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.
Can’t wait to try! Do/ have you basted with BBQ during grilling?
What do you think about substituting with white wine? Yay or Nay?
I’ve not made this marinade with white wine, Amy. Hope you enjoy this if you give it a try!
Can this marinade be used with skinless boneless chicken breast on the grill too?
We tried this tonight and it was AMAZING! used apple juice instead of beer since that’s all we had. Next time we’ll try beer or apple cider. It was so delicious!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Christina! Thanks! xo
I absolutely loved this recipe. I like beer, but you do not taste beer in the chicken at all. I did bake in the oven. I also used boneless breast, about 8 of them. This makes a large amount of marinade. May husband and son loved it and can’t wait till I make it again!
Hi Lori,
You are right – there is no beer taste at all once you cook the chicken. I’m so glad your family enjoyed this and you describe that you used it in the oven. I love using it for chicken breasts in the oven as well – so juicy and delicious!
Thanks so much! xo
What would you normally serve with this? My daughter can’t decide.
Hi Jodi,
I serve many different dishes with this – anything from a potato salad, or a baked potato or spicy roasted sweet potato wedges with a favorite green salad…favorite vegetables…and maybe a dessert. 😉
Take a look at some of my Weekly Meal Plans on my site where I’ve made this and see some of the sides I’ve made with it if you wish.
I hope this helps and you enjoy these ideas! Thanks so much!
Followed the recipe to the letter and found it very bland. In fact I had to spice up the left over marinade after I’d grilled the chicken just to,keep my guest’s interested. Safe to say won’t be making again.
I’ve always had a problem with making sure my chicken (bone-in) is done fully on the grill so, I like to bake my chicken before putting it on the grill: Will this alter or ruin the recipe any?
I absolutely do not like beer. What can I sub for that?
Hi Cheryl,
I’m not a beer drinker either but it does taste good in this marinade. However, I list substitutes at the bottom of recipe. Apple cider or ginger ale work great too! Thanks!
I do not have a grill, because I live in a condo complex. But I purchased a George foreman electric bbq grill and use it in my terrace This Receipe was Amazing.
Would it be okay to bake this in the oven? I don’t have a grill at home. Do you have a temperature and time you recommend for boneless chicken breast
Hi Carol,
Absolutely! I actually do fairly often! You would want to follow the same recommendations that I give in my Baked Chicken Breast recipe for temperature, timing, etc. Here’s the link: https://addapinch.com/simple-baked-chicken-breast-recipe/
HI Can I use the Air Fryer instead of grill. I love this recipe but I don’t have grill at home