Enjoy perfect BBQ chicken indoors with this quick and easy Stovetop Barbecue Chicken Recipe! This is an all-time reader favorite recipe, and I hope you love it too!
Did you grow up eating barbecue chicken? It wasn’t a regular dish at our house, but I remember having it at friend’s house when I was a kid. They cooked bone-in BBQ chicken on the grill, and it was a messy affair to eat it, so much so that they had a few wet washcloths available at the table. I think this is such a distinct memory to me because I hated getting messy as a kid just as much as I do now. Having to eat saucy chicken with my hands made a lasting impression I guess. How do you feel about eating messy foods?
This stovetop barbecue chicken recipe on the other hand isn’t messy to eat at all, and you can make it in a hurry without the need of a grill. That’s perfect for satisfying your BBQ craving during bad weather!
This recipe is written for two, but it is easy to scale. Using a lid speeds up the cooking process, which is especially great for busy cooks making weeknight dinners. The last time I made it, I used this recipe from Simply Scratch to make my own BBQ sauce because I realized I was out when it was time to cook. (OK, I butchered the recipe to use what I had on hand and reduce the sugar, but I’m sure it’s great as written.) You will love this juicy stovetop barbecue chicken whether you use store-bought or homemade sauce. Be sure to come back to let me know how you liked it!

Prep Time | 2 minutes |
Cook Time | 13 minutes |
Servings |
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- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- dash of cayenne pepper optional
- 1/2 c. barbecue sauce
Ingredients
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- Mix olive oil, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl. Add raw chicken and coat evenly.
- Heat medium skillet (preferably iron) over medium-high heat and coat with cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in skillet, cover, and cook 5 minutes.
- Turn chicken, replace cover, and cook an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove cover and check chicken for doneness with probe thermometer or testing if juices run clear. When cooked completely, pour half of BBQ sauce over chicken. Turn chicken over, and pour remaining sauce over the other side. Cook 2-3 minutes more while using a spoon or basting brush to coat chicken with sauce.
Looking for more great recipes that don’t need a grill? Try these!
I have cooked this several times, just love it, thanks !
Any idea what the calories are in this recipe? Thanks
I had a craving for bbq chicken and all I had was chicken breasts, so glad I came across your recipe it turned out delicious better than I expected! I did not have chili powder so I added extra cayenne, so simple and tasty can’t wait for my husband to try it! I will definitely cook this dish up more often thank you!!
It is really good, I cooked it in my big rectangle cast iron dutch oven because it gave me the largest cooking surface. Good mix of rub ingredients which I brushed on. I will try this again.
One added note, I ate at a Jamaican restaurant once, and the combination of spice and the spicy Baby Ray’s was almost like Jamaican jerk sauce.
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Will make again….I also made the suggested homemade sauce recipe and I used boneless skinless thighs. This was delicious! My son actually said “Mom, if you made this for company they would be impressed”. Does it get better than that?
Very good recipe! I used SBR’s barbecue sauce and the “gravy” over mashed potatoes was so good! Actually made a double batch of the herb/oil mix to rub all over 3 skinned leg quarters. Will definitely make this over and over again! A keeper.
Same here….the SBR gave the chicken and mashed potatoes a perfect taste!!
One of the most delicious chicken I have ever cooked!!! Thank you sooooo much!