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 (or Cilantro Lime Rice)…yum!
2. Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade
You had me at 5 ingredients! That’s right. This recipe only requires 5 pantry staple ingredients 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. Grill or bake the chicken, then enjoy on its own or atop a salad. 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 (cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and fresh basil with balsamic glaze).
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.
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Get the Cheat SheetFAQs 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.
Read more about how long you can freeze chicken and best tips and tricks for freezing raw and cooked chicken.
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)Trusted Source 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.
In our tests, we found that it’s best to marinate your chicken in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours and up to 24 hours. Less than 1 hour didn’t seem to infuse enough flavor into the chicken breasts and more than 24 hours (unless the chicken was frozen for part of that time) can cause them to become a bit mealy and mushy, especially if the marinade has a high acid content.
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.
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!
Is the “1 Minute Video: How to Make All 7 Marinades for Chicken Breasts” still up? I clicked the video box below that text and watched probably 10 advertisements with maybe a half a dozen other videos with you making food intermingled, and I finally gave up. Additionally, the cheat sheet hasn’t come to my inbox yet.
Hi Carol. Sorry for the trouble! You can watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qgL9LKOk5Y
Also, be sure to check your junk/promotions folder for the cheat sheet. If it’s not in there, please email us thrivinghome (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll make sure you get it pronto!
I have tried 2 different emails and have not received the cheat sheet either fyi
Hi Monika. I’m sorry to hear that. Can you shoot an email to thrivinghome (at) gmail (dot) com and we will make sure you get it.
Thanks
I wish i could try the recipes but the advertisements are out of control and i cant see them. I can barely see one line of text to write this comment through all the ads. Wait, one more just popped up and i can see the farthest 4 letters on the line. Everything else is blocked by ads.
Thank you for this feedback. I’m sorry it was hard to use! We will reach out to our ad network to try to figure out a better solution. Since our site is free to use and our main income, we’re always trying to ride the balance of user-friendliness with well-placed ads.
Hi there is no cooking time and heat temperature. Did I miss it?
You’ll have to click on a recipe to find the exact cook time and temperature. This post serves mainly as a roundup. Hope that helps!
Could you also please send me the cheat sheet! Thanks
Hi Kynthia. Sorry for the trouble. You can sign up to receive it here (and be sure to check your junk or promotions folder for it): https://thriving-home.ck.page/c2644df86b
I signed up, but didn’t get the email for the chart, only the one to confirm my subscription. When I go to this link, it says the campaign is no longer active. How can I get the chart? Thank you.
The chart will be in the very first email you get from us. I’ll get it sorted out for you!
What do you do with the leftover marinade?
You have to be careful here, because it does have potentially dangerous raw chicken germs in it. But, if you boil it for 3 minutes to kill all the germs, you can actually use it as a sauce to drizzle over your finished dish. I’ve done this many times. Or…I’ve reused it again for another batch of chicken marinade.
Alfonso, so sorry for the trouble! You can grab the cheat sheet here: https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/imtqgk7gtf8e3upxw35a/
Let me know if you need any more help.
I can’t get the link to work either. I keep putting my info in and it is not sending the printable. Can you email it to me? Thanks!
Sorry for the trouble! Just emailed you back.
Can you also email to me please
On it’s way!
If I prep just the marinades in jars, do I need to refrigerate them or can I store in the cupboard?
You will need to refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks or freeze them for 3-6 months to help them stay fresh. If freezing, be sure to leave at least 1 inch of headspace at the top because the liquid will expand when frozen.
Do you have one for a Garlic Butter chicken?
Sorry we don’t. But, if you like breaded chicken with a buttery lemon sauce, give our Chicken Piccatta recipe a shot: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/healthy-chicken-piccata/
I’ve made the savory and southwest after freezing them. Absolutely wonderful meals! I’d like to try the Asian next. Tell me, would stir frying be an option?
Thanks for the review, Holly! Stir-frying the Asian Sesame Chicken is SUCH a great idea. I would cut it up in bite-sized pieces or thin strips before adding the chicken to the marinade. Then, you could totally stir-fry over medium-high to high heat in a pan on the stove. Add in some stir-fry veggies (i.e. thinly sliced carrots, water chestnuts, snow peas, broccoli), too. Yum!
Tried the southwest marinade and it was yummy, everyone loved it thnx for the easy recipies :))
Thanks for the feedback, Kathleen. Sure glad you enjoyed it!
I haven’t eaten any of the marinated chicken, but major props to you ladies for this resource! I had almost all of these ingredients already, and was able to prep all but the Asian sesame and freeze today! That feels like a major accomplishment and will make dinner time easier in the coming weeks. All of the flavor combos looked like crowd pleasers, and I appreciated the easily accessible ingredients. Thanks for the freebie!!
Yay!! I’m glad it was easy for you and you’ve got some healthy freezer meals on hand now. It’s such a great feeling, isn’t it? I hope you enjoy them, Theresa.
Made the Balsamic Herb and the Savory marinades so far. They are so good!! I haven’t had the chance to freeze the chicken in the marinades yet so I just let them marinate in the fridge for 2-3 hours. Still very flavorful – everyone in the family loved both!! Thank you!
Wonderful! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and review. Glad you’ve enjoyed the Balsamic marinade so far.
I made 2 of these marinades so far. Oh my goodness they were delicious. Can’t wait to try the rest. Southwest and Cilantro lime were great.
Thanks for the feedback, Marsha. Really happy to hear you enjoyed them! My favorite is the Southwest.
We love the Southwest marinade but we add a little extra heat!
Yum!