This BBQ chicken marinade recipe is super easy, quick to make, perfect for grilling, and adds so much savory flavor to your chicken! This is one of my favorite overnight marinades as it packs quite the punch of flavor! Since it's made from bottled barbecue sauce as the marinade base, this marinade is a snap to mix up!
Easy BBQ Chicken Marinade
All of the great things about a hearty, savory, and oh-so-deliciously tangy barbecue sauce are combined in this easy chicken marinade! I know, it's easy to think you don't need a marinade! I'll just throw some chicken on the grill, slather on some bbq sauce, and call it done.
Of course, you can grill chicken this way, but if you want an amped-up barbecue chicken flavor, then this marinade is for you! It is easily the very best grilled chicken or baked barbecue chicken I have ever had! The addictive BBQ flavor is enjoyed in every bite, rather than just a ridiculously delicious coating on your chicken!
Such a simple marinade lets the BBQ flavor shine with chicken and more!
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Check out all of my rich and flavorful chicken marinades! The marinades are absolutely perfect for your grilled, pan-fried, or oven-baked chicken breasts, thighs, wings, skewers, and more!
🥘 BBQ Chicken Marinade Ingredients
This BBQ chicken marinade is quick and easy to make with just a handful of simple ingredients! If you don't have liquid smoke at home, I highly recommend buying a bottle in the condiment aisle of your local grocery store!
- BBQ Sauce - ¼ cup barbecue sauce. Use your favorite barbecue sauce, whether homemade or store-bought.
- Olive Oil - 2 tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin) or your preferred cooking oil. Choose a cooking oil that is mild in flavor or that has no discernible taste. Also, keep in mind the needed smoke point of your chosen oil to cook the chicken later.
- Liquid Smoke - 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke. I love using liquid smoke as an extra special addition to his marinade! If you're looking for liquid smoke at your local grocery store you can typically find it in the aisle with ketchup, bbq sauces, Worcestershire sauce, and browning sauce.
- Garlic - 1 tablespoon of garlic (minced). Fresh, minced garlic adds its distinctive pungent flavor making this marinade deeply satisfying.
- Chili Powder - 1 teaspoon of chili powder. Just a touch of chili powder adds the right amount of 'heat' without being hot or spicy!
- Paprika - 1 teaspoon of paprika. Simple plain paprika works wonders in adding depth of flavor! I do love smoked paprika, but it really isn't necessary for this marinade recipe.
- Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper. A small amount of salt and pepper to highlight all of the wonderful marinade flavors! Start with this small amount and season your chicken to taste when cooking.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🐔 Prepping Chicken Before Marinating
Before you get mixing, consider the cooking method of your chicken. If you want a quick cook time on chicken breast meat, then I would pound the chicken until it was even in thickness.
Use a meat mallet or tenderizer, or something nice and heavy that you have in your kitchen. Place each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic cling film, then pound out the chicken. Begin in the center of the chicken breast and work toward the edges.
Not only does your chicken quick more quickly, but it will also help to ensure that your chicken is fully done. That big center breast of the chicken is where you temp your chicken because it is the last spot to cook through!
🔪 How To Make BBQ Chicken Marinade
Grab a Ziploc plastic storage bag (or freezer bag) for marinating your chicken. This helps the marinade cling to the chicken best, versus marinating in a bowl or storage container.
This recipe will yield ⅔ cups, or 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons of barbecue marinade.
- Combine ingredients. In a small bowl or directly in your plastic storage bag, add the ¼ cup bbq sauce, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of paprika, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Mix until the marinade is thoroughly combined.
- Add chicken. Once the marinade is transferred into your Ziploc bag, add the chicken and squeeze out any excess air while you securely seal the storage bag.
- Coat chicken. Massage the marinade into the chicken by squeezing the bag until all of the chicken pieces are well-coated.
- Marinate. Refrigerate and marinate for at least 4 hours. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Use this delicious marinade on your all of favorite BBQ chicken recipes! It would taste wonderful on some air fryer chicken breast, baked bbq chicken breasts, grilled boneless chicken thighs, baked chicken tenderloins, or baked chicken wings! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- If you want to use garlic powder instead, use 1 teaspoon of powder to replace the fresh, minced garlic in the recipe.
- This marinade recipe yields ⅔ cups of barbecue marinade, or 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons. I use 1 pound of chicken per ½ cup of BBQ marinade.
- My two chicken breasts were roughly ½ pound each, so this marinade amount could have easily had another piece of chicken added.
- Your chicken needs to marinate for at least 20 minutes before cooking. The longer you can let the chicken marinate, the more flavorful it will be!
- Your chicken marinade will slowly seep into the chicken during the thawing process. The result is terrifically tasty, tender, and moist BBQ chicken!
🥡 Storing
Store your marinated uncooked chicken in a Ziploc storage bag for up to 3 days. You can freeze the marinated chicken in a heavy-duty storage bag in the freezer for 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before you cook.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
At the very least, you can marinate your chicken for 20 minutes. However, I would usually recommend 4 hours for marinating. 24 hours is best, and you can marinate the chicken for up to 3 days refrigerated.
Absolutely! While frozen chicken pieces can usually be stored in the freezer for 6 months or more, I recommend a maximum of three months for these packaged chicken pieces (with marinade). Allow the frozen marinated chicken to thaw in your refrigerator overnight before cooking and serving.
If you marinate chicken too long in the fridge, it can break down the chicken's fibers causing it to become mushy. Marinate your chicken for at least 20 minutes, but 24 hours is best. After 3 days, the texture of the chicken will be undesirable.
😋 More Delicious Chicken Marinades
- Pesto Chicken Marinade - This delicious marinade features basil, olive oil, pine nuts, lemon juice, and garlic!
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade - If you are a fan of lemon pepper chicken, this marinade will become your new favorite!
- Fajita Chicken Marinade - Save this recipe any time chicken fajitas are on the dinner menu!
- Mango Chicken Marinade - This delicious marinade brings chicken a bold and tropical mango flavor!
- Honey Garlic Chicken Marinade - If your family loves Asian flavors, then you must try my tasty honey garlic marinade!
- Greek Chicken Marinade - This recipe only requires a handful of ingredients to make a delicious Mediterranean chicken dinner everyone will love!
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📖 Recipe Card
BBQ Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add the barbecue sauce, olive oil, liquid smoke, minced garlic, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Pour the combined marinade into a ziploc plastic storage bag then add the chicken. Push out the excess air while sealing the bag.
- Massage the BBQ marinade into your chicken pieces through the bag until well coated.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- If you want to use garlic powder instead, use 1 teaspoon of powder to replace the fresh, minced garlic in the recipe.
- This marinade recipe yields ⅔ cups of barbecue marinade, or 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons. I use 1 pound of chicken per ½ cup of BBQ marinade.
- My two chicken breasts were roughly ½ pound each, so this marinade amount could have easily had another piece of chicken added.
- Your chicken needs to marinate for at least 20 minutes before cooking. The longer you can let the chicken marinate, the more flavorful it will be!
- Your chicken marinade will slowly seep into the chicken during the thawing process. The result is terrifically tasty, tender, and moist BBQ chicken!
- To store: Store your marinated uncooked chicken in a Ziploc storage bag for up to 3 days. You can freeze the marinated chicken in a heavy-duty storage bag in the freezer for 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before you cook.
Sarah says
Nice n simple in fridge marinading hopefully it is delicious! Rating a 5 star for easy recipes