Chicken Marinade
on Apr 22, 2024, Updated Jul 02, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Our simple Chicken Marinade is a quick and easy way to add flavor to chicken with ease. Using a few low-cost, easy-to-find ingredients you can whip up a chicken marinade in no time. Simply throw your chicken in the marinade and wait for the meat to absorb all the delicious flavors.
If you are looking for a new way to flavor your chicken then you have to try this chicken marinade! Marinating your chicken is a great way to add flavor to any dish. As the chicken sits in the sauce, it will absorb the flavors. As a result, the longer you can let your chicken sit the better.
We recommend allowing your chicken to sit for a minimum of 2 hours. Luckily you can whisk together your marinade, add your chicken, and just walk away! When you are ready to enjoy your chicken simply grab it from the fridge, cook on a grill or on the stovetop, and enjoy. With this delicious marinade you can say goodbye to dry, flavorless chicken!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Adds depth and flavor to your chicken.
- It is easy to prepare and only uses a handful of ingredients.
- Is sure to be a hit with the pickiest eaters.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken—We usually use chicken breast, but any cut of chicken will work.
- Olive Oil—Helps lock in the moisture of your chicken, preventing it from drying it out when it cooks.
- Balsamic Vinegar—Adds a sharp, slightly sweet flavor to your chicken.
- Soy Sauce—Can be substituted with worcestershire sauce.
- Spice Blend—A combination of salt, pepper, dried oregano, and garlic powder.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Prepare Chicken Marinade
Step #1. Gather and measure our all of the needed ingredients for making this chicken marinade.
Step #2. Whisk the spices, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce together.
Step #3. Pour your marinade into a large Ziploc bag and add the chicken. Give the bag a quick shake and then transfer it to the fridge.
Step #4. Once the chicken has had time to absorb the flavor of the marinade, cook the chicken. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
We recommend letting your chicken marinate for at least 2 hours. However, if you have extra time you can let your chicken sit for up to 24 hours. We like to aim for between 2-12 hours of marinating time. This allows your chicken to absorb as much flavor as possible.
Every good marinade has 3 common ingredients. The first is an acid. We like to use balsamic vinegar but you can also use lemon juice or red wine. You also want to have an oil like olive or sesame oil. The third ingredient is a good blend of spices. You can use just about any spices, but you want to be sure to add enough to season your chicken.
Poking your chicken before marinating it is not necessary. With that being said, you are more than welcome to do it if you’d like. If you are worried about your chicken absorbing the flavor of your marinade then poking holes can help ensure the marinade soaks into your chicken.
How to Store Your Chicken Marinade
Once you finish making your marinade, you can store it in the fridge for up to 3 weeks before you need to use it. We recommend storing your mixture in an airtight rubbermaid container or mason jar; however, you can also store your marinade in a Ziploc bag. When you are ready to use your marinade, simply add it to a Ziploc bag with your chicken and return to the fridge for at least 45 minutes.
How to Cook Your Chicken
There are a few different ways to cook your chicken. The easiest way to cook your chicken is on the stovetop. Preheat a grill pan lightly coated in oil for 2-3 minutes before adding your chicken. Cook your chicken for about 5 minutes per side, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
In addition to cooking your chicken on the stovetop, you can also use an outdoor grill or bake your chicken in the oven for about 15 minutes at 450°F. The marinated chicken would be delicious accompanied with brown rice or instant pot quinoa, added to this rainbow chicken salad or served with roasted vegetables. So many options for this versatile chicken.
Expert Tips
- Once you add your chicken, we recommend letting the meat sit for 2-12 hours to ensure your chicken is well-seasoned and has time to absorb the marinade.
- You can cook your chicken on the stovetop in a grill pan, on a wood-fire grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer. No matter how you prefer to cook your chicken, it is important to make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- The balsamic vinegar both adds flavor and helps form a nice glaze on your chicken. As the chicken cooks, the balsamic vinegar will begin to reduce, which creates a glaze and amplifies the flavor of the marinade.
More Chicken Recipes To Consider
Pasta Dishes
Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Baked Pasta
Soups, Stews & Chowders
White Chicken Chili
Chicken Recipes
Kung Pow Chicken
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breasts, about 2 pounds
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
Instructions
- Whisk the balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, olive oil, and spices together in a small bowl to form your marinade.
- Place your chicken in a gallon-sized ziploc bag and add the marinade mixture. Give the bag a quick shake to coat the chicken in the sauce.
- Allow your chicken to sit in the fridge for at least 45 minutes.
- Cook your chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Once you add your chicken, we recommend letting the meat sit for 45 minutes to 12 hours to ensure your chicken is well-seasoned and has time to absorb the marinade.
You can cook your chicken on the stovetop in a grill pan, on a wood-fire grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer. No matter how you prefer to cook your chicken, it is important to make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
