The BEST All-Purpose Chicken Marinade for Juicy, Flavorful Chicken
This is the best chicken marinade recipe for making incredibly succulent and flavorful chicken every time. It uses simple pantry staples and works for grilling, baking, or pan-searing.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Marinating
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt until fully combined. This creates your flavorful chicken marinade.
- Place your chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, or wings) in a large zip-top bag or a shallow dish.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish. For best results, refrigerate and marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours. For chicken breasts, 1 hour is often enough to achieve a tender result.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade before cooking. Discard any leftover marinade.
- Cook the chicken using your preferred method: grill over medium heat, bake at 400°F (200°C), or pan-sear until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Notes
- For freezer-friendly preparation, place the coated chicken and marinade into a freezer-safe bag. Lay flat to freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
- This recipe works well for both chicken breast marinade and chicken thigh marinade.
- If you are using this as a grilled chicken marinade, allow the chicken to come close to room temperature for 15 minutes before placing it on the grill for even cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz chicken (after marinating)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 16
- Cholesterol: 55