With an easy combination of ingredients you likely have on hand, this grilled chicken marinade guarantees juicy, tender, and flavorful chicken every time! With a slight hint of sweetness with a bright tangy and salty flavor, this is sure to be the go-to recipe for every time chicken is on the menu.
The Best Chicken Marinade
It’s so easy to create your own marinade for chicken using this basic recipe! Tailor the herbs and spices to your liking or add some to bbq sauce to make a savory glaze! Make the marinade in advance so the flavors can blend and allow plenty of time for the chicken to marinate. Shake it up and use it on any recipe for chicken breasts, drumsticks, thighs, or wings! Add chicken marinade to pieces before freezing so it’s pre-seasoned and ready to cook. Simply thaw and grill!
Chicken Marinade Ingredients
Acid – This recipe uses red wine vinegar and a bit of lemon juice as the acidic components which help break down the meat making it more tender (be sure not to marinate too long!). Fat – We prefer vegetable oil or avocado oil over extra virgin olive oil as it has a neutral flavor. Salt & Sugar- Soy sauce adds salt, and umami (and helps the exterior of the chicken brown a little bit). Brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness but also caramelizes well on the grill. Flavor – Garlic powder (or fresh minced garlic cloves) and herbs or spices with a bit of Dijon add great flavor.
Variations
Vinegar – Switch the red wine vinegar for balsamic, apple cider vinegar, or lime juice in place of the lemon. Sugar – Brown sugar can be replaced by honey or maple syrup. Flavors – Sprinkle in a little basil, parsley, rosemary, and red pepper flakes in place of Italian seasoning mix. Try a bit of lemon zest or fresh herbs if you have them.
How to Make Chicken Marinade
Serve this chicken over salad or tuck it into a bun to make grilled chicken sandwiches!
Quick Tips
Keep fresh marinade in a jar with a tight-fitting lid for a few days. You can use this on bone-in or boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs. Marinate in a bowl, freezer bag, or baking dish. Do not marinate in a metal bowl or container. If you have extra (unused marinade!), add a little to veggies before grilling or your other favorite side dishes for a punch of flavor. Use this chicken marinade to season chicken whether it’s pan-fried on the stovetop, grilled, or baked. Cook marinated chicken breasts on the grill until a meat thermometer reaches 165°F, about 7-8 minutes per side. Let the chicken rest before serving.
More Marinade Recipes We Love
Balsamic Marinated Flank Steak – use fresh or frozen steak Grilled Teriyaki Chicken – so juicy & flavorful Ginger Garlic Marinated Salmon – grilled, baked, or broiled Cilantro Lime Chicken – tender & juicy
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