Tired of boring, bland, chewy chicken? Adding a simple marinade to your chicken will easily enhance the flavor, juiciness, and tenderness of your chicken. In this post, get my tips for how to marinate chicken plus grab my 7 favorite chicken marinade recipes.
Do you avoid chicken because it's so boring, chewy, and bland? If so, I have really good news for you. The fix for this is to marinate your chicken. Marinating chicken makes SUCH a difference for your tastebuds and for the texture and juiciness of the meat. This means you won't get tired of eating bland, boring ol' chicken anymore, which will make it THAT much easier to stay on track with your healthy meal prep goals. Woot!
While you could go and buy a pre-made marinade at the store, I highly recommend making your own homemade marinade using simple ingredients. Sadly, many store-bought marinades are full of processed ingredients, like high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors. BUT if you make your own marinade, you don't have to worry about that. You also can save a lot of money by making your own marinades.
In this post, I'll share everything you need to know (and didn't even know you needed to know!) about how to marinate chicken plus you can grab my 7 favorite chicken marinade recipes to add to your recipe box.
Tips For How To Marinate Chicken
While making a successful marinade is a fairly simple process, here are some helpful tips on how to marinate chicken to have the best results.
- Use a sealable plastic bag or large bowl with plastic wrap. You want to seal in the juices and flavors as much as possible. As a general rule, I use a 1 quart sized bag when I’m marinating less than a pound of chicken, and it’s perfect.
- Marinate your food in the refrigerator, not at room temperature. This will help keep your food safe from food-borne illnesses.
- Keep marinating meat away from other foods in your fridge to avoid unsafe contamination of the raw meat.
- Use a combination of an acid, oil, and spices in your marinade.
- Make sure to discard the unused marinade once it’s time to cook the meat and don’t use it as a sauce unless you cook it first because it will contain raw chicken juices.
- For the best results, try to marinate the chicken the night before you cook it for the maximum flavor.
- If you can’t get to cooking your marinated chicken within two days, you can also freeze the meat in the marinade to be used later. That’s a benefit of using the freezer ziplock bags - you can just toss them right into the freezer for later. Then, when it’s time to cook, thaw the meat and cook.
Okay, so now that we have the basics out of the way, let's get to the chicken marinade recipes!
How Long To Marinate Chicken
The ideal amount of time to marinate chicken is approximately 4-6 hours, though it can vary depending on the size and cut of your chicken. Since chicken is naturally a relatively tender protein, it's not necessary to marinate long periods of time to break down tough muscle fibers, which would be the case for tougher meats, like beef. That being said, marinating the chicken even a minimum of 30 minutes will allow for a lot of added flavor to the meat and will easily penetrate into the protein for enhanced juiciness.
Oftentimes, I marinate chicken the night before I plan to cook it, which works really well to grab and use the next day, rather than to wait an additional 30-60 minutes while preparing your meal.
Like I mentioned in the tips above, if you can’t get to cooking your marinated chicken within two days, however, you can also freeze the chicken in the marinade to be used later. That’s a benefit of using the freezer safe bags to marinate because you can just toss them right into the freezer for later. Then, when it’s time to cook, thaw the meat and cook.
How Long To Cook Chicken Breast
A serving size of chicken is 3 ounces which is roughly the same size as the palm of your hand or a deck of playing cards. Generally speaking, one chicken breast yields about two servings, but the size of chicken breasts can vary. For the recipes in this post, I only have one chicken breast pictured, but the marinade is good for two chicken breasts (which is roughly equal to a half of a pound). For families looking to marinate chicken breasts (1 pound), you can easily double the recipes provided.
The cook time will vary slightly with the size of the chicken breast, but there are some basic guidelines you can follow. The major point when cooking chicken is that it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit so that it is safe to eat. We want it at 165 -- no lower (eww) and, preferably, no higher so that it's not dry and chewy. You'll want to cook the chicken until the juices are clear when you cut into the thickest part of the breast.
- On the Stovetop (Pan-Fried): Approximately 4-6 minutes per side when sautéing at medium-high.
- In the Oven (Baked): Approximately 20-30 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit or 18-20 at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- On the Grill: Approximately 4-6 minutes per side over direct heat, 10 to 12 minutes per side over indirect heat.
If you don't have a digital thermometer (LOVE), here are some tips for how to know when chicken is cooked.
Can You Marinate Chicken Too Long?
Yes, it is possible to marinate chicken for too long, especially if your marinade contains an acidic ingredient, like lemon juice or vinegar. When chicken is marinated too long, it can actually become tougher, which isn't ideal. Typically, you'll want to keep your chicken marinating for no more than 2 days in the refrigerator to avoid marinating your chicken for too long.
If you can't get to cooking your marinated chicken within those 2 days, you can freeze your chicken, in the marinade, and then thaw when you're able to cook it right away.
How To Freeze Marinated Chicken
Typically speaking, you're going to want to cook your chicken within 2 days of marinating, preferably within 24 hours. But, if you aren't able to cook it within that timeframe, you can freeze your marinated chicken. The easiest way to freeze the marinated chicken is to already have it marinating in a freezer-safe sealable bag or container. For less than one pound of chicken, I use these quart size Ziploc bags and for anything larger, I use these gallon size Ziploc bags. That way, I can just toss it in the freezer if I don't get around to cooking it.
In fact, you can even freeze marinated chicken immediately upon making the marinade. Then, allow it to thaw in the fridge for a day and it will marinate as it thaws. Each of the recipes in this post work perfectly for freezing ahead of time. These marinades will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If your chicken is already frozen and you plan to keep it frozen, don't thaw it. Instead, add the marinade to the frozen chicken and it will marinate as it thaws at a later date.
7 Easy Chicken Marinade Recipes
Okay, now I hope to have you excited to marinate you chicken to have moist, flavorful, and super tender chicken! To get you started, I've got 7 great chicken marinade recipes that i use all the time and absolutely love. Below, you'll find:
- Jerk Chicken Marinade
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade
- Chipotle Chicken Marinade
- Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade
- Fajita Chicken Marinade
- Honey Garlic Chicken Marinade
You can either click on the recipe that sounds best to jump right to it or scroll through to get an idea of all the recipes. Happy marinating!!
7 Best Chicken Marinades
1. Jerk Chicken Marinade
This easy Jerk Chicken Marinade is Caribbean-inspired and full of spice and flavor. A great side for this chicken would be these Baked Zucchini Fries.
Jerk Chicken Marinade
Equipment
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- ½ tsp. ground allspice
- 1 ½ tbsp. coconut sugar
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- ½ tsp. ground black pepper
- 1 ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. cayenne
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tbsp. lime juice
Instructions
- Add the thyme, allspice, coconut sugar, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, cinnamon, cayenne, olive oil, and freshly squeezed lime juice in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken to a 1 quart freezer-safe sealable bag, followed by the jerk spice marinade. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the chicken to coat.
- Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
2. Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
Make this Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade for an easy and flavorful marinade Click here for the recipe. This recipe would pair well with these Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
3. Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade
This easy Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade is made healthier without breading or butter, and has lemon zest for a delicious lemon flavor. Pair this marinated chicken with this Lemon Snap Peas recipe for a light and refreshing dinner.
Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade
Equipment
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. lemon zest
- 3 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp. black peppercorns crushed
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
Instructions
- Add the lemon zest, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic, crushed black peppercorns, sea salt, and olive oil in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken to a freezer-safe ziplock bag, followed by the lemon pepper marinade. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the chicken to coat.
- Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
4. Chipotle Chicken Marinade
This Chipotle Chicken Marinade is perfectly spicy with lots of flavor. Serve this recipe with these Sweet Potato Fries.
Chipotle Chicken Marinade
Equipment
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp. adobo sauce (from canned chipotle peppers)
- ½ tsp. ground cumin
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- 1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
Instructions
- Add the adobo sauce, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, freshly squeezed lime juice, and olive oil in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken to a freezer-safe ziplock bag, followed by the chipotle marinade. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the chicken to coat.
- Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
5. Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade
Make this Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade for an easy and flavorful marinade Click here for the recipe. This marinated chicken goes great with these Parmesan Roasted Green Beans.
6. Fajita Chicken Marinade
This easy Fajita Chicken Marinade has tons of flavor and is perfect to make homemade fajita chicken. This marinated chicken goes great with this Cilantro Lime Rice recipe.
Fajita Chicken Marinade
Equipment
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup lime juice (approx. 2-3 limes)
- ¼ cup pineapple juice (no sugar added)
- 2 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. red pepper flakes, or more to taste
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- ½ tsp. ground black pepper
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
Instructions
- Add the freshly squeezed lime juice, pineapple juice, low sodium soy sauce, minced garlic, cumin, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, sea salt, black pepper, chopped cilantro, and olive oil in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken to a freezer-safe ziplock bag, followed by the fajita spice marinade. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the chicken to coat.
- Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
7. Honey Garlic Chicken Marinade
This super easy Honey Garlic Chicken Marinade requires only 4 ingredients for amazing honey garlic flavored chicken. Make this chicken recipe with this Roasted Broccoli recipe for an easy, healthy, and delicious meal.
Honey Garlic Chicken Marinade
Equipment
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup raw honey
- 2 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
Instructions
- Add the minced garlic, raw honey, low sodium soy sauce, and olive oil in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken to a freezer-safe ziplock bag, followed by the honey garlic marinade. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the chicken to coat.
- Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
Michelle
Hi I was just wondering if you can marinate then cook in slow cooker. I have very old birds and want them a bit more tender. Thank you
Jen Moderator
Hi Michelle! Lacey has not tried this method but it sounds pretty solid. If you do try this please let us know how it turns out! -Jen
Pat
I did a search for Marinade s without garlic because I give my little dog small amount of my food and found your post. I've printed out most of them to put in my file for the future,both chicken and beef. Thank you. I appreciate the nutritional info too. Thank you.
Michael
I have a question around the longevity of the marinades. Am I able to prepare the marinade in a large quantity in advance? Will it go bad? Can it stay sealed at room temperature or does it need to be in the fridge? etc. just looking to see if i can cut down on prep time by having the sauce ready.
thanks
sabaucemarinade
These marinades are amazing! I love chicken so much.
rehman
why protein is so low in this marinades and which olive oil you had used
Sabauce Handcrafted Marinade
Great blog!!!
Sabauce Handcrafted Marinade
Nice post!!
Kristy
Absolutely loving these marinades, thank you so much for sharing them! Can you let me know how you arrive at the nutrition facts for them? I’ve always wondered how to calculate the calorie intake of a marinade since much of it doesn’t actually get eaten. Also, I see that most recipes have nutrition info for the marinade only and not the chicken, but do the Honey Mustard and Cilantro Lime include the chicken? Thanks for your help!
Melissa
I love chicken marinades. My mother used to make it that way all of the time!
CRYSTAL MCGLOWN
I just bought 30 lbs of grass fed no anitabotic boneless chicken breast for 99¢ a pound. Perfect savings and addition to add to my deep freezer. I didn't just want to seal and freeze all of them plain. I wanted to make 2/3 of them preseasoned so they will save time and be full of flavor when it was time to cook them. I used every single recipe in air tight freezer bags. It was very easy to do. I even made extra mini Mason jars of it and canned it for later use.
Lindsey
Best way to cook the chicken?
Kim
May I ask is it possible to put the marinated chicken in the rice cooker to cook with rice?
It: Capítulo 2 online
You really make it appear really easy with your presentation but I to find this matter to
be actually one thing which I think I would never understand.
It sort of feels too complicated and extremely vast for
me. I am looking forward to your next submit, I'll attempt to get the cling
of it!
Carol
How does the chicken marinade work with sous vide method of cooking?
Lacey Baier
Carol, unfortunately, I'm not very familiar with the sous vide method - but my understanding it just reduces the amount of time for the marinade to work. If that's the case, it would be the same recipe, just less long to marinate.
Anny Pham
Is there a "shopping list" so I can get all the ingredients ready for all 7 marinades? Instead of scrolling through each recipe when some have similar ingredients?
Lacey Baier
Unfortunately, not at this time. That sounds like it'd be an awesome feature though 🙂
Andrea D Stout
LOVE the Best 7 Marinades!! I've shared the link to many friends. We had the honey garlic last night. Delicious!!
Lacey Baier
Awesome! I'm so glad you enjoy them enough to share! Thanks for the feedback and love!!
L Parks
These marinades are amazing! I love chicken once again.
Lacey Baier
YAY!!!!!!! My job here is done 🙂
Elda Garcia
Can I get these recipes on my e-mail? Thanks
Lacey Baier
Unfortunately, not easily. If you're subscribed to the newsletter, you would get notified of new recipes when they come out and then you could click on the email to get these recipes.
Laura
Yo, if you're gonna title an article "7 recipes" then put 7 recipes on the page and don't make your readers click all over your blog. It's super annoying to have to find the link to click to find the recipes.
Brittany
Every one of her recipe pages has a "Jump to Recipe" link right at the top of the page. I've never had trouble finding it. 🙂
Lacey Baier
xoxo 🙂
Lacey Baier
Sorry you're having trouble locting the recipes - I added a "jump to" option before the recipes in the post now so hopefully that helps ya.
Mackenzie Cartwright
All of these marinades look delicious! I love how easy and organized your recipes are! I also like how you have the nutrition facts listed. Cant wait to try these!
Lacey Baier
Thank you! I'm so glad you like the organization - it's a little tricky to fit 7 recipes on one post so it's helpful to know it feels organized to you 🙂
AG
Nice Marinades! Please post more. I know you are experimenting lol.
Lacey Baier
Haha! Yes, I am always experimenting!! I'll have to update this post to include more one day... 😉
Debbie
Amazing recipes
So easy
I am making all 7 recipes
Thank you so much
Lacey Baier
Woohoo! I'm so excited for you to try all SEVEN!!! 🙂
jmason
Hello!
I have question regarding cooking on grill. You say "On the Grill: Approximately 4-6 minutes per side over direct heat, 10 to 12 minutes per side over indirect heat." What do you mean by direct heat? Is that flame?
I want to cook the chicken on my George Foreman grill. Is that direct heat or indirect heat?
Thank you.
AG
The Foreman grill does not require that instruction. It will be similar to cooking on a stove top.
Indirect and Direct heat refer to Outdoor grills with open flame. Direct heat meaning right over the burner or flame for gas grills. Indirect means the cool side or lower temperature side of the grill.
Lacey Baier
Thanks so much for answering this AG! I am not familiar with the Foreman grill so I really appreciate that help!
Amy
Thank you so much!! I've been so bored with the same ol' chicken....
Lacey Baier
You're so welcome! Never be bored again! 🙂