🍗 Creamy BBQ Chicken Tray Bake with Broccoli

Serves: 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 35–40 minutes
Total: About 50–55 minutes

Ingredients

For the chicken and vegetables

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 6 chicken thighs
• 1 large head broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup BBQ sauce

For the creamy BBQ sauce

• ¾ cup heavy/double cream
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
• 1 tbsp cream cheese
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Step-by-step

1. Preheat the oven

Preheat your oven to 200°C / 400°F. If using a fan/convection oven, use about 180°C / 350°F.

Lightly grease a large baking or roasting tray.

2. Prepare the chicken

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. This helps the seasoning stick and allows the chicken to brown nicely.

Place the chicken in a bowl and add:

• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Smoked paprika
• Onion powder
• Salt
• Black pepper

Rub everything thoroughly over the chicken.

Add ½ cup BBQ sauce and coat the chicken well. Let it sit for a few minutes while you prepare the vegetables.

3. Prepare the broccoli and onion

Cut the broccoli into medium-sized florets. Try to keep them roughly the same size so they cook evenly.

Add the broccoli and sliced red onion to the baking tray. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with a pinch of salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.

Spread the vegetables around the tray, leaving space in the middle for the chicken.

4. Add the chicken

Place the BBQ-coated chicken pieces in the center of the tray.

Put the tray into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20–25 minutes.

The exact cooking time depends on the thickness of your chicken.

5. Make the creamy BBQ sauce

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce.

Add the following to a saucepan over medium-low heat:

• Heavy/double cream
• Chicken stock
• 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
• Cream cheese
• Smoked paprika
• Garlic powder

Whisk gently until the cream cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth.

Do not let the sauce boil aggressively, as the cream can split.

Once smooth, add the grated cheddar and stir until melted.

Taste and adjust with salt and black pepper.

The sauce should be creamy, smoky, slightly sweet, and cheesy.

6. Add the sauce to the tray

After the chicken has baked for about 20–25 minutes, carefully remove the tray from the oven.

Pour the creamy BBQ sauce around the chicken and over some of the broccoli.

Try not to completely cover the tops of the chicken pieces — leaving some exposed allows the BBQ coating to caramelize.

7. Add extra cheese

For an extra cheesy finish, sprinkle another handful of grated cheddar over the chicken and vegetables.

You can also drizzle a little extra BBQ sauce over the top.

8. Return to the oven

Place the tray back into the oven for another 10–15 minutes.

The sauce should be bubbling around the edges, the cheese should be melted and golden, and the chicken should be completely cooked through.

The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 74°C / 165°F at its thickest point.

9. Rest before serving

Remove the tray from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.

This allows the chicken juices to settle and gives the creamy sauce a chance to thicken slightly.

🍽️ How to serve

Spoon the creamy BBQ sauce over the chicken and broccoli and serve immediately.

It’s especially good with:

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Rice
• Garlic bread
• Roasted potatoes
• Pasta
• Crusty bread for soaking up the sauce

🔥 Extra tips

• Chicken thighs are more forgiving and stay especially juicy.
• For a stronger BBQ flavor, add another tablespoon of BBQ sauce to the cream sauce.
• For extra heat, add ½–1 tsp chili flakes or a little hot sauce.
• Don’t overcrowd the tray; overcrowding causes the broccoli to steam rather than roast.
• If the sauce becomes too thick, loosen it with a splash of chicken stock or milk.
• If you want beautifully browned cheese, switch to the grill/broiler for 2–3 minutes at the very end, watching carefully.

The finished dish: tender BBQ-glazed chicken sitting in a smoky, cheesy cream sauce, with slightly charred broccoli and sweet roasted red onion. It’s a proper one-tray comfort meal with very little washing up.