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
Can i use it without beer, ginger ale ,or apple cider? we dont take beer.
Hi Grace,
We don’t drink beer either, but I like to use it in this marinade. You can definitely use ginger ale or apple cider as I give at the end of the recipe. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks!
Hi
i luckily got ginger ale at the stores, now you dint tell how to grill? Temperatures, time ,settings, i just got an oven,i therefore need details,my chicken is marinating in the refrigerator,it will be ready in a few hours,need to know how to grill asap
Can you use white wine instead of beer
Hi Christal,
I’ve not used white wine, so I can’t say how it will taste. The recipe does work well with apple cider or ginger ale if don’t want to use beer.
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks!
Hi Robyn, what type of beer do you use/ what type would you recommend? Perhaps something light like an IPA or would something darker like a Porter or Stout work well?
Cheers,
Pete
Hi Pete,
We don’t drink beer, but I use Yuenling or Corona for this marinade and we love it. I think those make a great flavor, but you can try any beer that you like if you have a favorite.
I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks!
Nice! Was looking for a marinade for chicken thighs and came across this one. I didn’t think of a beer marinade for chicken for some reason. Have used beer for beef and pork marinades though.
Really glad I found this one and tried it!
Will definitely be using it again. Thanks.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Sandra! Thanks!
The only beer I currently have in the house is Ginger Beer. It’s sweet though. How do you think it would go with the rest of the ingredients?
I’m not sure how the sweet flavor would work, Stacey. It might be ok, but I can’t say definitely. Thank you!
Hi,
Instead of Baking and Grilling, can I cook this on a non-stick pan, by searing it on low flame?
Hi Aakriti – You can use this marinade for delicious chicken for a number of ways of cooking it. You should be fine cooking this in a pan as well. Enjoy! Thanks!
after this marinates could I dry it off and coat with a cornstarch/flour/bp mixture for a thin crispy crust??
Hi Amy,
I haven’t done this, but it should be fine. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks so much!
I am not so savvy in the kitchen but the man wants a crust. In your opinion would it be crispy just fine without the dry stuff. I am just looking at it marinating in the fridge and feel it is perfect already. Smells so good even already! I can’t wait for him to finally say “mmm good” haha
I appreciate the quick response and will be by more often I think ^_^
Hi Amy,
I love the way this tastes cooked like this, and think it has an amazing flavor on the outside as well. I can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you if you decide to make a floured crust.
Thanks so much! xo
Is this recipe good for chicken breasts?
Hi Justin,
Yes – I use this marinade for chicken breasts all the time. It’s delicious for any cut of chicken I’ve tried. Thanks so much! Enjoy the marinade!
Can this be recommended with other foods like steak or pork chops?
Great recipe and I baked them too. I just let the thighs drip dry a little and put them on a rack in a baking pan. Baked at 375* for about 40 minutes (165*) in a toaster oven they were perfect including nicely browned skin.
I’m so glad you liked the recipe – my family loves it! Thanks!