your oven, how many you are baking at once and what size they are, and how often you open the oven door (try not to!).
No matter what, you always need to be sure and check the internal temperature. It should read 165 degrees F when inserted halfway into the thickest spot of your chicken.
Can I Use Other Cuts of Chicken?
Yes - chicken thighs, wings and drumsticks will all taste great, but just keep in mind that the baking time will vary. Bone-in chicken will take a little longer to cook than boneless breasts. You also want to be careful when you check the temperature of bone-in chicken to make sure that your thermometer is not touching any bone.
How Can I Make Sure the Chicken Doesn’t Dry Out?
Since the chicken in this recipe is cooked with BBQ sauce, you won’t need to worry much about it drying out! Just be sure to check your cooking time and temperature to make sure you are cooking only until it reaches 165 degrees and not over-cooking it.
If you want even juicer chicken and don’t mind dark meat, you can use bone-in thighs and drumsticks. They are harder to overcook and juicy every time.
BBQ Chicken Meal Ideas
- Use to make BBQ Chicken Salad
- Serve with a Steakhouse Style Baked Potato, Herb Roasted Potatoes or The Best Sweet Potato Fries
- Dice and make a BBQ chicken bowl, with avocado, black beans, cheese, quinoa and corn.
- Eat with a cold salad like this Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad
- Serve over a heaping bed of Cilantro Lime Rice
Baked BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 Large Chicken Breasts boneless, skinless
- 1 Pinch Salt to taste
- 1 Pinch Pepper to taste
- ⅔ Cup Barbeque Sauce use your favorite brand, we love Sweet Baby Rays
- 1 Cup Monterey Jack Cheese shredded, can substitute pepperjack
- ½ Lb Bacon sliced into ½" strips
- 3 Tablespoons Green Onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Set the chicken breasts in a baking dish. Use the bottom of a mason jar or sturdy cup to "whack" the chicken breasts a few times on the thickest part of the breast to tenderize the chicken.
- Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper to taste.
- Spoon the BBQ sauce evenly over each chicken breast, then sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the BBQ sauce.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165 degrees and the juices of the chicken run clear.
- While the chicken is in the oven, slice bacon into ½" strips.
- In a saucepan on med-high heat, add the bacon strips and saute for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown and slightly crispy.
- Scoop the bacon bits out of the pan with a slotted spoon or spatula, and drain on a paper towel until cool. Set aside.
- When the chicken is done baking, remove from the oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes to let the juices evenly distribute.
- Sprinkle the thinly sliced green onions and bacon bits over the chicken, and enjoy!
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Here are some more chicken recipes that we love, too!
- Grilled Apricot Chicken
- Chicken Wrap in the Instant Pot
- Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
- Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
- Cornflake Chicken
- Baked Lemon Chicken
- Simple Oven Baked Chicken Breast
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This Baked BBQ Chicken Breast recipe is perfect those days that you crave BBQ, but don’t want to fire up the grill. It couldn’t be more simple to throw together for an easy, cheesy one-pan weeknight meal.
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