This Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken is an easy way to enjoy sticky, finger licking chicken that turns out tender and juicy every time. Seasoned chicken breasts are roasted, then smothered in BBQ sauce, and baked to perfection. This will be a family favorite recipe, guaranteed!

Close up side view of Oven roasted BBQ chicken slices.

This post was originally posted on 8/3/2020 and updated on 7/29/2022.

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Why We Love These Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Breasts

It's ridiculously easy to make. The oven does most of the work!
Requires simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your kitchen.
You can use your favorite bottled BBQ sauce or homemade sauce.
Family friendly dinner that the kids just love!
The BBQ sauce turns into a sticky, caramelized glaze that is so delicious!
The chicken breasts turn out tender and juicy.
So incredibly delicious!

Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken Ingredients

Substitution Suggestions:

Chicken Breasts: I mostly use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe. You can use bone-in with skin if you prefer. As well as legs or leg quarters. The cooking time will just need to be adjusted a bit. Bone-in chicken breasts will take a little longer to cook through.
BBQ Sauce: You can use your favorite BBQ sauce, homemade or bottled. I recommend using a thick BBQ sauce so it can adhere to the chicken better. You don't want a runny sauce or it won't coat the chicken well. It will run off and you'll be left with a pan of burnt sauce.
Olive Oil: Any neutral oil can be used. Canola, vegetable, or avocado are all good options.
Seasonings: You can season your chicken with your favorite blend of spices. I like garlic, onion, and paprika with BBQ sauce. It's a delicious combination.

Oven roasted BBQ chicken slices on spatula next to side of sauce.

How to Make the Juiciest Oven Baked BBQ Chicken

This recipe is really simple and only has a few steps.

Heat oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, combine the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper. Coat both sides of the chicken with the olive oil and then sprinkle or rub both sides with the spices.
Then place chicken on prepared baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes.

Roasted seasoned chicken breasts on sheet pan.

Next, slather half of the BBQ sauce on both sides of the chicken using a pastry brush. Place back in oven and bake another 10 minutes.
Brush the remaining BBQ sauce on the top side of the chicken and bake another 10-15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160°F.
Lastly, let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice it and serve it!

Top view of Oven roasted BBQ chicken breasts on sheet pan with tongs on the side of pan.

What to Serve with Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken

Here are some of our favorite recipes we like to have with BBQ chicken.

Storing Roasted BBQ Chicken

Store any leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. The chicken will last up to 4 days.

The chicken can be reheated in the microwave or in a low heat oven covered with foil until warmed through.

Oven roasted BBQ chicken on sheet pan with one chicken breast sliced with side of sauce.

Tips for the BEST Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken

For even cooking, make sure the chicken breasts are the same thickness throughout. You may need to pound some of the breasts to create an even thickness. The breasts should be around 1 inch thick.
Use the parchment paper. It's a lot easier to clean up than scrubbing caramelized BBQ sauce off the sheet pan.
Be careful with cross contamination from the chicken. Once you brush the chicken with the BBQ sauce the pastry brush is contaminated. If you put that brush back in the bowl of sauce, the sauce is now contaminated and can not be eaten unless it is cooked.
Use an instant read thermometer so you don't overcook your chicken. Cook chicken until the thickest part reaches 160°F and then let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
If you are using thinner chicken pieces or chicken cutlets, reduce the cook time so it doesn't get overcooked, and then check it with thermometer.

Top view of three Oven roasted BBQ chicken breasts of sheet pan.

Other Delicious Chicken Recipes:

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3.95 from 197 votes

Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 40

Servings:

Author: Heather

Ingredients

2 pounds chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, about 1 inch thick
1 cup BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper.
Rub the olive oil on both sides of the chicken and then sprinkle with spice blend and rub that into the chicken.
Place chicken on prepared sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes.
Using a pastry brush, brush half of the BBQ sauce on both sides of the chicken and bake for another 10 minutes.
Brush tops of chicken with remaining BBQ sauce and bake for 10-15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Let chicken rest for 5-10 minutes.