BBQ Chicken Recipe

This bbq chicken recipe is so quick and easy (I know I say that a lot but that’s because I don’t like complicated meals for everyday lol), uses just a handful of ingredients and is so versatile. 

After posting my mozzarella pasta recipe, I promised you I’d share the recipe I normally serve it with and this BBQ Chicken is it. I meal prep this at least 1-2x a month for myself and my husband. It keeps well in the fridge and doesn’t get dry sitting in the fridge because of the bbq sauce!  

Why you’ll love this bbq chicken recipe

1. Uses just a handful of ingredients and it’s done in under 20 minutes. 
2. Super versatile – you can use any kind of bbq sauce you like and really, most seasonings will work fine as well (cooking is so much simpler than baking lol). 
3. Can be served with pasta, potatoes, rice, veggies or even on a pizza! 

This recipe pairs very well with my mozzarella pasta. If you’re loving the savory recipes I also have a Simple Everyday Braised Beef Recipe and make sure to check out my Italian bread and homemade bagels for more family favorites! 

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Chicken: I use chicken breast because it’s lean and easy to slice. You could also follow this recipe with chicken thighs or tenders. Drumsticks and wings will work as well but they will take longer to cook so make sure they’re cooked through to at least 165F (74C). 
• Seasonings: I am not here for pale looking chicken – it kind of grosses me out lol so I like to add a lot of seasoning – this helps it get nice and crispy/browned on the outside. 
  • Paprika: I love spanish style paprika but smoked also works fine for this because it goes well with the bbq. 
  • Chili Powder: this gives it a little kick (and a nice color) without making it too spicy.
  • Garlic Powder: I love adding a little garlic powder to all my meat.
  • Oregano: a little herby flavor in there for good measure
  • Salt and pepper: I just do a few pinches of coarse sea salt and a few turns of fresh ground black pepper.  
• Oil: I recommend avocado oil  or olive oil for healthy fats. If you’re cooking it in a cast iron on the stove, I prefer avocado oil because it has a higher smoke point. 
• BBQ: Any type of bbq sauce that you love will work fine. Normally I would look for a bbq that’s less sweet naturally, like stubbs or I even made this with g-hughes sugar free bbq. I recommend using what you know you like – If you like spicy bbq, use that or if you like sweet bbq, you can use that. 

How to make bbq chicken 

1. Slice the chicken breasts into even strips (about the size of chicken tenders) and remove any chunks of fat/tendons, etc. 
2. Toss into a bowl with the oil and all the seasoning (if making on the stove, don’t toss with the oil, just use the oil on the pan) 
3. Cook until the chicken is 165F (74C) or nice and brown on the inside and no longer pink inside. 
4. Slice the chicken into small chunks and toss in a bowl with BBQ sauce.
5. When you’re ready to serve, toss it all into a pan (I like cast irons) and gently heat it all together.

How to cook BBQ chicken 

There’s a few ways to cook BBQ chicken so do whatever is convenient for you! 

• Air fryer or Toaster Oven: I use this when I don’t want to make a mess in the kitchen – cooks in less than 10 minutes at 400F (204C).
• Oven: I use this when I want to meal prep a big batch – again it cooks in less than 10 minutes at 400F (204C).
• Stove top: I LOVE cooking meat with a cast iron – I do this when I’m in a rush, it’s done in about 5 minutes over medium-high heat. 
• Grill: this is great during grilling season and for large batches. 

What to serve BBQ Chicken with?

I usually meal prep my BBQ chicken with my mozzarella pasta and a side of crispy broccoli. Some other options are:

• Over a bed of rice and veggies
• Traditional mac and cheese
• On top of pizza
• Over a salad 
• Crispy roasted potatoes or baked potatoes. 
• Bbq chicken tacos topped with cheese, sour cream, green onion, etc. 

How to store bbq chicken

Let the chicken cool a bit and then cover with a lid or plastic wrap so it’s airtight and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

I usually just microwave individual servings after that, I don’t reheat the whole thing. 

Thanks so much for reading, I would really love any feedback if you have any thoughts on this recipe or even just on the new content. If you made the recipe, I would love it if you left me a review or a star rating! 

As always, have a blessed day and now happy cooking!!

Love, B 

Recipes

The Savory Edit

BBQ Chicken

5 from 1 vote

prep 10 minutes mins

cook 10 minutes mins

total 20 minutes mins

Serves 4 servings

This bbq chicken recipe is so quick and easy (I know I say that a lot but that’s because I don’t like complicated meals for everyday lol), uses just a handful of ingredients and is so versatile. 

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Servings 4 servings

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Metric(US) Imperial

Ingredients

• ▢ 16 ounces chicken breast
• ▢ 1-2 Tbsp avocado or olive oil
• ▢ 1/2 Tbsp spanish style paprika, smoked also works
• ▢ 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
• ▢ 1 tsp garlic powder
• ▢ 1 tsp oregano
• ▢ 4-5 pinches coarse sea salt , 1/4-1/2 tsp fine salt works too
• ▢ 10 turns fresh cracked pepper, 1/8-1/4 tsp ground pepper works too
• ▢ 1/2 cup BBQ sauce*, I like stubbs but any works!

Method

1. Preheat air fryer, toaster oven or oven to 400F (204C) and line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Slice the chicken breasts into even strips (about the size of chicken tenders) and remove any chunks of fat/tendons, etc.
   16 ounces chicken breast
3. Toss into a bowl with the oil and all the seasoning until the chicken is evenly coated (if making on the stove, don’t toss with the oil, just use the oil on the pan)
   1-2 Tbsp avocado or olive oil , 1/2 Tbsp spanish style paprika smoked also works, 1/2 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp oregano , 4-5 pinches coarse sea salt 1/4-1/2 tsp fine salt works too, 10 turns fresh cracked pepper 1/8-1/4 tsp ground pepper works too
4. Bake until the chicken is 165F (74C) or nice and brown on the inside and no longer pink inside, this should take 8-12 minutes.
5. Slice the chicken into small chunks. If you’re ready to serve, toss the chicken into a pan (I like cast irons) with BBQ sauce and heat together. If meal prepping, toss chicken into a bowl with bbq and just heat together before serving.
   1/2 cup BBQ sauce* I like stubbs but any works!

Notes

*Feel free to use as much or as little bbq as you want and use whatever brand of bbq you like. I just add enough bbq to make the chicken moist, tender and flavorful but it’s not overly saucy and full of sugar. 

Nutrition

Calories: 237kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 25gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 905mgPotassium: 591mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 864IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bbq, chicken