How to Marinate Chicken Breasts in Barbecue Sauce

If you have frozen chicken breasts, thaw them in the refrigerator first.

Marinades consist of acidic liquids that break down proteins in meat, making it tenderer and allowing it to readily absorb seasonings. Barbecue sauce has an inherent mild acidity that will work as a marinade for chicken breast. However, to truly break down the chicken's proteins, you must add vinegar to increase the marinade's acidity. To marinate chicken breasts in barbecue sauce, you will need between 12 and 24 hours for the meat to soak.

Things You'll Need

• Barbecue sauce
• Shallow pan
• Red wine vinegar
• Spoon
• Aluminum foil

Instructions

1. Pour enough barbecue sauce into a shallow pan to fill it half way. Add 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar for every cup of barbecue sauce used. Stir with a spoon to blend.

2. Arrange the chicken breasts in the shallow pan. The edges of each breast should be 1/4 inch away from each other so they marinate properly. Pour more barbecue sauce over the tops of the chicken breasts if they are not fully submerged.

3. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours. The longer you refrigerate the meat, the more tender and juicy the breasts will become.

4. Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade. Discard the marinade and cook the chicken breasts immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are cooking the chicken with open flame, use a lower setting as the barbecue sauce will burn quickly.

References

• "365 Easy Chicken Recipes: Quick, Easy Ways to Cook Chicken"; Cookbook Resources; 2008
• "The Best Little Marinades Cookbook"; Karen Adler; 2000