🔥🍗 Best Ever Grilled Chicken Marinade – Juicy, Flavor-Packed & Easy!
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Marinate Time: 2–12 hours
Cook Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes (plus marinating)
Servings: 4
Course: Main Dish | Cuisine: American | Difficulty: Easy
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Grilled Chicken Marinade
This grilled chicken marinade is a summer grilling essential! It’s tangy, slightly sweet, and perfectly seasoned — designed to make your chicken juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor. Whether you're cooking on the BBQ, grill pan, or even in the oven, this simple marinade works like magic.
Perfect for chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks, or skewers – and totally meal-prep friendly!
🛒 Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)
- 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Optional: 1 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning
🔄 Pro tip: Use this for up to 2 pounds of boneless chicken.
🔥 Instructions
Step 1: Mix the Marinade
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together all marinade ingredients until fully combined.
Step 2: Marinate the Chicken
Place chicken in a zip-top bag or shallow container. Pour marinade over the chicken, ensuring it's fully coated. Seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight for best flavor.
Step 3: Grill to Perfection
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and grill for 5–7 minutes per side or until internal temp reaches 165°F (74°C). Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
🧡 Tips & Variations
Tip / Variation | Why It Works |
---|---|
Use yogurt in place of oil | Adds extra tenderness |
Add crushed red pepper | For a spicy kick |
Use lime instead of lemon | Great for Tex-Mex flavor |
Swap honey for maple syrup | Natural sweetener with rich taste |
Use this marinade on veggies too | Multi-purpose and budget-friendly |
❓ FAQ
Q: Can I use this marinade for oven-baked chicken?
Yes! Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 25–30 minutes depending on thickness.
Q: Is it safe to reuse the marinade?
No, discard used marinade. If you want to use it as a sauce, boil it first for 5–7 minutes to kill bacteria.
Q: Can I freeze marinated chicken?
Absolutely. Freeze chicken in the marinade and thaw overnight in the fridge before grilling.
🧾 Nutrition Estimate (Per Serving, Chicken Not Included)
- Calories: ~120 kcal
- Fat: ~10g
- Sugar: ~4g
- Sodium: ~550mg
- Carbs: ~6g
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