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6 chicken marinades in freezer bags
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5 from 1 vote

Best Chicken Marinades

Make one of these 6 best chicken marinades for a delicious and healthy weeknight meal. Chicken breast marinades make cooking tender, flavorful chicken easy. Try one of these marinades on any kind of chicken you have on hand.
Prep Time35 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dinner, Healthy, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Keyword: chicken breast, greek marinade, marinade
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Molly Thompson

Equipment

  • Glass bowl with lid or plastic bag

Ingredients

Balsamic

  • 1 - 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts*
  • 1/4 cup olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Honey Mustard

  • 1 - 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts*
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1/4 cup dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cilantro Lime

  • 1 - 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts*
  • 1/4 cup olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1/3 cup lime juice about 2 limes
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/3 cup chopped cilantro leaves

BBQ

  • 1 - 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts*
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1/3 cup of your favorite bbq sauce (we like Primal Kitchen)
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspooon black pepper

Greek Chicken Marinade

  • 1 - 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts*
  • 1/4 cup olive oil or olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Juice from 1/2 a lemon
  • 1 teaspoon EACH: dried oregano, dried basil, kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Greek Yogurt Curry Chicken Marinade

  • 1 - 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts*
  • 3/4 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger or 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 shallot thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • Remove any fat from the chicken and pound chicken breasts to an even thickness. If you're using chicken breasts and they're really large, slice them in half lengthwise to reach a 4-5 ounce portion. This helps the chicken cook evenly. Pat the chicken dry and set aside.
  • Choose a marinade and add all of the ingredients, except the chicken, to a glass bowl with a lid or a gallon freezer bag or reusable silicone bag. Whisk or mix everything together then add the chicken and turn to coat it well if using a bowl or dish. Close the lid and shake well to coat if you're using a bag.
  • Marinate the chicken in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or up to 12 hours. Do not exceed 24 hours. Turn the chicken occasionally to ensure each piece and each side of the chicken are evenly coated.

Video

Notes

*Chicken breast: this is the most common cut of chicken for marinades, but these marinades work well with any cut of chicken including boneless skinless chicken thighs, bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, chicken wings, or drumsticks. 
*Nutrition information is for 1 1/2 lbs of the cilantro lime chicken
Recipes Using These Marinades
 
Cooking marinated chicken: see the recipe post above for cooking temps and times for grilling, baking, pan-frying, and sauteing marinated chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 6servings (4 ounces of chicken) | Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.3g | Protein: 25.9g | Fat: 10.2g | Cholesterol: 82.7mg | Sodium: 453mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 20.6IU | Vitamin C: 4.8mg