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Lee Funke
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Dry, tasteless chicken no more! Use one of these 6 delicious chicken marinade recipes to infuse flavor into your chicken. All you have to do is mix up a marinade and let your chicken marinate for 30 minutes.
In this post, we’ll teach why you should marinate your chicken, how to make a chicken marinade, and how to freeze marinated chicken!
Table of Contents
This chicken marinde post is one of our most popular recipe tutorials on Fit Foodie Finds. So many of you have made one of these chicken marinades and loved every bite. Enjoy!
Featured Comment
“Please don’t ever take this down- each one is delicious and makes for an easy weeknight dinner option. I’ve made them all and they’re great- thanks for sharing!“ – Krista
If there is one thing we stand by it’s marinating chicken. Chicken marinades truly add so much flavor and tenderness to chicken and we worked hard perfecting 6 different chicken marinade flavors for you.
My personal favorite marinade for chicken is the teriyaki version because I can serve it next to white rice and roasted broccoli, but balsamic is a close second and perfect for grilling chicken! Plus, it’s the perfect chicken marinade for grilling!
Other easy chicken marinade flavor variations we’re sharing in this post are: teriyaki, balsamic, lemon, fajita, Italian, and BBQ.
What is in a chicken marinade?
Our basic chicken marinade is made with an olive oil base and then any additional flavors such as citrus juice, fresh herbs, spices, and sauce. Let your chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes and then cook it any way you want.
- oil: we like using a mild in flavor oil such as olive oil. You can also try avocado oil.
- citrus: a little bit of lime, lemon, or orange will add so much brightness to your chicken.
- fresh herbs: bring on the herbs. We recommend any and all herbs including dill, rosemary, cilantro, and parsley.
- seasonings: spices add a more intense flavor. Try garlic, chili powder, onion powder, or garlic powder.
- sauces: our go-to sauces for marinating chicken includes bbq sauce, Worcestershires sauce, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar.
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How long should I marinate my chicken?
We recommend marinating your chicken for anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours.
If your chicken marinade does not contain a citrus fruit or acid-like vinegar, you can marinate it overnight or for up to 24 hours.
How much marinade do I need per 1 lb. of chicken?
Per 1 to 1.5 lbs. of chicken, you’ll need around 1/2 cup of marinade. So, feel free to double or triple any of these marinades to flavor more chicken.
What cuts of chicken can I marinate?
Any cut of chicken can be marinated: chicken breasts, chicken legs, chicken thighs, and whole chickens!
Check it out!
6 Baked Chicken Breast Recipes
You are going to love these6 oven baked chicken breast recipes.Check out how to bake chicken breast perfectly every time and get 6 delicious flavor variations!
What should I marinate my chicken in?
When it comes time to actually marinate your poultry, pretty much any container large enough to house your chicken works! Here are our top 3 choices.
- Casserole dish: we love using a simple casserole dish because it makes for easy baking when it’s time to cook!
- Gallon-size plastic bag: planning to freeze your marinated chicken? Use a plastic bag as your vessel for marinating.
- Glass container or bowl: don’t have either of the above? Any glass container or bowl will work!
How do I cook marinated chicken?
Our #1 piece of advice when cooking chicken is to make sure to cook it until the internal temperature is at least 165ºF. Pretty much any cooking method is fair game. We’re linking to some of our basic chicken breast recipes below so you can learn how to easily cook your marinated chicken.
- Oven-Baked Chicken
- Grilled Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Breast
- Slow Cooker Chicken
- Sous Vide Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Can you freeze marinated chicken?
Freezing marinated chicken is one of our secret meal-prep tips! Simply place your chicken in a large, gallon-size bag and then add the marinade. Remove as much air as possible and then seal the bag shut. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
PS: there is no need to let your chicken marinate for the full 24 hours before freezing. It will marinate as it freezes and as it thaws!
How to cook frozen marinated chicken
We get this question all. the. time. Unfortunately, we don’t ever recommend cooking chicken from a frozen state unless you use an Instant Pot. Get our Instant Pot Chicken recipe here.
For the best results and to avoid any kind of food-borne illness, let your marinated chicken completely thaw before following of the above cook methods.
Well, what about a chicken dry rub or chicken seasoning? Dry rubs typically flavor the outside of your meat, but a marinade is going to flavor the entire cut of chicken. Sometimes, we like to use a combination of both!
And now, please enjoy 6 of our go-to chicken breast marinade recipes!
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Easy Chicken Marinade – 6 Ways
Try one of these 6 chicken marinades for super juicy, flavorful chicken. All you have to do is mix up a flavor and let your chicken marinate for 30 minutes!
Prep:30 minutes minutes
Cook:0 minutes minutes
Total:30 minutes minutes
Fat 13
Carbs 3
Protein 26
Yield: 6
Print Rate
Ingredients
Fajita Chicken Marinade
- 1 – 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro
LemonChicken Marinade
BBQ Chicken Marinade
- 1 – 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 olive oil
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Teriyaki Chicken Marinade
- 1 – 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon sriracha
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
Italian Chicken Marinade
- 1 – 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
Balsamic Chicken Marinade
- 1 – 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
Instructions
Choose a chicken marinade flavor from above and place all ingredients (minus the chicken breast) into a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
Place chicken breast into a glass container or gallon-size bag. Then, pour the marinade on top of the chicken, making sure it is covered.
Let chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or for up to 6 hours.
Follow your favorite cooking method to cooking chicken breast until the internal temperature is 165ºF.
Tips & Notes
- Each of these chicken breast marinade recipes is enough marinade for 1 to 1.5 lbs. of boneless skinless chicken breast.
- Nutrition information is for the lemon chicken marinade with 1.5 lbs. of chicken breast serving 6 people.
- Cooking Methods
- Oven: transfer the chicken and chicken marinade into an oven-safe baking dish. Bake at 400ºF for around 20-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF.
- Grill: grill chicken at 400ºF over direct heat for around 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF.
Watch It
Nutrition facts
Calories: 201kcal Carbohydrates: 3g Protein: 26g Fat: 13g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 2g
Author: Lee Funke
Similar recipes:
Sous Vide Chicken Breast
Crockpot Sesame Chicken
Grilled BBQ Chicken Bowls
Healthy Buffalo Chicken
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Chicken Fajita Marinade
Looking for chicken fajita marinade that’s super simple to put together yet packs in all the classic fajita flavors? You’ll love this chicken marinade as it’s made with a mixture of olive oil, spices, lime juice, and fresh cilantro!
What you need
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro
Lemon Chicken Marinade
This lemon chicken marinade is light, fresh, and made with lemon juice, dill, garlic, and olive oil. It’s a winner every time!
What you need
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill
- 1/2 tablespoon white rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey (or maple syrup)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
BBQ Chicken Marinade
There is nothing better than saucy BBQ chicken. Follow this easy bbq chicken marinade recipe and mix your favorite bbq sauce with savory spices and a little olive oil!
What You Need
- 1/4 olive oil
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Teriyaki Chicken Marinade
Say hello to the greatest teriyaki chicken marinade you’ve ever tasted. Our homemade teriyaki sauce is made with 7 simple ingredients that you already have in your kitchen. PS: it’s made without refined sugars, too!
What You Need
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon sriracha
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
Italian Chicken Marinade
This Italian chicken marinade is such a great all-purpose marinade to make for any meal. It’s made with fresh and dried herbs, lemon, and olive oil. You’ll never buy store-bought Italian marinade again!
What You Need
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
Balsamic Chicken Marinade
We love this balsamic chicken marinade so much because it keeps things simple with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, balsamic, and fresh basil. Yum!
What You Need
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
More of our Favorite…
Chicken Marinades
- Grilled Chicken Marinade
- Chicken Thigh Marinade
- Chicken Kabob Marinade
- Chicken Brine
About Lee Funke
Lee is the founder of Fit Foodie Finds and based in Minneapolis, MN. She started this website in 2010 as a way to share her love for real food and wellness. The internet has changed so much since then and so has Fit Foodie Finds. Today we're a female-run recipe website publishing hundreds of tried and true recipes developed and tested by our team.
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Food
Posted on 5/9/2023
Amazing! It is a great recipe Thank You!
Reply
Emily
Posted on 9/12/2022
Can you substitute rice vinegar for something else?
Reply
Syifak
Posted on 8/29/2022
Hi im going to try these marinades for bbq this weekend. Can i used chicken wing instead?
Reply
Emily Richter
Posted on 8/30/2022
Reply to Syifak
Absolutely! You can use these marinades on any cut of chicken 🙂
Reply
Jim Price
Posted on 7/7/2022
Could one substitute rendered duck fat for the olive oil?
Reply
Emily Richter
Posted on 7/11/2022
Reply to Jim Price
Hey Jim, The fat will likely coagulate as it sits in the marinade, so we wouldn’t recommend this substitution. You can absolutely substitute for another cooking oil, though!
1
Reply
Emily
Posted on 6/29/2022
Can you make the marinades in big batches & store them in the fridge until you want to use them? If so, how long would they be good for?
Last edited 1 year ago by Emily
1
Reply
Karen Allen
Posted on 6/14/2022
Recipe Rating :
I tried the fajita marinade for the first time – very pleased with the result, chicken was tender and full of flavour, marinade was very easy to make. I am looking forward to trying the other marinades!
Reply
Emily Richter
Posted on 6/16/2022
Reply to Karen Allen
Yay!
Reply
Krista
Posted on 6/2/2022
Recipe Rating :
Please don’t ever take this down- each one is delicious and makes for an easy weeknight dinner option. I’ve made them all and they’re great- thanks for sharing!
1
Reply
Emily Richter
Posted on 6/6/2022
Reply to Krista
We promise we won’t! 😀
1
Reply
Hirum
Posted on 5/9/2022
Recipe Rating :
I tried the Fajita and I must say damn, just from mixing the ingredients and tasting the marinade, you can tell it’s going to be one blast of flavour.
For lovers of salt maybe add a little more for more pronounced.
1
Reply
Tyla
Posted on 3/8/2022
Recipe Rating :
I just made the Chicken Fajita and the first bite was an explosion of flavor. Actually they all were. This dinner is going to be on repeat for the rest of my life. I am excited to try the other marinades as well.
1
Reply
Emily Richter
Posted on 3/9/2022
Reply to Tyla
Aw, we’re blushing! So glad you loved these marinades 😀
1
Reply
Courtney
Posted on 1/3/2022
Can you freeze the marinates and then use them when you’re ready to?
6
Reply
Janet
Posted on 10/11/2021
Can you substitute dried herbs for fresh, and would you increase the amount.
Reply
Lee Funke
Posted on 10/14/2021
Reply to Janet
You can but the flavor won’t be as good. I would half the amount!
Reply
Posted on 8/10/2021
Recipe Rating :
For years I’ve always thought using a marinade is a waste of time as the few times I’ve tried it, it didn’t seem to make much difference to the overall taste. Then I followed the process and used the Fajita marinade and it turned out great! I didn’t know what I was missing!
Reply
Lee Funke
Posted on 8/15/2021
Reply to Mark Lawrence
Glad you loved the fajita marinade!
Reply
Marine Bigand
Posted on 7/4/2021
Recipe Rating :
Amazing, I use these every week
Reply
Acrum87
Posted on 6/23/2021
Recipe Rating :
Hey, I made the lemon marinade chicken a few nights ago for tonight, it’s now not needed until next week. Is it ok to freeze it even after its been marinading and the just defrost for when it is needed or doesit not freeze/defrost bery wekk once marinated?
Last edited 2 years ago by Acrum87
Reply
Lee Funke
Posted on 6/23/2021
Reply to Acrum87
Hi! As long as the chicken isn’t expired, you should be good!
Reply
Kim
Posted on 6/12/2021
Done and in the fridge! What is the best way to cook them? Thank you!
Reply
Lee Funke
Posted on 6/14/2021
Reply to Kim
Hey Kim! We share a variety of different methods within the post on how to cook your marinated chicken.
1
Reply
John K
Posted on 6/5/2021
Recipe Rating :
These all sound wonderful! I almost NEVER buy pre-marinaded meats because they are so full of unhealthy additives and usually have too much sodium, so these are not just cheaper but also far healthier! I suspect several of these would work well with pork cuts like pork tenderloin as well. Have you tried pork with any?
Reply
Heidi G
Posted on 5/15/2021
Recipe Rating :
Found your site – Thank goodness! Made the lemon marinade tonight. It was so easy to put together. Boneless, skinless thighs drank up it up for 3 hours. The flavor was light and so, so delicious! Looking forward to trying more. Rotisserie chicken on Monday night ~so many interesting choices to choose from. Thank you for sharing !
Reply
Lee Funke
Posted on 5/18/2021
Reply to Heidi G
So glad you loved the lemon chicken marinade. It’s one of my favorites, too!
Reply
Toffie
Posted on 5/9/2021
Hi there. I was hoping to freeze these ahead of my sons birthday party. Can I use all of these on a BBQ? Or would the fresh herbs burn? Thanks ☺️
1
Reply
Lee Funke
Posted on 5/9/2021
Reply to Toffie
I’ve used these all on the bbq!
Reply
Heather
Posted on 4/15/2021
Recipe Rating :
These are great. Thanks!
Reply
