6 Best Chicken Marinades

4 standard portions

Source field check · Original source retained

View original recipe

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup BBQ sauce
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup lemon juice (preferably fresh)
• 3 cloves garlic (finely minced or pressed)
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried))
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (preferably fresh)
• 3 cloves garlic (finely minced or pressed)
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning (a blend of oregano, thyme, and basil)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 limes (juiced)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic (finely minced or pressed)
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano (I use Mexican oregano)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• ½ teaspoon sesame oil (or toasted sesame oil)
• 2 teaspoons fresh ginger (peeled and grated)
• 2 teaspoons garlic (finely minced or pressed)
• 2 green onions (thinly sliced)
• 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce (optional)
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic (finely minced or pressed)
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Method

1. Start by preparing your chicken. For whole chicken breasts, you can either leave them as is or slice them into thinner pieces for more efficient marinating and cooking. Be sure to trim any excess fat.
2. Choose the marinade you'd like to use. Once decided, gather all of the ingredients for the chosen marinade and add them to a zip-top bag or a shallow dish. Mix the ingredients well until everything is fully combined.
3. Place your prepared chicken into the bag or dish with the marinade. If using a zip-top bag, seal it securely, then gently move the chicken around inside the bag to ensure it's fully coated with the marinade. If using a shallow dish, make sure all pieces are well coated with the marinade, then cover the dish with a lid or plastic wrap.
4. With the chicken fully coated in the marinade, transfer it to the refrigerator. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes, but if time allows, leave it for a few hours or even overnight for an even richer flavor (but don't go over 24 hours).
5. Once the marinating process is done, take the chicken out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature before you start cooking. Use your preferred cooking method (grilling, baking, pan-searing, or slow cooking) to cook the marinated chicken.