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Tender, juicy, and slathered in BBQ sauce, this easy chicken recipe can be made in the oven or on the grill! Easy BBQ Chicken is always a crowd-pleaser whether you are serving it at a family gathering, for game day, or anytime you want all the flavors of a backyard cookout.
Everyone loves a good BBQ Chicken recipe, and it’s just a staple main dish throughout the summer. However, once the grilling season ends, this oven-baked BBQ Chicken recipe allows you to enjoy those sweet, smokey summer flavors year-round!
With just four simple ingredients and 30 minutes of cooking, you can enjoy this easy-to-make BBQ Chicken! Serve this versatile recipe for any occasion, from family dinners and birthday parties to casual entertaining and even holidays.
It’s a perfect dish to double or triple when feeding a crowd since there are only 4 ingredients, plus it makes for great leftovers! One of my favorite ways to use the leftovers is to transform them into pulled chicken for sandwiches or even use it in a chicken salad for lunch the next day.
Make This Recipe For…
- Potlucks and Covered Dish Suppers
- Casual Entertaining
- Birthday Celebrations
- Graduation Parties
- Family Dinners
- Block Parties and Cookouts and Barbecues
- Super Bowl Parties
- Game Day and Tailgating
Ingredients Needed To Make The Best BBQ Chicken Recipe
- Boneless Chicken Breast – can substitute 2 pounds of bone in thighs or drumsticks
- Olive Oil
- All-purpose Seasoning – can use poultry seasoning or Montreal Seasoning
- BBQ Sauce – I like to use Sweet Baby Rays
PRO TIP: I highly recommend using a meat thermometer in this recipe, it makes it a lot simpler to know when the chicken in done cooking.
How To Make BBQ Chicken In The Oven
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Drizzle chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning to coat all sides.
- Line a baking pan with foil and place the chicken on it. Bake chicken for 15 minutes and then remove it from the oven. Brush chicken with BBQ sauce and place it to bake in the oven.
- Bake the chicken for an additional 6-8 minutes until the sauce slightly caramelizes. Remove the chicken once the internal temperature reaches 160°
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes, allowing the internal temperature to rise to 165°, then serve and enjoy.
How To Grill BBQ Chicken
- Drizzle chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning to coat all sides.
- Place the chicken breasts on the hot grill grates, close the lid and cook for 4-6 minutes.
- Turn the chicken and cook on the second side for another 4-5 minutes. Baste with your favorite BBQ sauce, turn, and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Repeat on the other side.
- Remove the chicken to a serving platter or cutting board once the internal temperature reaches 160°.
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes, allowing the internal temperature to rise to 165°, then serve and enjoy.
Can I Substitute Chicken Thighs For Chicken Breasts?
Yes, you can absolutely use Chicken Thighs or even Drumsticks in this recipe if you prefer! The cooking time might change slightly, but the internal temperature needs to reach 165 degrees.
How Do I Know When The Chicken Is Done Cooking?
The main thing that you want to remember is that no matter what, the internal temperature of the chicken needs to reach 165° before you can serve it. This is true for all cuts of chicken, whether you use drumsticks, wings, or thighs.
How To Serve BBQ Chicken
This baked BBQ Chicken recipe is super versatile, and you can really serve it for any occasion. There are also tons of delicious side dishes you can serve with BBQ Chicken, here are just a couple of my favorites…
How To Store This Recipe
You’ll be lucky if you have any leftovers from this recipe, but if you do, this is how to store them. I recommend transferring the BBQ Chicken to an airtight container and then refrigerating it. This chicken should last for 3-4 days if stored properly.
More Recipes You’ll Love…
- Walking Tacos Bar
- Ultimate Crock Pot Party Meatballs
- Cheesy White Ravioli Casserole (Lazy Lasagna)
- Easy Beef and Cheddar Sliders
- Best Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Easy BBQ Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless Chicken Breast – can substitute 2 pounds of bone in thighs or drumsticks
- 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1.5 teaspoons All-purpose Seasoning – can use poultry seasoning or Montreal Seasoning
- 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce – I like to use Sweet Baby Rays
Instructions
Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Drizzle chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning to coat all sides.
- Line a baking pan with foil and place the chicken on it. Bake chicken for 15 minutes and then remove it from the oven. Brush chicken with BBQ sauce and place it bake in the oven.
- Bake the chicken for an additional 6-8 minutes until the sauce slightly caramelizes. Remove the chicken once the internal temperature reaches 160°
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes, allowing the internal temperature to rise to 165° then serve and enjoy.
Grilled BBQ Chicken
- Drizzle chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning to coat all sides.
- Place the chicken breasts on the hot grill grates, close the lid and cook for 4-6 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook on the second side for another 4-5 minutes.
- Baste with your favorite BBQ sauce, turn, and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Repeat on the other side.
- Remove the chicken to a cutting board or serving platter once the internal temperature reaches 160°. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes, allowing the internal temperature to rise to 165°, then serve and enjoy.
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