This Baked BBQ Chicken is so easy and packed with flavour. Serve it with baby potatoes and kale salad for the best meal prep lunch!
If you’re planning out your meals for the week, this one is a total winner. I’m not biased at all, I promise…
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Oven-baked: No grill or frying pan required! Chicken that is baked to juicy perfection.
- Perfect for meal prep: Paired with roasted potatoes and kale salad, you’ll be looking forward to lunch all week long.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts – you could also try making this recipe using chicken thighs.
- BBQ sauce – use your favourite store-bought version or homemade BBQ sauce if you’re feeling fancy.
- Kale salad kit – feel free to swap out for another salad kid or veggies of your choice.
Roasted potatoes
- Baby potatoes – any kind of potatoes will work as long as they’ve been chopped up into small pieces.
- Olive oil – or any other neutral cooking oil like avocado or canola oil.
- Lemon juice – freshly squeezed lemon juice is best. Bottled lemon juice or even lime juice will work in a pinch.
- Paprika – chili powder would provide a similar flavour here.
- Garlic powder – try using a bit of fresh minced garlic instead.
How to make BBQ chicken
Step 1: Bake the potatoes.
Toss baby potatoes with seasonings and olive oil. Roast until crispy and tender.
Step 2: Season and bake the chicken.
Bake chicken breasts until cooked through.
Step 3: Make the kale salad.
Mix the kale salad kit with its dressing until well coated.
Step 4: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Let chicken rest, then slice into bite-sized pieces.
Step 5: Toss the chicken in BBQ sauce.
Coat the chicken in BBQ sauce.
Step 6: Assemble in meal prep bowls or serve fresh!
Divide potatoes, BBQ chicken, and kale salad, and serve!
Recipe Tips and variations
Make this BBQ chicken meal prep even better with some of my tips and tasty twists!
- Rest before slicing: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking so it stays tender and juicy when you cut it.
- Swap the salad: If you don’t have a kale salad kit, use spinach, arugula, or any leafy green mix with your favourite dressing.
- Change up the carbs: Sub the baby potatoes for sweet potatoes, quinoa, or brown rice.
- Try different BBQ sauces: Use smoky chipotle, honey garlic or Carolina gold to change up the flavour.
- Make it spicy: Add chili flakes or a splash of hot sauce to the BBQ sauce if you like some heat.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, just make sure to use a gluten-free BBQ sauce and double-check the ingredients in your kale salad kit if you’re using one.
Should I put BBQ sauce on before or after baking?
I like to put the BBQ sauce on after baking. A sweet BBQ sauce can get gummy in the oven or even burn, which isn’t what you want. After the chicken has rested for about five minutes, toss it in your favourite BBQ sauce and enjoy.
Do I need to peel the baby potatoes before baking?
Nope! Just wash and cut them. They roast beautifully with the skins on and hold their shape well.
What goes well with BBQ chicken?
If you’re looking for more deliciousness, here are some great sides to serve with this dish:
- Homemade sweet potato fries or green bean fries for a low-carb option
- Grilled or steamed vegetables
- Baked potatoes
- Cornbread
- Mac and cheese
If you love this recipe, then you’ve got to try my BBQ Chicken Flatbread!
How to store and reheat
Make-ahead: Cook the chicken and potatoes up to 5 days in advance for easy meal prep.
Store: Keep in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Microwave for 2–3 minutes or reheat in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
Freeze and reheat from frozen: Freeze chicken and potatoes for up to 3 months, thaw in the fridge, and reheat.
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this chicken into leftovers.
- You can also store your leftovers in these bento box containers to keep everything separate.
- A rice cooker is invaluable for saving time, and it cooks other grains, too!
- Get a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through.
Baked BBQ Chicken {Meal Prep}
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
Optional sides
- Eat Smart Kale Salad kit
Roasted potatoes
- 4 cups baby potatoes, sliced in half
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 pinch pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 F. If serving alongside chicken, mix all ingredients under potato heading together in a small baking dish then bake for 45 minutes.
- Add chicken to another small baking dish. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes depending on the size of your breasts.
- While chicken is baking and if serving, toss kale salad kit together with dressing.
- Remove chicken from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before cutting up into bite-sized pieces and tossing with BBQ sauce.
- Serve in meal prep bowls alongside potatoes and kale salad. Bowls will last in the fridge up to 5 days.
Share With Me!
Did you make this recipe or want to share your thoughts? Make sure to leave your review below and tag me on Instagram #thegirlonbloor so I can check it out!