8 Best Chicken Marinades

These easy chicken marinade recipes make juicy grilled or baked chicken. From teriyaki to honey mustard, most use just 5 ingredients or less. 

If you think chicken is boring, you just haven’t been using the right marinades. These go with literally everything—salads, bowls, wraps, whatever’s in the fridge. I like to freeze them so I always have some flavourful protein on hand for quick weeknight dinners, easy meal prep lunches and BBQ season.

Why you’ll love these recipes

• Big flavour, simple ingredients: Most chicken marinades use just 5 ingredients and deliver juicy, flavour-packed results every time.
• Ready when you are: Keep your freezer and fridge stocked with these marinades for quick dinner and lunches. Perfect for BBQ grilling, oven baking and meal prepping.

Why you should marinate chicken

Chicken is the perfect neutral base for all kinds of flavours, and marinating helps keep it juicy and tender while it cooks. It’s especially helpful for lean cuts like chicken breast that can dry out easily. Even a quick 20-minute marinade makes a big difference.

The formula for a good marinade

• Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, etc.
• Acid: Balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, citrus juices like lime or lemon juice, white wine, etc.
• Seasoning: Garlic, salt, black pepper, fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, ginger, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cumin, paprika, etc.

Use this simple marinade template alone, or add extra herbs and spices to create more depth of flavour. Let your creativity shine and your taste buds lead the way for the best chicken marinade!

How to marinate chicken

1. Mix together the marinade ingredients.
2. Pour the marinade over the chicken in a bag or bowl.
3. Marinate the chicken for minimum 20 minutes.
4. Cook the chicken and serve!

Frequently asked questions

How long should I marinate chicken for?

There’s no strict rule, but marinating chicken anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours works. For acidic marinades with lots of lemon juice or vinegar, stick to a few hours max. Milder marinades like honey mustard, BBQ, pesto or wine-based versions can sit overnight in the fridge.

Can you freeze chicken in marinade?

Yes and it’s one of my favourite meal prep hacks. Add the chicken and marinade to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and as the chicken thaws, it soaks up all the flavour from the marinade.

Can I reuse my chicken marinade?

Not if it’s touched raw chicken. Raw chicken can contaminate the marinade with bacteria, so it should always be discarded after use. If you want extra sauce for serving, just set some marinade aside before adding the chicken.

The Best Chicken Marinade Recipes

Now that you know the basics of how to marinade chicken, it’s time to get into the recipes! Below you’ll find my go-to super easy chicken marinades. Most of these recipes contain five ingredients or less and they are pantry staples. These are the ones I always rotate through when it comes to my weekly meal prep.

Lemon rosemary marinade

This lemon rosemary marinade is super flavourful while still being nice and light. It’s made with garlic, salt and pepper, lemon juice, olive oil and rosemary. It tastes delicious with baby potatoes and a side salad.

Balsamic marinade

This is the perfect grilled chicken marinade (but you can bake it in the oven too). It’s full of flavours thanks to the balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard, and goes well with a side of grilled veggies.

Pesto marinade

With just one ingredient, this pesto marinade is perfect for quick weeknight dinners. Serve it with Italian pasta salad for an easy and delicious meal.

Teriyaki marinade

You’ll love this teriyaki chicken marinade that tastes just like your favourite takeout chicken with way less calories. All you need is garlic, gingerroot, soy sauce and sesame oil! Serve with steamed broccoli and sushi rice.

Garlic herb marinade

This garlic herb marinade is bursting with flavour. Pro tip – make your own homemade Italian seasoning! You can use this marinade for beef dishes, too.

Fajita marinade

If you’re making fajitas, burrito bowls or another Tex Mex inspired meal, this fajita marinade is where it’s at. If you don’t have any fajita seasoning on hand, you can easily make your own.

BBQ marinade

This one-ingredient marinade is perfect for summer grill nights. All you need is your favourite BBQ sauce (or if you’re feeling fancy, you can try your hand at a homemade BBQ sauce).

Honey mustard marinade

This two-ingredient marinade has the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. Serve it with sweet potato fries or crispy green bean fries.

Meal prep essentials for marinating

• Use these Ziploc bag holders for mess-free marinating.
• Try reusable Stasher bags, glass bowls or ingredient prep bowls for marinating.
• Get a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through.
• Cook with my favourite non-toxic skillet or bake with sheet pans.
• Grab some glass meal prep bowls to store leftover chicken.