6 Simple Chicken Marinades

Name: 6 Simple Chicken Marinades
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 150 min
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast (2 to 3 breasts); ¼ cup olive oil; 1 lemon (juiced (about 3 tablespoons juice)); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; ¼ cup olive oil; ¼ cup cilantro leaves (chopped); 2 limes (zested and juiced (about ¼ cup juice)); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1 teaspoon ground cumin; ½ teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 3 tablespoons honey; 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar; 1 garlic clove (minced); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; ¼ cup tamari soy sauce (or coconut aminos); 1 tablespoons sesame oil; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 green onion (thinly sliced); 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger (about ½-inch piece); 2 garlic cloves (minced)

by Lisa Bryan — March 5, 2022 97 Comments

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Simply put, using a chicken marinade is one of the best ways to give your favorite protein some big flavor and maximum juiciness. From a bright Greek lemon marinade, to punchy honey mustard, and everything in between – here’s everything you need to know about making (and using) the best chicken marinades!

Chicken marinades in bags with a sharpie

Chicken Marinade – The Answer To An Easy, Flavorful Dinner

While I’m all for dry rubs for a savory top coat (like my herb baked chicken or crispy baked chicken thighs), chicken marinades have their own benefits. They’re great for locking in your favorite flavors, tenderizing the meat, and keeping it ultra juicy as it cooks. That’s especially important for when you’re cooking up chicken breasts – because we all know how easily they can dry out!

In addition to chicken breasts, these marinades can be used for chicken thighs (my favorite), or even chicken drumsticks, depending on what type of meal you’re prepping for the week. So if you need some fresh dinner ideas, keep reading for examples on how to pair each chicken flavor with side dishes and other ingredients.

Raw chicken breasts on a plate for chicken marinades.

How To Marinate Chicken

Before we start the marinade process, you have a choice of marinating the chicken breasts in a large bowl or large sealable bag. I personally like to use Stasher Bags to save room in the freezer or fridge. But if you choose to use a bowl, just make sure it’s big enough so that the chicken breasts are fully immersed in the marinade.

Make the marinade. Choose a chicken marinade flavor and place all ingredients (minus the chicken breast) into a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
Prep the chicken. Place chicken breasts into a bag. Then pour all of the marinade into the bag. Seal the bag, then give it a good squish to make sure the chicken is fully coated.
Let the marinating process begin! Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours (though you can go up to 24 hours).

Pro Tip: You want to marinate chicken between 2 to 24 hours, and never for more than a day. The reason being is that marinades typically have an acidic ingredient to help tenderize the meat. But it can give chicken a mushy texture when exposed for too long.

6 Best Chicken Marinades

Note that these marinades are meant for 1 pound of chicken (which is about 2 to 3 chicken breasts). So if you’re marinating more than that, you can double the recipe. To get started – grab a small mixing bowl, whisk, and let’s get into it.

Greek Lemon Chicken Marinade

If you love bright and fresh Mediterranean flavors, you’ll fall head over heels for this one. It’s loaded with fresh lemon juice, lots of herbs, and a punch of Dijon mustard.

How to serve: Slice the chicken into strips with a side of roasted veggies from my Greek sheet pan chicken recipe.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade

Taking inspiration from my cilantro lime chicken, this marinade is extra fresh and extra zesty!

How to serve: This is perfect for when you need a quick Mexican fix (i.e. burrito bowls, tacos, or salads) alongside some cilantro lime rice, beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo.

Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade

This classic flavor never fails when it comes to chicken. But instead of making a sauce (like in my honey mustard chicken wings), this sweet and punchy marinade is infused into the chicken, making each bite pretty darn irresistible.

How to serve: I love to eat slices of this chicken with a side of roasted veggies such as roasted Brussels sprouts or roasted broccoli. But it also makes a delicious addition (sliced or diced) to a salad tossed with a Dijon vinaigrette.

Teriyaki Chicken Marinade

Think of this as a simplified version of my teriyaki sauce (because I know not everyone has sake and mirin in their fridge). It’s rich, savory, and has hints of fresh ginger and green onion.

How to serve: Slice the chicken into strips and serve over a bed of white rice. And for veggies – both garlic ginger bok choy or steamed broccoli will round out this meal!

Fajita Chicken Marinade

This is essentially my fajita seasoning dry rub turned into a marinade, with all those classic Mexican flavors you love. In other words, it’s like my chicken fajitas recipe that’s ready on-the-go.

How to serve: You can sub ground beef for slices of this chicken in a taco salad. Or make it the ultimate Mexican plate served with a side of fajita veggies, guacamole, beans, or corn salad.

Italian Chicken Marinade

This is everything you love about Italian seasoning, but with a kick! If you don’t like spicy heat though, you can reduce or omit the red pepper flakes.

How to serve: I love pairing this Italian chicken with fresh salads such as a caprese salad or a simple massaged kale salad. It’s also great on top of sauteed spinach and blistered tomatoes.

How To Freeze Marinated Chicken

Having marinated chicken in the freezer is one of the best ways to meal prep. You’ll seriously have the most amazing and flavorful chicken ready at your fingertips for cooking! But first, here’s a few tips on how to freeze it properly.

Prep the chicken. Place the chicken and marinade in a freezer-safe bag. Squeeze out as much air as you can and seal the bag.
Store away. Label the name of the marinade and date on the bag. Then store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Defrost. When you’re ready to cook it, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight. Once the chicken is thawed, cook it using any of the below methods!

Pro tip: you don’t need to marinate the chicken in the fridge before freezing. Just toss it straight into the freezer! As the chicken freezes and then thaws in the fridge overnight (when you’re ready to enjoy it), that’s when the chicken will go through the marinating process.

How To Label Stasher Bags for Freezer Friendly Meal Prep

If you plan to double or triple any of these recipes (which I highly recommend you do) and then store them in your freezer, it’s best to label the Stasher Bags with the marinade and date – so you don’t forget what’s inside!

To label the bags, it’s as easy as using a chalk marker and then writing on the matte side of the bag. Let the marker dry completely before storing away. To remove the label, simply use soapy water and a sponge.

Chicken marinades in a stasher bag with chalk marker.

Ways To Cook With Marinated Chicken

When you’re ready to cook, you’ve got a few options. Baked chicken is my default method given how easy it is to just pop it in the oven for 20 minutes or so. But if you want that deliciously charred flavor, you can easily grill it. Either way, here’s how to cook it both ways!

Baked Chicken: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Then pour the chicken breasts and the marinade into a small baking dish (Note: if you have a large baking dish or rimmed sheet pan, omit the marinade as it will spread out and get charred). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Once the chicken is done, make sure to let it rest for a few minutes before slicing into it.
Grilled Chicken: Preheat the grill to medium-heat and grill each side of the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes, or until it’s cooked through with the perfect set of grill marks.

Chicken Marinade Recipes Video

Need a visual run-through of these chicken marinades? Watch how easy they come together in the video below!

More Easy Chicken Recipes

If you often look to chicken for meal prep, consider these easy chicken recipes! They’re great for batch cooking and enjoying for multiple meals throughout the week.

Once you’ve marinated and cooked with these marinades, I’d love to hear what your favorite flavor is in a comment below!

6 Simple Chicken Marinades

Chicken Marinade – The Answer To An Easy, Flavorful Dinner

How To Marinate Chicken