- 200ml of your favourite Bull's-Eye BBQ Sauce
- 150ml of olive oil
- 150ml of balsamic vinegar
- 75ml of brown sugar
- 2 tbsp. of lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. of salt
- 1 tbsp of paprika
Stick it all in a container big enough for your chicken and mix it up. Job done. To mix up the flavours, simply try a different Bull's-Eye BBQ sauce flavour.
How to marinate a chicken for BBQ
Know how to marinate chicken breast or how to marinate chicken thighs? Great. But knowing how to marinate a whole chicken? That's a key part of becoming a true pitmaster.
Marinating chicken thighs for BBQ is simple. Add enough marinade to a bag or container so that your chicken is swimming in it. The same goes for breasts.
Got a whole chicken that's in need of full-bodied flavour? No problem. Apron on. Brush at the ready. Nailing how to marinate a whole chicken needs a slightly different marinade. Use 100ml of olive oil instead of 150ml, so that your marinade will stick to the chicken. Brush it on thick and use your hands to get that marinade everywhere it needs to be.
How long to marinate chicken for
Breasts and thighs. Let them sit in the marinade for 2-3 hours. Stick them in a bag or container. Leave them in the fridge.
Whole chicken. Leave the brushed chicken in the fridge for up to 12 hours. It's a lot of bird, so you need the marinating time to match.
How to cook marinated chicken
You've finished marinating your chicken for the BBQ, now it's time to cook it. Get the crew round – this one's going to be special.
Thighs. 10-12 minutes each side. Grill the skin side down first, then flip them over. Stick a thermometer into the thickest part and make sure your thighs reach 75°C before getting down to business.
Breasts. BBQ these bad boys until they reach 75°C too. Chicken breasts need around seven minutes each side on the grill. Brush them with the Bull's-Eye BBQ sauce you used in your marinade mid-grilling to keep them juicy and tender.
Whole chicken. Keep your grill lid closed and between 175°C and 200°C. Cook for 90 minutes and make sure its internal temperature is 75°C. Then, load it up with more sauce and you're good to go.
And that's all there is to it. Knowing how to marinate chicken breasts, thighs, and even whole chickens properly is the low-hanging fruit of pro BBQ techniques. Share the knowledge and enjoy a reputation as legendary as your cookouts.
The great BBQ pitmasters all start somewhere. Usually, that first step is chicken. The second is marinade. Forget about fancy cuts and complicated recipes: all you need is quality meat and ingredients you'll find in your cupboard.
How to make a marinade for chicken
Before you know how to marinate chicken for BBQ, you've got to know how to make a marinade for chicken. But not just any marinade, a marinade to call your own. Here's what's up.
What you'll need:
