The Best Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe
Grilled Chicken recipes are always a crowd-pleaser. This easy grilled chicken marinade recipe will become a favorite!
For years now, we’ve used a simple marinade that I quickly throw together for our grilled chicken. It uses ingredients that you’ll most likely have on hand. If not, I urge you to buy them the next time you are at the grocery store, along with your favorite cuts of chicken and make it! It makes the perfect way to start your grilling season! I think you’ll love it.
Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe
A few years ago, we made grilled chicken legs using this marinade when my sister-in-law Karen, her husband Todd, and their three boys were on an RV trip with us. I knew that our son loved it and hoped that their boys would as well. We won’t even talk about how much chicken we got all of the kids to eat, let’s just say they loved it as much if not even more than I’d hoped!
In all seriousness, I’ve not fed anyone chicken made with this marinade that hasn’t loved it.
I originally just included this marinade recipe in with my grilled chicken legs recipe that I shared a long time ago. However, I have requests for it so often, I thought it deserved it’s own little spot in the world. Ha!
How to Make Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe
You’ll grab a few spices that really kick up the smokey flavor of this grilled chicken marinade and another that adds a little kick, too.
Cumin, paprika, cayenne, and salt and pepper.
This spice blend just works beautifully and is one that is great to have on hand, too.
The other special ingredient in this chicken marinade is beer.
Now, I have to admit something to you. I rarely cook with beer, but it absolutely adds something to this chicken. For the beer, I would recommend using whatever beer you prefer. I usually use Corona or Yeungling, but any beer that you prefer will work. If you can’t use beer or prefer not to, I’ve included a couple of other options that I’ve tested in the recipe below for you.
Once I’ve mixed up my spices and beer, along with a few other ingredients, I just pour it over the chicken legs that have been placed in a large zip top bag.
Carefully, remove as much air from the bag as possible and then seal the bag. Then, turn the bag from side to side to make sure all the chicken is well coated with the chicken marinade.
Then, I place it on a half sheet pan and into the refrigerator for at least an hour, but hopefully overnight so the chicken has plenty of time to soak up all that goodness.
Every few hours, I’ll turn the bag from one side over to the other to keep the chicken coated with the marinade. Then, you’ll just grill your chicken according to your favorite grilled chicken recipe. We love it so much that I’ll pull out my grill pan in the dead of winter!
Here’s The Best Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
The Best Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 3 tablespoons chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 1/2 cups beer
Instructions
- Pour olive oil into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup.
- Mix together salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper and add to olive oil. Add garlic, onions, and parsley. Mix together well with a fork. Slowly add beer as it will cause the mixture to foam and bubble slightly.
- Pour marinade over the chicken in the zip top bag. Remove as much air as possible from the bag and seal. Turn the bag from side to side to make sure all chicken has been coated with the marinade.
- Place the bag flat on a small, rimmed kitchen sheet pan and into the refrigerator. Allow to sit up to 1 hour or overnight for best results, turning the bag over every few hours to keep the chicken coated.
Notes
Marinade works best for about 5 pounds of chicken.
If you prefer not to use beer, you can replace with apple cider or ginger ale.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Originally published 2012.
Hi there, how long will the marinade alone keep in the fridge?
more you keep u get more taste but at least 6 hours
ThIs was so good, my 9 year old raved about it to Grandma! I cook a lot so she’s not very picky but this chicken she loved. Used Founders Lager, and have a second dinner marinating now with ginger ale for tonight. Question, though, when you grill have you added BBQ sauce too? I didn’t but was wondering if it would be good or not? And, leftovers were dry, daughter didn’t like so I reserved some marinade this morning to use on leftovers heating.
Hi Denise,
I’m so happy you and your daughter enjoyed this! It’s one of our family favorites! I’ve not used it and added other bbq sauce just because we love the flavor the marinade gives it. Thanks so much! xo
i ran out of olive oil, can i use regular vegetable oil? I have all the other ingredients. thanks
You can, Karen. Enjoy it! xo
If beer (alcohol) isn’t an option, what you recommend to replace it?
Hi Holly,
I give a couple of substitutions in the recipe notes that have worked well for me – ginger ale or apple cider (not apple cider vinegar).
Hey Robyn, in substitution of the beer can I use soya sauce.
I’ve not tried that Veli. I do list substitutes in the recipe that work well instead of beer. Thanks!
Hey Robyn, in substitution for beer can use soya sauce as well?
The recipe sounds delicious. Thanks. The apple cider version appeals to me. I love barbecued foods, but at age 56, I now love quickly and easy more! So I don’t have a grill. I used to cook all my chicken recipes by baking chicken thighs in a 9×9 pan half way through, pouring off the fat/juices, then pouring on a homemade sauce or marinade recipe directly into the pan, over thea chicken. Then finish baking it and serving over Brown rice with a green vegetable. Saves the time and steps of marinating in a bag. The only problem was having to clean the oven! Due to back pain, I need to make cooking even easier and faster, so now I microwave the chicken thighs in a covered Corningware casserole, pour off the grease, then pour a marinade over the chicken and microwave a few more minutes. It comes out so moist and delicious. From the time I open the chicken package and remove the chicken with a fork into the casserole dish, until done, it’s 15 – 20 minutes, and only a fork and the casserole dish to wash. Plus the rice/veg pot, and my plate and utensils.
I’m going to try your marinade. I bet it will be delicious. Thank you.
Hope you enjoy the marinade, Alice! xo
What can I serve this with? Can you recommend an easy side dish preferably either bread or rice related?
Hi Alina,
We love this with all types of sides from green house salads, Coleslaw, Southern Potato Salad, Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes, Southern Baked Beans and more. For rice, an easy side dish could be my Instant Pot Brown Rice. Really any favorite side dish you’d enjoy when you grill out or with grilled chicken will be delicious!
Here is a link to my Side Dish Recipes if you would like to look around further for some more ideas! Enjoy! xo
I’ve made your recipe 3 times now. Seems to work well with whatever I pop open 😊. So far Hard Cider, belgain ale, and tonight sprite! Awesome every time. Thanks
This is so great to hear, Geoff! I’m so happy you enjoy it too!
can you freeze this for around 2 months, chicken and all the marinade together
Sure! Hope you enjoy it! Thanks!
Absolutely w/o a doubt, the best Grilled Chicken Marinade I’ve ever tried! I allowed the chicken to marinade a Min of 8hrs. The seasoning was flat out perfect! This will always be my GO TO MARINDE for Grilled Chicken!!!
Thx a lot,
Gerald
Happy to know you enjoy it Gerald! Thanks!
Hi, when you say chopped onion, do you mean an actual onion chopped up? Or would it be minced onion or onion powder that you get in the spice aisle?
Thank you
Hi Tim,
I use a chopped onion, but you can absolutely substitute with minced onion or onion powder if you like.
Excellent good tasting everyone enjoyed easy to make
I made this marinade tonight and marinated the chicken strips in it for an hour. It was delicious but overnight would have been even better!
I’m happy you enjoyed this, Kay! You are so right – I can’t wait until you try after marinating overnight….so good! Thanks! xo
I use this recipe for my chicken pieces I use in my chicken wraps – the best ever. Making some tonight for Friday night wraps 😁
I’m so happy you enjoy it, Helen! Now I’m craving some wraps! 🙂 Thanks!
Simple and yummy
Wonderful recipe Robyn, your marinade is simple and fun to make. I’m 63 years old and really enjoy grilling year round. While looking for a new marinade to try I saw yours and I must say I’m very glad I did, it’s so delicious! I have made this recipe lots of times and wanted to thank you for sharing it. My family and friends never turn down a cookout invite when I tell them it’s chicken:-)
You are so sweet to leave this comment, Patricia! I’m so happy you enjoy it – and so tickled to have you here! Thanks! xo
Hi,
Do you think a beer with lime in it would be good or would the flavors clash?
Hi Kristen,
I’ve not tried a flavored beer in this recipe before. Thanks!
Could you bake this recipe? I need to get around 8 whole chickens done that will be served rewarmed so grilling isn’t really an option
Sure! I use this for chicken cooked on my stovetop and in my oven all the time. So delicious!
Thank you for posting. Family challenged me to do grilled chicken breast strips for wraps through the week. This recipe is a hit, alcohol cooks off of course but what it does for the flavour…! I use a potent Craft India Pale Ale to help penetrate the meat. Grilled over charcoal, it’s amazing. 🍻
Must add I’ve started using cilantro instead of parsley and a snap of fresh lemon juice or lemon pepper seasoning, so yummy. 🍻
I am making this recipe today, but not grilling it how long would i need to bake it for and what temperature please ?
thank you.
I made this grilled chicken last night.. It was the BEST chicken I have ever tried… I ran out of beer at home, so I skipped that ingredient… My husband and son just loved it & have asked me to make this again next week! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. Wish you all the best!
I’m so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed this, Tanisha! Thanks so much for the kind comment! xo
Can l use wine or whisky
I’ve not used either of those in this recipe before. I do give substitutes at the end of the recipe if you don’t want to use beer. Enjoy the marinade! Thanks!
Hi,I don’t have a grill but I would love to bake it using your marinade recipe.
Any idea,How would I bake it in the oven?
Thanks!
It’s so delicious baked in the oven too! Enjoy, Carlett! xo
Do I grill it without the marinade or in a aluminum container
Hi Helen,
Just remove the chicken from your marinade and grill as usual. Enjoy!
Can I freeze this with the marinade?
My recipe is enough marinade for 5 pounds of chicken. You can use my Conversion Chart if you wish. Thanks!
Yep. good. Really good.
Thanks so much, Davor!
So simple and awesome, made it for a homely get together and everyone loved it, including the kids.
Thanks so much! xo
This marinade was absolutely delicious!! We only were able to marinade the chicken for probably 3-4 hours and it came out delicious! My thoughts on this recipe is that you should patent it and then dry your onions and garlic, add the other dry ingredients and market it. All you would need to do is add the olive oil and beer! I know fresh is best, but if you are in a hurry, you could use this in a ‘PINCH’!!😘
Thanks so much, Cindy! xo
Have this marinating in the fridge! I’ve used chicken fillets instead. Can I cook it in the sauce in the oven??… I’m going to serve with fluffy rice.
Hi Claire,
I hope you enjoy it! I don’t cook it in the marinade. Thanks! xo
I have my chicken in your marinade for tonight’s dinner. I was wondering if you have ever tried putting honey or maple syrup in your marinade? I almost did it but wanted to try your exact recipe the first time at least. Just curious. Can’t wait to eat the chicken tonight.
Thanks!
I am excited you are giving this recipe a try, Carla! It’s a definite favorite in our house! I always make it according to my recipe and have fantastic results. I hope you enjoy it too! xo
Crazy question but I am wondering if I’m misreading. That seems like a very small amount of spices/seasoning in a large amount of liquid. I’m not a very experienced cooker- am I nuts?
We think it is perfectly balanced and packs just the right amount of flavor in the marinade.
Sounds good – I didn’t mean any disrespect. If you were going to sub onion powder for the diced onions, do you have an amount you’d recommend?
Hi, would it taste good too if I added lemon or lime juice ?