🍗🙌🏻 Just 3 ingredients in this saucy EASY 15-Minute Barbecue Chicken Skillet recipe: Chicken, barbecue sauce, and Italian dressing. It doesn’t get any simpler than that and it’s ready in 15 minutes! When you need a family favorite skillet chicken recipe for busy weeknights, this is a winner!
Easy Barbecue Chicken Skillet Recipe
- This 15-minute chicken recipe with only 3 key ingredients is packed with such great flavor that you’ll even impress yourself. Yes, just 3 ingredients for such rich flavor.
- I love chicken recipes that require no advance planning, no prep, no marinating. Quick and easy is my middle name, especially when it’s back-to-school season (although, sniff I am an empty nester now) and back-to-reality season with work.
- It’s also a one-skillet sensation because if there’s anything I dislike more, it’s a sinkful of dirty dishes staring back at me after dinner. One skillet dinners are the best!
- Whether you’ve got picky eaters on your hands or just limited time and energy (or limited ingredients in your fridge), this 3-ingredient chicken dish is the ticket.
- It’s naturally gluten-free and high in protein which is how I like to eat to feel my best!
3 Key Ingredients in Skillet Barbecue Chicken
- Chicken – I like to use boneless skinless chicken breast although you can switch up the proteins and use boneless chicken thighs. I tend to make closer to 2 pounds so I have planned leftovers but you can keep it at 1 1/2 pounds based on your needs.
- Barbecue sauce – Sweet Baby Ray’s is the way to go here. The perfect balance of tangy, sweet, savory, and the consistency is just right. But feel free to make substitutions and use your favorite BBQ sauce including spicy bbq sauce, smoky, or homemade bbq sauce.
- Italian dressing – Bottled Italian salad dressing is so versatile. It’s not just for salads although I do use it in my Italian Chicken Pasta Salad! It adds zesty flavor and helps create the sauce.
- Salt, pepper, olive oil are the pantry essentials that I don’t “count” as key ingredients but they’re present. I’ve optionally added a couple tablespoons of brown sugar to this recipe at times when I’ve made it and it’s great if you like slightly sweeter recipes.
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How To Make Barbecue Chicken in a Skillet in 15 Minutes
- To a large skillet or pan, add the oil, place chicken in, season it with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5-7 minutes over medium-high heat.
- To a small bowl or measuring cup, add the bbq sauce, Italian dressing, and mix to combine. Optionally add brown sugar.
- Add the sauce mixture to the skillet, flip and stir the chicken to evenly coat it in sauce, and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
- Chicken is done when it reaches 165F internal temperature measured with an instant read thermometer.
- Optionally garnish it with fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or sliced green onions. Serve with your favorite veggies or sides and enjoy!
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for step-by-step photos and process shots of the cooking process.
what to serve with Italian Bbq Chicken
15-Minute Barbecue Chicken Skillet
🍗🙌🏻 Just 3 key ingredients in this saucy EASY recipe: Chicken, barbecue sauce, and Italian dressing. It doesn't get any simpler than that and it's ready in 15 minutes! When you need a family favorite skillet chicken recipe for busy weeknights, this is a winner!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ to 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, diced into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce, (I use Sweet Baby Rays)
- ⅓ cup Italian dressing, (your favorite store bought bottled Italian salad dressing)
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, optional
Instructions
- To a large skillet, add the oil, chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook over medium-high heat for about 5-7 minutes, or until chicken is approaching being done.
- To a 2-cup measuring cup or small bowl, and the barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, optional brown sugar if you prefer a sweeter finished dish, stir to combine, and pour the mixture over the chicken in the skillet.
- Turn the heat to medium or medium-low, and allow the chicken to simmer for another 2-3 minutes, or until fully cooked through, and the sauce has thickened some.
- Optionally garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or cilantro; or green onions, and serve immediately.
Notes
Storage: Extra chicken will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or as desired.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 322cal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.03g, Cholesterol: 73mg, Sodium: 880mg, Potassium: 568mg, Fiber: 0.5g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 161IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Fast and easy! A definite addition to our weekday meal plan! Thank you!
Thanks for the 5 star review, Jacqueline, and I love hearing that this is a definite addition to your weekday meal plan1
Great fast and tasty recipres
Thank you so much and glad you are enjoying the recipes!
Yummy, quick, and easy! Perfect for a weeknight dinner
Thanks for the 5 star review, Grace, and glad this was yummy, quick, easy, and perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!
This was so simple but sooooo good!!!! Cheaper than take out and healthier!
Thanks for the 5 star review, Paula, and for making this the very day I posted it! I love it when this happens! I am glad it was a hit!