The Best Chicken Marinade Recipe
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The Best Chicken Marinade recipe is easy, delicious, and comes together in minutes for the best grilled chicken and baked chicken you’ve ever tasted!
We’ve used this simple yet scrumptious chicken marinade for many years, especially when making grilled chicken (and my son’s favorite grilled chicken legs). It is quick to make and uses common ingredients that you most likely have on hand. But the beauty of this recipe is that it is just as delicious as a marinade for baked chicken, so there’s no need to save this only for warm weather grilling season!
Use this chicken marinade recipe year-round on your favorite cuts of chicken, and enjoy! It makes the perfect marinade and results in some of the most juicy, delicious, and flavorful chicken ever! Everyone always loves the chicken I’ve marinated with this. I think you will enjoy it too!
How to Make the BEST Chicken Marinade
I originally just included this marinade recipe with my grilled chicken legs recipe many years ago. Since this recipe was requested so often, I thought it only fitting that the BEST Chicken Marinade got its own spot in the world. Here’s how you make it.
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
Ingredients
This marinade recipe works best for about 5 pounds of chicken. To make this delicious marinade, you’ll need the following:
- Olive oil – Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil
- Spices – salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and cayenne
- Garlic – fresh garlic cloves, chopped
- Onion – chopped
- Fresh parsley – chopped
- Beer – Use the beer of your choice. If you don’t want to use beer, you can substitute ginger ale, apple cider (not apple cider vinegar), or apple juice.
I rarely cook with beer, but it definitely adds something to this chicken. Use whichever brand you prefer – I usually use Corona or Yeungling, but any beer will work. If you can’t use beer or prefer not to, one of the substitutes listed taste delicious as well.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Combine the ingredients. In a medium to large-sized mixing bowl, stir together all of the spices with the olive oil. Mix in the chopped onion, garlic, and fresh parsley. Slowly pour in the beer (or substitute if using one), as it may foam over if poured too quickly. Mix all ingredients together until combined.
Pour mixture over chicken. Place the chicken you plan to marinate in either a large, sturdy zip-top bag or another airtight container. Pour the marinade over the chicken in your zip bag or container. If using a zip-top bag, press as much air as possible out of the bag as you seal it.
Chill the marinade-covered chicken. If using a zip-top bag, place it on a baking sheet. If in a container, make sure the lid is secure and airtight. Make sure that all of the chicken is well coated with the marinade and place in the refrigerator to chill.
How Long to Marinate Chicken in Refrigerator:
- At least 1 hour
- Preferably overnight for best results
- No longer than 2 days
Every few hours, turn the bag from one side over to the other to keep the chicken coated with the marinade.
Freezer Instructions for Chicken in Marinade
You can freeze the raw chicken in this marinade. Here are the steps.
Package in a freezer-safe container. Place the chicken into a freezer-safe container and pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure all of the raw chicken is well coated. Remove as much air as possible as you seal the container. If using a zip-top bag, place the bag on a baking sheet to freeze. Label the container with the contents and date.
Freeze chicken with marinade. Place the container in the freezer. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw, then cook as desired. Remove from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. After the chicken is thawed, then remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Then cook the chicken according to your favorite chicken recipe.
What Chicken Recipes Can I Use With This Marinade?
You can use this recipe with many of your favorite chicken recipes! We love it for our grilled chicken as well as for our simple baked chicken!
More Delicious Marinades and Sauces
Here’s The Best Chicken Marinade Recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
The Best 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 ground 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, ginger ale, apple cider, or apple juice
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
Freezer Instructions
You can freeze the raw chicken in this marinade. Here are the steps. Package in a freezer-safe container. Place the chicken into a freezer-safe container and pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure all of the raw chicken is well coated. Remove as much air as possible as you seal the container. If using a zip-top bag, place the bag on a baking sheet to freeze. Label the container with the contents and date. Freeze chicken with marinade. Place the container in the freezer. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw, then cook as desired. Remove from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. After the chicken is thawed, then remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Then cook the chicken according to your favorite chicken recipe.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Originally published 2012.
Hi Robyn,
Any alternatives to beer, something non alcoholic, would fizzy water suffice ?
Kind Regards
Saema
I think fizzy water would work. I’ve used Sprite before, but I’ve also used apple juice. 🙂
the yeast is what makes this recipe work you could substitute with home made ginger beer.
if you don’t want to use alcohol, I suggest you look for butter milk chicken or something else.
Hi there, Any suggestions, for something other then beer. Due to family issues, I won’t even buy non-alcholic. Thanks for your time
As an alternative to beer, you could use any of the following: apple juice, Sprite. I believe the beer simply breaks down the meat so that the spices can be more fully absorbed. I have used Sprite for cooking chicken before and it came out fantastic! 🙂
This sounds and looks great. Could I just ask how much chicken (pounds) would this recipe be good for? I love legs on the grill too!
Looks like some great flavor. Every time I try to concoct a marinade, it never comes out like I expect. Maybe I’m missing the beer… Either way, thanks for the great recipe!
I hope you enjoy it, Mark. The beer definitely adds something to this marinade that we love – and we aren’t even beer drinkers!
Your recipe looks very good. The spice combination is very similar to the dry rub I have used in the past, but I have never combined it with beer. With so many ‘flavors’ and styles of beer out there, what is the beer you use to make this recipe pop?
Thanks!
Jim Rhino
Hi Jim,
I’ve primarily used Corona and Yeungling beers, but that isn’t to say another beer wouldn’t be just as good. We aren’t beer drinkers, so I generally just grab either of those when I’m prepping for grilling chicken. I wish I could say I was more scientific in my selection! I’ve also used gluten-free beer for my brother-in-law who is gluten intolerant.
I did this recipe a couple of times, with different beer my favourite was when I used a strong dark ale. It really flavours the chicken and adds sweetness.
My husband also loves his Big Green Egg for Chicken. We’ll have to try this out soon!
I love grilled chicken — my husband is the BEST griller! — and I’m DEFINITELY trying this. Thank you!
Hi, can u give me the time and temp.. thanx!
Hi Lynne,
You’ll want to use the time and temperatures specific for the chicken you are preparing. This recipe is simply for the marinade. Here are a couple that you might like:
Grilled Chicken Legs
Grilled Chicken Breast – you’ll use the cooking temperature and time as a guide, not necessarily the recipe.
Hope that helps!
The ingredients are some of my favorites. Pinned it to try!
I hope you enjoy it, Kim. It is fabulous for grilled chicken. xo
Great marinade and really love that Anthropology measuring cup!!!!
Thanks so much, Terry! And yes! I love that little measuring cup. So bright and fun!
This recipe was spot on delicious! I am obsessed with those Anthropology measuring cups and also the tiny teaspoon measuring utensils. Would you please share where you got them if you recall? Gorgeous!