Chicken Marinade Recipes (2024)

Seven super easy chicken marinade recipes! Includes directions for freezing chicken in marinade, grilling, baking, and slow cooking.

Chicken marinades are one of the best ways to change up boring chicken and turn it into a super tasty dinner!

Chicken can be a great option for dinner because it’s inexpensive and can be used in so many ways. But chicken breast can be bland and dry. That’s where marinades come in. They add both flavor and moisture to chicken breast.

Each of the recipes are made with pantry staples and take just minutes to stir together. Also, all of the marinades freeze well, so they’re also an easy way to get a jump on dinner.

Can you marinate chicken?

You can! Chicken marinades are a great way to add moisture and flavor to chicken.

Should you marinate chicken?

You should! Chicken doesn’t have much flavor on its own. Marinades are an easy way to change up plain chicken and add lots of flavor.

How to make brown sugar bourbon chicken marinade

Step 1: To make the brown sugar bourbon marinade, whisk the orange juice, bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and onion together until combined.

Step 2: Add the chicken to desired container, and then pour marinade over the chicken. Seal container, and chill or freeze.

Tip>> This marinade also works well with pork and salmon.

How to make house chicken marinade

Step 1: Add the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, salt, pepper, and garlic to a medium bowl. Whisk until well-combined.

Step 2: Add the chicken to desired container, and then pour marinade over the chicken. Seal container, and chill or freeze.

How to make margarita chicken marinade

Step 1: Add the margarita mix, lime juice, salt, and garlic to a medium bowl. Whisk until well-combined.

Step 2: Add the chicken to desired container, and then pour marinade over the chicken. Seal container, and chill or freeze.

How to make teriyaki chicken marinade

Step 1: Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger to a medium bowl. Whisk together until well-combined.

Step 2: Add the chicken to desired container, and then pour marinade over the chicken. Seal container, and chill or freeze.

Tip>> This marinade also works well with pork, salmon, or steak.

How to make tequila lime chicken marinade

Step 1: Add the margarita mix, tequila, lime juice, salt, pepper, chile powder, and garlic to a medium bowl. Whisk together until well-combined.

Step 2: Add the chicken to desired container, and then pour marinade over the chicken. Seal container, and chill or freeze.

Tip>>This chicken marinade isn’t spicy. If you want more heat, add additional chile powder to taste.

How to make mustard herb chicken marinade

This marinade is surprisingly balanced and doesn’t have a strong mustard flavor. My kids don’t like mustard, but they love this marinade.

Step 1: Add the mustard, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, olive oil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl. Whisk everything together until combined.

Step 2: Add the chicken to desired container, and then pour marinade over the chicken. Seal container, and chill or freeze.

Tip >>This marinade works well with pork chops, too.

How to make Caesar chicken marinade

Step 1: Add the lemon juice, olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic, and mustard to a medium bowl. Whisk together until combined.

Step 2: Add the chicken to desired container, and then pour marinade over the chicken. Seal container, and chill or freeze.

How long can chicken marinate in the fridge?

Chicken in marinade is safe to store in the fridge for up to two days.

Can I freeze chicken in marinade?

You can! Freezing chicken in marinade is a great way to get a jump on dinner prep.

What if the chicken is already frozen?

If the chicken is already frozen, don’t thaw before use. Simply add the frozen chicken to the bag and pour in marinade. Then, freeze.

What type of container should I store marinating chicken in?

Meat should be marinated in a non-reactive, covered container: resealable plastic or silicone bags, glass, stainless steel, and plastic containers all work well.

Avoid using aluminum dishes to marinate meat because the aluminum can react with acids in the marinade.

What types of containers can I use to freeze marinating chicken in?

The three types of containers that I’ve found work best for freezing chicken in marinade are glass containers, resealable silicone bags, and resealable plastic bags (freezer bags).

• Glass containers
  • PROS: Reusable, glass doesn’t absorb odors or germs
  • CONS: Takes up lots of space in the freezer, expensive, fragile
• Resealable silicone bags
  • PROS: Reusable, can lay flat in the freezer (take up less space)
  • CONS: Expensive, can be difficult to find large bags
• Resealable plastic bags (freezer bags)
  • PROS: Inexpensive, can lay flat in the freezer
  • CONS: Not reusable, can break or tear

How to thaw frozen chicken in marinade

Move the container from the freezer to the fridge about 24 hours before you plan to cook and serve it. This should allow sufficient time for the chicken and sauce to thaw.

Looking for more sauces and marinades?

If you’ve tried these chicken marinade recipes, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

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