If you love easy dinners that taste amazing and don’t leave a pile of dishes, then this Easy BBQ Chicken Traybake is for you. It’s one of my favorite go-to recipes when I want something comforting, sweet, and a little spicy. Everything cooks together in one tray, and it’s packed with colorful veggies, tender chicken, and that smoky BBQ flavor we all love. Perfect for family dinners or meal prep!
Method
Preheat the Oven
Start by setting your oven to 180°C (360°F). This gives it enough time to fully heat up while you prepare the other ingredients. A hot oven helps the chicken and vegetables cook evenly and get that delicious roasted finish.
Arrange the Chicken
Place the chicken breasts flat on a large baking tray. Make sure they’re not stacked on top of each other. Spacing them out gives each piece enough room to cook properly and soak up the sauce.
Make the BBQ Sauce
In a small bowl, mix together all the sauce ingredients soy sauce, honey, tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce, orange juice, thyme, and dried chilli flakes. Stir well until everything is combined into a thick, shiny mixture. This is your sticky BBQ glaze it brings all the flavor.
Coat the Chicken
Now take that sauce and pour it evenly over the chicken breasts in the tray. Use a spoon or brush to spread it so every piece gets coated. This step is where the magic starts, because the sauce will caramelize in the oven and give the chicken that sweet and tangy BBQ flavor.
Add the Vegetables
Once the chicken is coated, scatter the chopped sweet potato wedges, carrots, and red onions around the tray. Try to mix them a little into the sauce so they get a bit of that flavor too. Sprinkle everything with black pepper to taste. Again, give the veggies enough space so they roast nicely rather than getting soggy.
Start Roasting
Place the tray into the oven and let everything roast for 35 to 40 minutes. You’ll want to keep an eye on the color the chicken should start turning golden and the edges of the veggies should brown slightly.
Add the Chickpeas Midway
After 20 minutes of cooking, take the tray out (carefully, it’s hot!) and stir in the drained chickpeas. These little guys add extra texture and protein to the dish. Stir them into the sauce and veg, then slide the tray back into the oven for the remaining cook time.
Check for Doneness
When the timer hits 35–40 minutes, check if the chicken is fully cooked. The easiest way is to cut into the thickest part if the juices run clear, you’re good. If not, pop it back in for a few more minutes.
Add the Spinach
Once the chicken is cooked, remove the tray from the oven and stir in the fresh spinach. The heat from the tray will be enough to wilt the leaves, so no need to bake it further. Just mix it gently through everything until it’s soft and blended into the dish.
Necessary Tools
- Large baking tray
- Small mixing bowl
- Spoon for mixing sauce
- Knife and chopping board
- Measuring spoons
- Oven
Easy BBQ Chicken Traybake
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings10
minutes40
minutes50
minutesIngredients
5 chicken breasts
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Juice of ½ an orange
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
2 red onions, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
4 sweet potatoes, cut into wedges
100g spinach
1 tin chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
Black pepper (to taste)
Directions
- First, preheat your oven to 180°C (360°F).
- Lay the chicken breasts flat on a big baking tray.
- In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, honey, tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce, orange juice, thyme, and chilli flakes. This is your sticky BBQ sauce.
- Pour the sauce all over the chicken.
- Add the sweet potato wedges, carrots, and red onions to the tray. Sprinkle with black pepper.
- Bake everything in the oven for about 35–40 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, carefully take the tray out and stir in the chickpeas. Then pop it back in the oven.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked (the juices should run clear), take the tray out again and stir in the spinach. It will wilt quickly from the heat.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the tray give the chicken and veggies some space so they roast, not steam.
- Make sure to check the thickest part of the chicken to see if it’s cooked through. If the juices aren’t clear, it needs more time.
- When stirring in the spinach, do it right after taking the tray out so it wilts gently without overcooking.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve it with a scoop of brown rice or couscous
- Add a spoonful of Greek yogurt on top for creaminess
- Wrap it up in a warm tortilla for a BBQ chicken wrap
- Sprinkle some feta or cheddar cheese before serving
Fun Fact
Did you know? Worcestershire sauce was invented in the 1800s in England by accident and now it’s a flavor bomb in recipes like this one!
Conclusion
This Easy BBQ Chicken Traybake is sticky, cozy, and full of flavor and best of all, it’s super simple. Whether you’re feeding the family or stocking up your fridge for the week, this dish checks all the boxes. Give it a try and don’t be afraid to mix in your favorite veggies or extra spices. One tray, no stress, and tons of flavor. That’s my kind of meal.
