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.
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Servings: 6 servings
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.
Recipe Equipment
Glass bowl with lid or plastic bag
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
- Sheet pan Greek chicken
- Instant Pot Greek chicken and rice
- Honey mustard chicken thighs (grilled and baked)
- Crispy cilantro lime chicken thighs
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
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