7 BEST Chicken Marinades
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These 7 well-tested, easy chicken marinades will transform boneless chicken breasts into several tasty, healthy meals. We’ll show you 4 different methods for cooking your marinated chicken, plus how to make them into freezer meals for later.
5 Reasons to Love These Marinade Recipes
- Marinating chicken helps to infuse flavor throughout and adds moisture to a cut of chicken that can be notoriously bland and dry.
- We’ve developed and meticulously tested 7 delicious combos of marinade ingredients so you never get bored again! I seriously love every single one of these.
- We’ll show you how to cook your marinated chicken 4 different ways–grilled, baked, slow cooked, or pressure cooked. You have options!
- You can prep these in bulk and freeze them. So dinner is always ready to go!
- Bonus: We’ll show you how to repurpose your marinade into a safe-to-eat, flavorful sauce to drizzle over your cooked chicken. It can be done!
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7 Chicken Marinade Recipes
There is a marinade for everyone in our collection!
1. Asian Chicken Marinade
With just a few key Asian-inspired ingredients, you can create some seriously tasty marinated chicken. Serve it in wraps, on salads, or over rice. Perfect side dishes are Asian Slaw and Brown Rice.
2. Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade
You had me at 5 ingredients! That’s right. This recipe only requires 5 pantry staples for a perfect sweet and tangy result. This chicken is delicious on top of salad with our Honey Dijon Dressing or serve it like we do in our Honey Dijon Chicken Sandwiches.
3. Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade
Thanks to fresh lemon, garlic, thyme and more, this bright and flavorful marinade completely transforms any cut of chicken. Pairs perfectly with our Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, and Strawberry Fields Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette.
4. Balsamic Chicken Marinade
Fresh herbs and pantry staples combine to create this complex marinade. Side dish ideas include Simple Boiled Baby Potatoes or No Boil Corn on the Cob. The one pictured below is served over cous cous with a simple Caprese Salad.
5. Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
Cilantro, lime, garlic, and more marry together to create this fresh, citrusy marinade. Serve the cooked chicken a la cart over Cilantro Lime Rice, on tacos, in quesadillas, or shredded on top of nachos, like these Shredded Chicken Nachos.
6. The BEST Savory Chicken Marinade
This marinade packs a flavor punch! In fact, I think it’s the BEST savory one you’ll find. With just a few pantry staple ingredients, boring chicken is taken to a whole new flavor level! Enjoy a la carte with Instant Pot Mashed potatoes, on top of our Favorite Cobb Salad, on a sandwich, or in a wrap.
7. Southwest Chicken Marinade
Of all the marinades in the world, THIS is the one I make the most. Hands down. My kids love it. All adults love it. It can be served any way you dream up–a la carte, in tacos, quesadillas, Southwest Chicken Burrito Bowls, Southwest Chicken and Bacon Wraps or Southwest Chicken Salad.
4 Ways to Cook Marinated Chicken
Chicken breasts are by far the most popular cut to marinate and cook, so we’re giving you several cooking options below. You can grill, bake, slow cook, or pressure your chicken.
Here are four easy ways to cook marinated chicken:
Bake in the Oven
Preheat oven to 400°F. Place chicken in a casserole dish or on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake uncovered for about 20-25 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken, until done.
Slow Cook in the Crockpot
Place chicken and marinade in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. Really! That’s all it takes to get it done, otherwise, you’ll overcook and dry it out.
Here is a whole post about how long to cook chicken in the Crockpot.
Pressure Cook in the Instant Pot
Place chicken, marinade, and 1/3 cup chicken broth in a 6-quart Instant Pot. (Note: If using an 8 quart, add an additional 1/2 cup of broth.)
Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 7 minutes and use a quick release of the pressure when the cook time is up. (Note: From testing, we know it usually takes 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before the cook time starts.)
Grill the Chicken
Pound out the chicken to about 3/4 inch thick (or cut it in half lengthwise) to help with fast and even cooking.
Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400-450°F) and clean the grates well. Grill for 4-6 minutes per side, closing the lid in between flipping. The cook time may take a little longer, depending on the thickness of the chicken.
How to Know When Chicken is Done
Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internal temperature. A digital meat thermometer is a must to help cook chicken perfectly!
Freezing Instructions
A great use of your time is prep a few freezer meals using this marinade. Like most of our chicken freezer meals, simply combine the ingredients (the marinade & the chicken) and freeze for later.
No need to let the chicken marinate before freezing either. When you want to use it, let the chicken thaw one of these safe ways.
FAQs about Chicken Marinades
The ideal marinating time for chicken is anywhere between 2-24 hours. The specific time can depend on the type and cut of chicken, as well as the acidity level of the marinade.
Yes, over-marinating chicken can actually have a negative effect on the texture and taste of the meat. Acidic marinades, in particular, can break down the proteins in the chicken too much and leave it with a mushy texture.
Absolutely! As freezer cookbook authors, we especially love how easy it is to prep these chicken breast marinades ahead of time and freeze them to have on hand for another night. Every recipe includes freezing instructions, so you can double and freeze a batch anytime.
You shouldn’t reuse marinade but you can boil it to use safely as a sauce over your finished dish using these directions. I actually do this all the time.
To kill all the raw chicken germs, be sure to bring the marinade to a rolling boil in a pot on the stove for at least 1 minute, according to the CDC‘s directions for making water safe to drink.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that bacteria are rapidly killed at temperatures above 149°F (65°C), which is below that of boiling water or even a simmer. So rest assured you’ll be safe if you boil it well for 1 minute. We’d suggest straining it after boiling to remove any chicken pieces.
Yes, you can marinate frozen chicken. Go ahead and throw frozen boneless chicken breasts or thighs in a freezer bag with the marinade and stick the bag in the freezer until you’re ready. Or, place the bag of chicken and marinade in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours, until thawed completely.
Absolutely! All cuts of chicken can benefit from a dip in a marinade. So, these marinades work just as well for chicken thighs and bone-in chicken. Cooking time will vary from our recipes, however, since we direct you how to cook chicken breasts.
According to the USDA, if kept frozen continuously, chicken will be safe indefinitely in the freezer. It’s true! However, the question really is, how long can you freeze chicken without the taste and texture being adversely affected. Well, it depends on if it’s raw or cooked.
Raw chicken can be frozen for longer periods compared to cooked chicken. According to the USDA, raw chicken pieces like breasts, thighs, or wings can last in the freezer for up to 9 months, whereas a whole chicken can retain its quality for up to a year when properly frozen.
Cooked chicken, however, has a shorter freezing window. Generally, it can last around 2 to 4 months in the freezer, depending on how it’s packaged and if it remains completely frozen the whole time. It’s crucial to note that cooked chicken tends to lose moisture and flavor more quickly in the freezer compared to its raw counterpart.
Where do you get your chicken breasts from?
We are HUGE fans of ButcherBox and have been getting our chicken (and beef, seafood, and pork) from them for years now. We love that their chicken is 100% organic and all their meat is healthy and sourced responsibly. It’s so convenient to have it delivered to our doorsteps whenever we choose!
You should definitely check it out and see if ButcherBox would be a good fit for your family. Our readers and we just love it!
Bottom Line: I hope you feel sufficiently motivated and resourced to make some darn delicious (and healthy) chicken now! Be sure to look for boneless, skinless chicken breasts to go on sale and then stock up. Spend an hour on the weekend prepping several of these marinades, toss your chicken in the bags, and freeze so you can have dinner ready to cook any night!
Where do you show how to cook them and how to make the marinade into a sauce?
Hi Tracey! If you click on the different recipe titles like Southwest Chicken Marinade or Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade, you will be taken to a post all about that particular flavor. It gives you all the ways to cook it as well as suggestions on different ways to serve it!
Hi! Just out of curiosity, it says serving is for 5 but I only see 2 chicken breast. You dice it up and serve it in equal portions to feed all 5?
I know I can always 2x or 3x the recipe haha
Hi Yani. I believe all of the marinades say 1.5-2 pounds of chicken. The number of breasts would depend on how much they weigh. I have found that 2 pounds of chicken serves my family of 5. Yes, I cut up the chicken before serving. If it is left in breasts or tenders or thighs, people will take whole ones of course. I have found that when it is sliced or chopped, there is usually a little chicken left over because people take the amount that they actually want instead of having to take a whole breast or whatever. I will say that as my kids get older, one of them, in particular, is eating more… but that just means he’s eating 2 or 3 servings, not that the recipe isn’t meant to serve 5. Hope this helps!
I cannot find the measurements for the 7chicken marinades
Hi Lois. If you click on the title of each marinade, it will take you to the recipe. This post was intended to list them all in one place and answer some general questions about our chicken marinades.
Would these be appropriate for sous vide?
Hi Diana. We have not tested our recipes sous vide. We would love to know how it turns out if you do try it!