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.
I have roughly 10 lbs of thighs marinating, they will end up marinating for about 4 -4 1/2 hours, the only thing I did different was dry parsley since I had no fresh on hand. I added all ingredients to my blender and gave it a couple of pulses too, that got it all mixed really well ????
I doubled the recipe and used an oven bag to marinate in, this is Easter dinner ????????
Sounds delicious Rob! Hope you enjoyed it! 🙂
Hi Robyn,
I just prepared the marinade and I have vacum packed with the chicken breasts. I plan to souve the chicken. Will it be OK to souve in the marinade or would it be best to remove the chicken, then souve?
I’m looking forward to tasting this once cooked.
Allan
Robyn,
I Was looking online for a great chicken recipe. I’m definitely looking forward to trying yours out. My question is, can I use the measurements you provide for marinating a 6 pound whole chicken? I noticed most people use it for legs or thighs. Please advise. Thank you
Perla Kempenaar
The recipe works best for about 5 pounds of chicken, Perla. It could be enough for your chicken, but I can’t be sure and you may need a bit more marinade. Hope you enjoy it!
Chicken is marinading right now! Can’t wait to throw it on the grill! Thanks for the recipe!
Hope you enjoyed it, Kevin! Thanks!
Everyone loved this. Lots of marinade recipes say they are the best but this one really is.
So glad you all enjoyed it, Mike! Thanks so much for letting me know you liked it!
Wiring this as my chicken marinates. Changes I made were I used white pepper instead of black; increased the onion and garlic (we love garlic!); used old bay seasoning instead of paprika, cayenne and cumin; added roasted garlic and bell pepper seasoning, a pinch of sugar and squeeze of lemon juice. Oh and I used a red amber ale for the beer. Putting the chicken with sliced potatoes in foil packs on the grill. I’ll let you know how it turns out tomorrow!
I hope you enjoy it – I haven’t it made with those changes, so I’ll be interested to hear how it tastes. We love this marinade – so good! And foil packs on the grill are delicious aren’t they?!
I have the chicken marinating tonight and plan on making it tomorrow, but I don’t have a grill. Is it okay to bake or pan fry? If so, what temp and how long?
It’s delicious cooked other ways besides grilling. I bake it or cook in the skillet often! Hope you enjoy it, Alexander. Thanks!
How many pieces is this recipe for? Says serves 2 cups. Probably meant 2 persons? Awesome recipe!!
HI Robyn,
Your recipe looks really interesting I am trying it out tomorrow. I had two questions
1. Do you bake this in the oven with the bag
Or can I just place it in the oven tray without any bag.
2. At what temperature and for how long do I have to cook.
Hi Pooja,
You can certainly use this marinade for baked chicken. Just bake it at the temperature and time you normally do for baked chicken. Enjoy! Thanks!
Please I am Chating you up from Nigeria and I love you recipe but most of the ingredients are not common over hear if there is any thing that works best as to replace some items like the commi it will be fine and will also ask if any beer can work perfect for it thanks
Hi Eric,
I’m not sure what ingredients make good substitutes – except the substitute for beer like I give in the recipe. If you are using beer, I prefer using a pale color beer such as Corona or Yuengling. I hope you can make this and enjoy it – it’s really delicious! Thanks!
I bet it would work great with Star beer and suya spices, Eric!
LOL @ PATRICK! Imagine me strolling through the comments and seeing yours. Hilarious! I’d go for an ice cold bottle of Orijin with this myself.
All the ingredients are in Nigeria. Just go to ay big mall. U will get all
Hello Eric. Black cumin is available in Nigeria, but is popular among the northerners. In the North, it is known by its Arabic name, Habatus Sauda. It comes in form of oil and seed, so you just have to tell the buyer you need the seed. If he doesn’t understand English, ask him for KWALLON HABATUS SAUDA.