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This easy and flavorful Chicken Marinade recipe takes just minutes to whip up, yet delivers restaurant-quality results.
Chicken’s Favorite Marinade!
Our family loves to have chicken for dinner because it can take on a variety of flavor profiles!
In the summer we love to grill chicken with our homemade BBQ Sauce or this best chicken marinade recipe that we have made dozens of times and is always NO-FAIL.
The marinade helps the chicken stay tender and juicy, as well as making it incredibly delicious every time.
What’s to love:
- Simple. This quick dinner idea only requires a handful of ingredients, and we would bet you most likely have almost all of these on hand!
- Various cooking methods. We love the char that comes from grilling, but you could easily bake, pan-fry, or slow-cook it.
- Prep ahead option. This easy dinner idea is great for meal prepping! Marinate and freeze the chicken, making it convenient for busy days.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 35 minutes
- ¾ cup vegetable oil – or extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar – or apple cider vinegar
- Juice of 1 medium lemon – One medium lemon produces 2-3 tablespoons of citrus juice. Use fresh lemon juice or bottled. You can also use lime juice.
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard – 1 tablespoon of liquid yellow mustard or 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard.
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 2-3 pounds fresh chicken breast – or boneless skinless chicken thighs
How to Make Chicken Marinade
- MARINADE. In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk ¾ cup oil, ¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup red wine vinegar, juice of 1 medium lemon juice, 1 teaspoon mustard, ½ teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon parsley.
- Add 2-3 pounds chicken to a large zipper bag or baking dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss gently to coat. Refrigerate at least 3 hours, or up to overnight.
- COOK. When ready to cook the chicken, preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until cooked through. Alternatively, grill the chicken over medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side.
Additional Cooking Methods
- Grill. Heat the grill to 450-500°F. Place chicken on the grates and close the lid. Cook for 5-7 minutes, flip, and grill for another 5-7 minutes. If the chicken is charring before the center is done, move it to indirect heat until the internal temp reaches 165°F.
- Oven Baked Chicken. Place marinated chicken on a sheet pan covered with foil and bake at 375°F for about 35-40 minutes until chicken is completely cooked through.
- Pan-fried chicken. Heat a little olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the marinated chicken breast in the pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook each side for 2-3 minutes at a time until the internal temp reaches 165°F.
Complete the Meal
- Side dishes: Oven Roasted Vegetables, Pasta Salad Recipe, Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
- Desserts: Blueberry Galette, Strawberry Shortcake Trifle, Easy Peach Cobbler
- More marinades: Easy Steak Marinade, Fajita Marinade, Carne Asada Marinade
More collections: Chicken Dinner Ideas, Family Dinner Ideas, Grilled Dinner Ideas
Best Chicken Marinade
This best chicken marinade is the perfect way to flavor chicken before grilling or cooking. It makes the meat juicy, tender, and so good!
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- Juice of 1 medium lemon
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 2-3 pounds fresh chicken breast
Instructions
- In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, stir together the oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, pepper, and parsley.
- Add the chicken to large zipper bag or storage container. Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss gently to coat. Refrigerate at least 3 hours, or up to overnight.
- When ready to cook the chicken, preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until cooked through. Alternatively, you could grill the chicken over medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side.
Video
Notes
Make a freezer meal. Prepare this recipe according to the instructions, but instead of cooking the meat, freeze it in the marinade for up to 3 months!
To use, place it in the refrigerator to thaw, and it will marinate the chicken simultaneously.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g, Calories: 143kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 73mg, Sodium: 649mg, Potassium: 510mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 43IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 18mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
How do I prepare chicken for a marinade?
- Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook evenly. Don’t use a metal container to marinate the meat as it will give it a metallic flavor.
Can I use marinade as a sauce for basting?
- The marinade can be used for basting or to make a glaze as long as it has not come in contact with raw chicken. If it has, you will need to boil it first.
How long can I leave the chicken in the marinade?
- It is best to marinate chicken for 6-8 hours. If you’re in a pinch even 60 minutes helps. Do not exceed 24 hours in the fridge. If the meat is not fully submerged in the marinade, rotate it periodically to ensure even flavor distribution.
Add extra flavor?
- Add in lemon zest for extra flavor.
- Add sweetness by including some honey or brown sugar.
- For a spicier marinade, add paprika or red pepper flakes.
- Infuse extra flavor with spices like onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt, fresh garlic cloves, or herbs like rosemary and thyme.
Can I freeze chicken in the marinade?
- Prepare this chicken marinade recipe according to the instructions, but instead of cooking the meat, freeze it in the marinade for up to 3 months! To use, place it in the refrigerator to thaw, and it will marinate the chicken simultaneously.
ways to serve marinated chicken?
- Serve chicken warm alongside your favorite side dishes, as grilled chicken sandwiches (like these Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sandwiches), in a Chicken Burrito Bowl, or on a salad.
We hosted a picnic at our house over Labor Day weekend and I chose this recipe for a couple of reasons: 1) because it could be easily cooked in the oven; and 2) because of red wine vinegar being one of the ingredients and I thought it would pair nicely with the Greek pasta salad that I would also be serving. The marinade was easy to prepare and I was able to make everything the day before and already have the chicken marinating. Unfortunately, myself and everyone else couldn’t believe how bland the chicken actually was especially considering all of the flavorful ingredients that went into making it. I’m sorry to be the lone reviewer who didn’t find this recipe to be very good. I have made many recipes from this site with great success and deliciousness but this one just didn’t prove to be the “Best Chicken Marinade” for us.
This is my go to marinade when we grill chicken. The chicken is delicious and so moist. I have shared this recipe with friends and family and they also rave about the moistness and taste.