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This A1 Chicken Marinade is made with only 2 ingredients! Takes 5 minutes to prep to for juicy, grilled, baked or skillet chicken every time.
You are going to love this easy marinade. It is seriously the Best BBQ Chicken Marinade. It has become one of our favorite Grilling Recipes, in fact it is perfect for all seasons, but especially Spring, Summer, and Fall.
The combination of the two ingredients makes the best sweet and tangy flavor! Bold, quick, and pantry-friendly—this A1 chicken marinade turns weeknight poultry into a backyard-BBQ-worthy main with minimal effort. If you love homemade marinades, try Fajita Chicken Marinade, Chicken Curry Marinade or Chicken Taco Marinade.
A1 Steak Sauce isn’t just for beef—it’s a shortcut to deep, restaurant-style flavor. This is one of the best marinades for grilled chicken. I bet your entire family will love it. We love it so much on tender chicken that we also tried it on pork chops.
The tangy tomato base, mellow vinegar, and subtle spice blend mixed with the BBQ Sauce is just what you need to add layers of flavor to any cut of chicken. Marinate your chicken so it is ready to grill, bake or cook in the skillet for a family friendly meal idea for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
A1 Steak Sauce – Adds sweet and tangy flavor to the sauce
Any Type of Chicken – This is delicious on cut of chicken – boneless chicken breasts, boneless chicken thighs, or tenderloin.
Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe.
How to Make A1 Chicken Marinade
Step 1 – Combine the easy chicken marinade ingredients – BBQ sauce and the A1 in a large bowl or a large resealable plastic bag. Place chicken in the bag – I like to use these Freezer bag holders.
Step 2 – Mix it together well and pour over chicken. Marinade for 3-4 hours or over night.
Step 3 – Fire up your grill, brush with olive oil and put the marinated chicken on the grill grates. This will vary based on the size of your chicken but typically it takes 8-10 minutes per side. You can use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165 degrees.
Step 4 – Let the juicy chicken sit, then slice and enjoy!
Looking for more grilling recipes? The best marinade for grilled chicken – best BBQ chicken marinade recipe. Try this Quick Simple Chicken marinade today.
Prep Time 5 minutesmins
Cook Time 1 hourhr7 minutesmins
Marinade – at least 4 hours / up to overnight 4 hourshrs
Place the chicken in a bowl or a large storage bag.
Pour the A1 steak sauce and the barbecue sauce in the bag. Seal the bag and shake to thoroughly coat the chicken with the marinade. Allow the chicken to marinade in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.
Grill the chicken over medium high heat. Cook for 7-10 minutes per side until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Let the chicken sit for 5 minutes. Then slice, serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
This marinade is also delicious with chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks too!
Nutrition Facts
Calories 318kcal, Carbohydrates 14g, Protein 49g, Fat 6g, Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 145mg, Sodium 832mg, Potassium 956mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 10g, Vitamin A 179IU, Vitamin C 4mg, Calcium 23mg, Iron 1mg
Double Marinade – We really like to mix up an extra batch of the marinade and we like to use a grilling basting brush to brush our chicken while grilling. YUM! That flavor is amazing from that extra step.
Freeze – This makes a great freezer meal. Just use a freezer safe container or ziplock bag and freeze the chicken with the marinade. Freeze flat to save room in the freezer. Easy!
Chicken – You may need to filet the chicken so that it is about the same size. This will help it to cook the chicken evenly and about the same time.
Flavor Variations
Additions – Balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, mayo, honey, red wine vinegar, worcestershire sauce, fresh squeezed lemon juice and brown sugar make delicious ingredients to add to a marinade.
Spices – Feel free to add in ½ tsp salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and rosemary.
Another favorite is grilled corn. Not only is corn easy and fast to cook but so inexpensive. My only requirement is that it is easy and budget friendly! I’m sure you agree!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long to Marinate Chicken
We recommend marinating chicken for at least 4 hours or overnight. This is a great recipe to meal prep with and the marinade really gives the chicken a ton of flavor!
How do you know When Chicken is Done Cooking
Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken. We grilled chicken for about 7 minutes on each side. Always check chicken’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165 degrees. We have the best tips and tricks to learn how to grill chicken breasts perfectly every time.
How to Store Leftover Chicken
Store the leftovers in an airtight container for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator. See Leftover Grilled Chicken Recipes on how to serve your leftovers.
How to Reheat
Reheat the leftovers in the microwave or in the oven until heated through.
Hi, I’m Carrie Barnard — a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.
At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families — without the stress.
Eva – I would bake at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
can this chicken be done in the ovee=n???
I don’t have a grill either. How long can I bake in the oven?
Eva – I would bake at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
We don’t have a grill, would this be good in the oven?
I love how easy it is! So good!