Baked BBQ Chicken features my favorite apple cider BBQ sauce that’s finger-licking good! These baked chicken breasts always turn out perfectly tender and juicy with the very best bold barbecue flavor. No grilling required for this easy oven baked recipe!
Marinating chicken is the best way to make sure it’s juicy, tender, and flavorful as can be! This baked bbq chicken recipe is one of my favorites because besides stirring up the marinade, you really don’t need to do much else. Marinate the chicken, toss it on a baking sheet and call it a day – it doesn’t get much easier than this! The only hard part is practicing patience while the chicken slowly marinates in your fridge. It’s well worth the wait, trust me!
What’s in baked bbq chicken breasts?
This bbq chicken recipe is budget friendly as can be! Here are just a few of the stand out ingredients you’ll need to make this family favorite:
- Chicken Breasts: I prefer to use chicken breasts for this recipe, but you can make it with thighs if that’s what you have. If you use thighs, you will have to increase the cooking time a little.
- Apple Cider: You’ll need this AND apple cider vinegar! You can use any store-bought apple cider you like best.
- Honey: If you have any leftover honey, use it to make some tasty honey garlic chicken breasts and thank me later!
Can I make this recipe spicy?
Yes! Feel free to sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes and/or cayenne powder to the bbq sauce. Just be careful because a little bit goes a long way! When I’m not making this chicken for my kids, I usually add a little extra spice.
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How to Store and Reheat
Store any leftover barbecue chicken you have in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, I recommend using the oven or air fryer for the very best results. Of course, the microwave also works just fine in a pinch! Just be careful not to dry it out in the microwave.
How to Freeze
Let the bbq chicken fully cool to room temperature prior to freezing. Once cooled, place the chicken in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Don’t forget to date and label! When it’s time to reheat, let the frozen chicken first thaw in the fridge for a few hours.
Notes and Tips
- If you’d like to serve with any remaining bbq sauce, simmer the sauce again before serving. This cooks any chicken juices that transferred to the sauce while basting making it safe to eat.
- The thickness of your chicken breast will determine your cooking time. Thicker breasts will take longer to cook than thinner.
- If you’re unsure if your chicken is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer! It’s my go-to way to make sure my chicken is safe to eat. Once it reaches 165°F, you’re good to go.
- Quick no marinade version: Place the chicken breasts on the baking tray, and immediately baste with the bbq sauce. Proceed with remaining instructions.
Top Reader Review
“I made this tonight and it was SO GOOD!” – Lee
Baked BBQ Chicken (Apple Cider BBQ Sauce)
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup ketchup
- ⅔ cup apple cider – not apple cider vinegar!
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Instructions
- In a bowl, stir together all the BBQ sauce ingredients. Reserve ½ cup of the sauce. Set aside.⅔ cup ketchup, ⅔ cup apple cider, ⅓ cup honey, 3 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Place the chicken breasts in a Ziplock bag. Add in the reserved ½ cup sauce and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour, and up to overnight, to marinade.2½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Simmer the BBQ sauce in a small saucepan for 10 minutes, or until thickened and fragrant.
- Place the marinated chicken on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and baste the chicken with a thick glaze of bbq sauce. Return to the oven and bake for 20-30 more minutes, basting every 10.
- Remove, baste again, and place back into the oven set to broil for 3-5 minutes until the bbq sauce forms a glaze.
- Serve with your favorite sides and enjoy!
Notes
- Simmer any remaining sauce again before serving. This cooks any chicken juices that may have transferred to the sauce while basting, making it safe to eat.
- Quick no marinade version: Place the chicken breasts on the baking tray, and immediately baste with the BBQ sauce. Proceed with the remaining instructions.
- The thickness of your chicken breast will determine final cooking time. Thicker breasts will take longer to cook than thinner.
How to Make Baked BBQ Chicken Step by Step
Make the bbq sauce: Stir together 2/3 cup ketchup, 2/3 cup apple cider, 1/3 cup honey, 3 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika and 1/4 tsp garlic powder.
Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken breasts (1 1/2 lbs total) in a Ziplock bag. Add 1/2 cup bbq sauce. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight to marinate.
Cook the sauce: Simmer the rest of the BBQ sauce in a small saucepan for 10 minutes.
Bake: Place the marinated chicken breasts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes.
Baste and bake again: Remove the chicken from the oven and baste with bbq sauce. Return to the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, basting again every 10 minutes. Broil at the very end of cook time for about 3-5 minutes.
I made this tonight and it was SO GOOD!
I’m glad you loved it!!
Fascinating, Arnold!