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10 Best Chicken Marinades in plastic bags horizontally placed on a white background.

Best Chicken Marinades


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5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Kari
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

These Best Chicken Marinades come in 10 different flavors and are perfect year round for quick and easy dinners! All 10 of these recipes are gluten free, dairy free, and are made with minimal ingredients for maximum flavor and ease. These marinades are perfect for meal prepping for simple meals pre-made for your freezer.


Ingredients

Scale

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs for each marinade

Balsamic Italian:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, see notes

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, no salt or sugar added

1 teaspoon sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Honey Sriracha:

1 tablespoon sriracha

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons coconut aminos, or gluten free soy sauce

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice, or rice vinegar

Jamaican Jerk:

1/2 cup diced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 habenero, seeds and stem removed, see notes

1 tablespoon jerk seasoning mix

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

2 tablespoons coconut aminos

Chipotle:

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon onion granules

1/2 teaspoon garlic granules

1 1/2 teaspoons ground chipotle powder

1/4 cup coconut aminos

Greek Lemon:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cilantro Lime:

2 cups roughly chopped cilantro, 1 bunch

2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil

1 tablespoon lime zest

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, from 2

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt

Ginger Garlic:

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup coconut aminos, or gluten free soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Smoky BBQ:

1/2 cup bbq sauce of choice

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 clove garlic, minced

Honey Mustard:

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons honey

1 clove garlic, minced, or 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules

1 teaspoon onion granules

1/2 teaspoon each sea salt and pepper

Orange 5-Spice:

1 tablespoon orange zest

1/2 cup orange juice, from 1 orange

1/4 cup coconut aminos, or gluten free soy sauce

1 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger


Instructions

For the Jamaican Jerk and Cilantro Lime, place all the ingredients into a small food processor or blender and blend until mostly smooth with small bits.

For all the other marinades, mix together the ingredients called for in each recipe. Then place them into your container of choice. I use glass pyrex containers to marinate overnight, and quart freezer bags to freeze these. Add your choice of 1 pound chicken breasts or chicken thighs and coat them thoroughly in the marinade you’ve chosen to make.

Marinate overnight, or freeze the chicken for a later date.

To bake these marinades, preheat the oven to 450ºF. Bake in a baking dish, 8″x8″, for 15-20 minutes for chicken breasts, or 10-15 for chicken thighs.

To grill these marinades, preheat the grill over medium heat 350º-400ºF. Grill for 10-15 minutes per side for chicken breasts and 6-8 minutes per side for chicken thighs. 

The chicken is done when it’s no longer pink and a thermometer reads 165ºF. Serve with your choice of side dishes.

Notes

If you can find reduced or aged balsamic, it’s extra delicious here.

Habenero is traditional in a jerk marinade, but they’re incredibly hot and you want to handle with care, (gloves are recommended). You can also leave it out if you don’t enjoy spice/don’t want the hassle.

  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Grilling
  • Cuisine: Mixed