The Best Chicken Marinade Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
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.
No grill–can I bake the chicken instead of grilling it? Using this recipe all the way in China today! Thanks!
Sure – I hope you enjoy it! Thanks!
Hello I was wondering how this would be for grilled chicken on a stick, or is it more of a grilled chicken with bone in type marinate? Or do you have another marinade recipe for chicken on a stick or chicken kabobs?
This works great for any grilled chicken I’ve tried, so I think it will be delicious for kebabs as well.
Thanks, Mistie! xo
Is this marinade solely for grilled chicken? Can I also bread the chicken afterward for frying? Would an egg soak be too much/clash or flavors? Thanks
Hi Jon,
I’ve not breaded the chicken after using this marinade because I love these flavors when I use it. Thanks!
Can you taste the beer at all once the chicken is cooked?
Hi Katie,
I don’t taste the beer once it’s cooked – and I don’t care for beer. If you wish to substitute for it, you can use apple cider or ginger ale. Like I said, I don’t like beer at all, but this marinade makes some amazing chicken! Enjoy! Thanks!
Hi this recipe looks great. I will try it out tommorow.
I was wondering how many drumsticks are used for this recipe since i am planning to use just chicken drumsticks. And for the olive oil is it 2 cups or 1/2 cup?
Hi Lani,
The recipe works great for about 5 pounds of chicken. You’ll use 1/2 cup of olive oil for this marinade – the instructions just call for mixing it in a 2 cup measuring cup. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks!
Can you suggest something other than beer?
Hi Jo,
I give other options in the Notes of the recipe – apple cider or ginger ale. Hope you enjoy it!
Is this recipe for one chicken or approximately 3 lbs
?
Would it be okay to let the chicken marinade for about a week or is that too long?
Hi Caitlin,
I’ve never marinated this that long – and I think it may be too long. You’d want to check the amount of time chicken remains fresh in the refrigerator.
But you can freeze the chicken in the marinade if you want to use it later than the next day.
I hope you enjoy the marinade – it makes the most delicious, juicy grilled chicken! Thanks!
What a great spice blend! So simple, yet so delicious. Oh goodness, I love grilled chicken! I’ve never tried marinating my chicken in beer – never thought of it! Thanks for the tip and the idea!
How well do you think this marinade would work with a Hawaiian bbq baste?
Hi Tash,
I haven’t tried a Hawaiian barbecue with it, so I can’t definitely say. We personally like the flavor of the chicken after marinating a while in this, but if you try it and it’s good, I’d love to hear. Thanks!!!
Can you tell me if I can request a homemade BANANA PUDDING RECIPE ? And how?
Hi Carol!
Thanks so much for visiting! Here is my Banana Pudding recipe. I hope you enjoy it!