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The easiest baked BBQ chicken. This is basically tender cooked chicken breast doused in bbq sauce and topped with melty cheese, sliced red onions and pickled jalapeños. This takes 30 minutes to throw together, making it ideal for weeknight dinners!
Cheesy Baked BBQ Chicken.
I have your easy dinner right here!
It starts with juicy chicken tossed with barbecue sauce, sprinkled with shredded onions, pickled jalapenos, and mozzarella cheese. Broil until the cheese is bubbly and the chicken is tender.
Not only is it quick to make, it’s easy cleanup, family-friendly, and requires less than 10 ingredients.
Bonus points, its one of those recipes that don’t require a lot of too much prep work, it bakes in the oven keeping your stove clean, and it’s a whopping 39 grams of protein per serving! So the perks of this recipe are endless.
Trust me, you’ve never had barbecue chicken like this, and it’s totally weeknight friendly ✅
Get this on the table tonight!
I made this last night, and it was such a nice change from plain BBQ chicken. I will definitely make it again!
Ingredients for cheesy bbq chicken
- boneless chicken breast: I use boneless, skiness chicken. Readers have mentioned using chicken tenders, and even chicken thighs. The only cut of chicken I don’t recommend is bone-in chicken, drumsticks, or skin-on chicken thighs. These would require additional cooking time, so the cooking time won’t be as accurate.
- bbq sauce: contains ingredients like ketchup, brown sugar, and juices to create a brown sauce that works perfectly with the pickled onions and sliced onions. Feel free to use my homemade version or for home cooks, a store-bought version works great for weeknights.
- garlic powder: to season the chicken along with salt.
- shredded cheese: I like to use mozzarella
- red onion: thinly sliced to add to the top
- pickled jalapeños: just a handful to cut through the richness of the chicken.
How to make Baked BBQ Chicken
- Prep. Start by preheating the oven and spray a pan with cooking spray. Set aside for now. In abowl, toss the bbq sauce together with the garlic powder. Add the chicken and let it sit covered in the sauce for if time allows.Place the chicken side by side in the baking dish and pour any remaining sauce over the chicken.
- Bake the dish. Let the chicken cook uncovered. No need for foil here. Then remove, top with shredded cheese, red onions, and jalapenos. Pop back in the oven and let it cook until the cheese melts.
- Sprinkle and serve. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately with your favorite sides.
FAQs about this recipe
Honestly, any kind you like! I’ve used my homemade Sweet Baby Rays sauce and a hot honey bbq sauce as well. They all tasted terrific in their own way. I’d choose whatever sauce it is you like best here.
I’ve tried it both ways. I’ve marinated the chicken as much as an hour, and then I’ve made this with zero wait time, and though the marinated chicken did taste a little better, I think you’ll love it all the same if you made this without factoring in marination time.
The first time I recipe tested my baked bbq chicken, I made this with smoked mozzarella, and oh lordy! It was so good! The applewood smoked mozzarella added to the overall flavor of the chicken. That said, if you aren’t a fan of the ‘smoky’ flavor, regular mozzarella or even shredded white/yellow cheddar works here. Just comes down to personal preference.
Nope, you don’t! However, if it’s the spice level you’re worried about, check the condiment aisle of your local grocery store. Some brands mark them as ‘tamed’ or ‘mild’ pickled jalapeños, and while those will give you all that yummy jalapeño flavor, they won’t pack any unwanted heat. For those that prefer their meals on the spicier side, hot jalapeños or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes would kick this up a bit more.
No, the sauce requires baking dish so that the liquid doesn’t drip off the sides.
Serving suggestions
- with garlic bread and a big salad
- with cilantro lime rice
- over buttered egg noodles, if you’re all about that carb life
- with roasted potatoes and a side salad
- over quinoa along with green beans
- with rice and roasted veggies on the side
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Cheesy Baked BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ pound boneless skinless chicken breasts see notes
- 1 cup bbq sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella see notes
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 10-12 sliced pickled jalapeños
- chopped cilantro for serving
Instructions
- PREP: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375ºF. Spray a 9×11 baking dish (or larger) with baking spray. In a bowl, add the bbq sauce and garlic powder and stir to combine, add the chicken breasts and stir so the chicken is evenly covered in the sauce. If you have time, you can allow it to marinate for an hour, if not, you can proceed immediately. Place the chicken breasts slide by side and pour any remaining bbq sauce over the chicken.
- BAKE: the chicken for 20 minutes, uncovered. Remove the chicken from the oven. Add the shredded cheese over the chicken breasts, sprinkle with red onions and jalapeños. Place the baking dish back in the oven and continue baking for another 5-10 minutes or until the cheese melts and the chicken cooks all the way through. Using an instant read thermometer, make sure the chicken temperature reads 165ºF. If it doesn’t, continue cooking for an additional 1-5 minutes.
- SERVE: Top with the chopped cilantro and serve immediately.
Notes
- I used a total of 1 1/3 pound of chicken. I had two huge chicken breasts so I split them lengthwise to make 4 pieces. Please keep in mind that baking time will vary based on the size of the chicken breasts you use.
- I like to use applewood smoked mozzarella for this recipe, however regular mozzarella, pepper jack, or even a cheddar blend would work here. Just something that melts well!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like This? Leave a comment & rating below!
Hi,
Can I marinate the chicken in the BBQ sauce for 48 hours?
Super easy and was phenomenal for the taste buds. My 4 teenage girls were skeptical but after mom and I tried it first they actually went for 2nds. The 19 year is the pickiest like her dad asked me what I was planning for Thanksgiving dinner.
this would make an excellent filling for hand pies!
So easy and delicious!! I love this recipe because I can come home from work put the chicken in the pan smothered and barbecue sauce and throw it in the oven. The only effort is making sides while it’s cooking. I use tenderloins so a “family pack” fits perfectly in the same size dish @ same cooking time/temp. I also only add the cheese and substitute green onions. I love jalapeños so will try it when it’s just me and no sensitive mouths eating with me Great recipe!!
Can you add bacon to the recipe? Would you suggest on top?
YUM. Just got done eating this. I love chicken in spaghetti sauce, and this is Really good too.
This is such an easy, but yummy and impressive looking dish. It’s one of my go-to’s because I always have these ingredients on hand. I usually use Colby-jack cheese and Trader Joe’s Hot & Sweet jalapeños.
Amazing & easy. Just made this & tasted sooo good! Used grated Mexican cheese & green onions bc that’s what I had. Looking forward to trying different cheeses & onions.
I made it at work! It was included on the menu so i followed this recipe, nothing left they loved it!
I like this! I love the cheesiness, and those wonderful jalapenos!
I made this last night, and it was such a nice change from plain BBQ chicken. I will definitely make it again!
Hi Tonya! I’m so happy to hear you gave this recipe a try and that you enjoyed it! Appreciate you taking the time to leave a review 🙂
Do you think you could freeze this meal? And if so would you recommend it post or pre bake?
Hi Kate! I haven’t frozen this before so I’m a little unsure. But what I would do is probably freeze it pre bake. That way, when you defrost the chicken, the sauce will actually end up marinating the chicken! Hope that helps 🙂
Think I could add in other veggies to the dish? Or would you recommend making those separately? Thinking carrots, broccoli, squash.
Hi Chelsie! I’m picky about my veggies and how they’re cooked, so I usually prepare them on the side. But you could add the veggies you listed, maybe around the time when the chicken is halfway done so that they don’t overcook!
Great recipe, very quick and easy
I forgot to add the red onions, but it was still delicious.
Thanks!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Paul!
Your recipe stood out to me . I cook for a living and I plan to make this 2mrrw for my fiance . Gonna go with a smokey Bbq and shredded Mozz . Boiled baby red potatoes with butter and fresh parsley along with oven roasted or maybe blanched pepper Brussel sprouts . And a crunchy baggete bread . Ty for sharing .
Your sides sound delicious! Hope you enjoy it to the fullest 🙂
This was so easy but super flavorful! I used chicken tenderloins and they were very tender and done in around 20 minutes.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe, Sarah! And thanks for sharing the cook time on the chicken tenderloins!
This is such an quick, easy and flavorful recipe made with ingredients I always have on hand. No more boring boneless chicken breasts again! I can’t remember where I ran across this recipe, but I’m definitely going to give some of your other recipes a try.
I absolutely love this recipe! It is super quick, easy, minimal in ingredients and low calorie/carb. I use a healthier BBQ sauce that is not loaded with sugar like Stubb’s or Bone Suckin’ Sauce and top with Mrs. Renfro’s Jalapeno Peppers Sweet & Hot. I hope you try it!
Would this work with boneless chicken thighs as well?
I came across this recipe on Instagram recently. I finally got around to making it for dinner today. I followed the directions completely and am very pleased to say that it turned out as delicious as it looks! I love BBQ chicken pizza and this is a delicious alternative that I can make at home. Thanks for the recipe! I’ll be making this again very soon.
This was such an easy and delicious recipe – it’s definitely going in my rotation!
Do you have the nutritional info for this? i see it’s tagged as less than 500 cal, but i would like to see the carb count. thanks.
Hi there! I don’t have the carb count calculated off hand, unfortunately. It’ll vary quite a bit depending on the brand and type of bbq sauce you use. For the most accurate carb count, I suggest copying the link to this page into myfitnesspal and swapping the bbq sauce for the brand/kind you used! Hope that helps!