The best Chicken Marinade ever! This marinade produces so much flavor and keeps the chicken incredibly moist and outrageously delicious! This easy chicken marinade recipe is sure to become a staple in your kitchen. Great for grilling and baking!
Grilling tonight? Make sure to try my steak marinade and grilled potatoes too!
Best Chicken Marinade Recipe
For many years now I have been perfecting my chicken marinade recipe and it’s finally exactly what I want. I love this easy recipe because it quickly transforms an ordinary chicken breast (or any other cut of chicken) into something extraordinarily delicious – just in time for dinner.
It really is the BEST chicken marinade I’ve ever had and I’m confident you’re going to love it as much as we do.
Easy Chicken Breast Marinade
I keep chicken breasts on hand at all times because there is just SOO much you can do with a chicken breast…(Make sure to check out my book for ONE HUNDRED chicken recipes!)
Having a good grilled chicken breast marinade on hand is essential if you live in a hot area like I do. It’s a quick, no-brainer dinner option that we rely on several times each month.
Let me be clear, this is not to say that this marinade won’t work on other cuts of chicken. It most certainly does and is insanely delicious so use what you have on hand.
One of our other favorite ways is to use this as a chicken thigh marinade or even drumsticks. It really will work for any piece of chicken. (I’ve had lots of reader write in saying it’s also delicious with veggies, pork and beef!)
What To Serve With Grilled Chicken
Since we grill multiple times a week, I’ve become quite an expert at quickly whipping up one or two side dishes that pair perfectly with grilled chicken. Here are some of our favorites:
- Fruit Salad
- Grape Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole
- The Best Coleslaw Recipe
- Grilled Potatoes
- Easy Baked Sweet Potato (How To Bake Sweet Potatoes)
Grilled Chicken Marinade
This is really my very favorite grilled chicken marinade. I love to make up a big batch of grilled chicken and this recipe is great for that. It makes enough marinade for about 6 large chicken breasts or 3 to 4 pounds of chicken pieces.
Chicken Marinade Ingredients
While the list looks long, most if not all of these ingredients will likely be in your pantry. What we’re doing here is just building layers of flavor in this easy marinade. Let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need:
- extra virgin olive oil – this is the base of the marinade and keeps the chicken so juicy and moist.
- balsamic vinegar – a balsamic chicken marinade is my very favorite. It is definitely one of the key ingredients in this recipe and adds loads of flavor.
- soy sauce – I like to use low sodium.
- Worcestershire sauce – so many flavor in this ingredient, it’s a must for this marinade.
- lemon juice – fresh is best for flavor but you can use bottled if you need to.
- brown sugar – I have lots of readers that reduce or even eliminate the brown sugar but I personally love it in this recipe.
- dried rosemary – a little herbaceous flavor is always nice to round out a marinade.
- Dijon mustard – or Spicy Brown mustard or even plain yellow mustard will work in a pinch.
- salt and ground black pepper – for seasoning.
- garlic powder – I prefer garlic powder instead of fresh garlic because the fresh garlic will burn on the grill.
How To Make Chicken Marinade
This easy marinade comes together in just minutes!
- Prepare marinade. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk together. Cheater method: put them straight into a large ziploc bag that will also be used for marinating the chicken.
- Reserve. Remove a half a cup of marinade and reserve for basting the chicken later.
- Marinate Chicken. Place chicken in a large resealable plastic bag and pour marinade over the top. Close securely and gently massage marinade into breasts. Marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
Cooking Methods
Marinated chicken can be cooked on the grill, in the oven or on the stovetop. Here are my tips for cooking it best:
- Grilling: Preheat grill to medium high heat and lightly oil the grates. Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting the excess drip off. Grill chicken for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Baste the chicken occasionally with the reserved marinade. Remove chicken from grill and tent with foil. Let chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
- Baking: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place marinated chicken on a shallow baking sheet or baking pan and cook for 18 to 22 minutes (or 450F for 15 to 18 minutes if you’re in a hurry) or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Let chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. Baste as often as you can for best flavor.
- Stovetop: Preheat a skillet over medium high and lightly grease. Cook chicken for 8 to 10 minutes on each side or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Let chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. Use a stovetop grill pan for those pretty sear marks!
FAQs
Any kind of chicken you like. Breasts, thighs, drumsticks, tenders, skin on or off, bone in or out. Now, keep in mind that different cuts will take more or less time. Always check on the internal temperature to check doneness. Chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
A minimum of 30 minutes and as long as overnight. I find the chicken starts to get tough if I marinate it for more than 24 hours. If you have less time, consider poking holes in the chicken with a fork to allow the marinade to penetrate quickly.
Yes, absolutely. After adding the marinade to the chicken breast in a freezer safe resealable bag, freeze chicken for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
The chicken can be grilled, baked or cooked on the stovetop. See the previous section for more information or check out the recipe card below for instructions.
More Chicken Recipes
- Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Chicken Piccata – Ready In 20 Minutes!
- The BEST Chicken Salad
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
- Greek Chicken – A Sheet Pan Dinner
How to Make the Best Chicken Marinade
The BEST Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar or other vinegar
- ¼ cup soy sauce I use low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ⅛ cup lemon juice
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard or Spicy Brown mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 chicken breasts or 3.5 lb chicken
Instructions
- Combine all marinade ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk together. Remove a half a cup of marinade and reserve for basting the chicken later.
- Place chicken in a large resealable bag and pour marinade over the top. Gently massage chicken breasts and be sure to close bag securely. (If you have less time, consider poking holes in the chicken with a fork to allow the marinade to penetrate quickly.)
- Refrigerate chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. I find 4 to 6 hours to be perfect.
To grill
- Preheat grill to medium high heat and lightly oil the grates.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting the excess drip off. Grill chicken for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
- Baste the chicken occasionally with the reserved marinade.
- Once the chicken has reached 165°F, remove chicken from grill and tent with foil. Let chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Optional.
- If you bring the reserved marinade up to a boil, let simmer until slightly reduced, it makes a wonderful sauce to go on top of the chicken.
Karrie says
Hello-
You have obvious rosemary in the marinade pictures, but none in the picture of the finished product? Can you please comment on that? I love the rosemary flavor but not eating them in the finished product.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I didn’t pick off the rosemary if that’s what you’re asking. When I pull the chicken out of the marinade, just a few pieces really stick to the chicken. Most fall off during grilling. Hope that helps!
Raegan says
What is the nutritional information on this?
Antoinette C says
Tried the chicken tonight and all of us loved it. The marinade was full of flavor and I reduced it to use on my fresh cut potatoes as a sauce , delicious. This is definitely a keeper. Thanks
Cookies says
This was really good, my family kept asking if it was steak.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Katie says
Man, I just made this and it is awesome!!! Thank you so much! Just marinated 30 minutes and baked in the over. Will have to try on the grill sometime.
Dale says
if you don;t want pop up ads showing up,turn on your pop up ad blocker ………I didn’t have any problem……
Jeev says
Hi, I’m interested to make this as part of my meal prep. How long can I marinate them in a chiller or freezer since, I usually do a meal prep over the weekend and heat them up for the next 5-6 days. Thank you.
Crystal D says
Any ideas for easy sides to go with the chicken marinade? I need ideas because I won’t be able to make dinner tomorrow due to a procedure I’m having. Thank you all in advance for helping me.
Christine @ myblissfulmess says
THE best chicken marinade! You were not kidding! I made it for a Sunday dinner, and everyone loved it! I am mentioning and linking it over on my blog. I can’t wait to have it again!
kathy a eads says
what is the green garnish?
Mrs. C. says
I made the Best Chicken Marinade tonight and and it was delicious! My daughter who usually picks at her chicken loved this chicken. Thank you for such a great recipe!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!
Rachel says
My boyfriend doesn’t like barbecue sauce, but said this is PERFECT. And proceeded to go back for seconds. This really is SO VERY GOOD, I will absolutely make again. All ingredients were readily on hand, making this a simple sauce to make. Do recommend reducing the remaining sauce in a pan to top your finished product…or store to use a different day. We’re thinking ribs are next with this tasty sauce!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Wonderful! I think this would go great with ribs!
PizzaG says
THIS WAS DELICIOUS! I used fresh rosemary from a plant I grow (instead of dried); used half red wine vinegar and half balsamic vinegar; and since soy sauce is so salty (even the low sodium type), I used Bragg Liquid Aminos as a substitute. I only cook for two, so I halved the recipe; but next time I think I will third it for use with two chicken breasts. I grilled the chicken and it was absolutely scrumptious! Definitely a keeper!
PizzaG says
BTW, I used the half red wine vinegar, half balsamic because I feel that much balsamic alone can sometimes be overpowering. I always use good quality balsamic vinegar.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Great substitution!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Sounds PERFECT!
Tammy Ciullo says
Can you make this in a crock pot?
Thanks!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Sure!
Kathy says
I was looking forward to making this as I am not a fan of chicken breast (boneless, skinless). Thighs are my favorite bone and skin on…We did grill it after almost 24 hours in the marinade. I’m still not a fan. (haha) I did find it a dry and I thought the vinegar was a little overpowering. I am going to try to cut the vinegar down and bake it in the oven or cook it in a skillet . I look forward to trying your other recipes. Thanks!