30 Chicken Kabob Marinade Recipes That Will Make Your Kabobs the Talk of the Town! 

October 31, 2024
Written by Kristy J. Norton

Do you know what the best tasting chicken kabobs have in common? A great tasting marinade! With these chicken kabob marinade recipes, you don't have to create your own concoction - instead try out this amazing marinades and transform your kabobs into something you wouldn't believe! 

chicken kabob marinade

1. Lemon Garlic Oregano Marinade 

This is a great recipe for when you want a simpler marinade but one that will still flavor your kabobs! Mix lemon juice, grated garlic, dried oregano, and olive oil together and toss the chicken in this. You can marinate the chicken anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Garlic Oregano Marinade

2. Honey Soy Marinade 

A little bit of sweet and a bit of savory for the perfect marinade! Let the chicken sit in this mix for about 2 hours or overnight. You should reserve some of the marinade before steeping the chicken and use it as a basting sauce when you grill the kabobs! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Soy Marinade

3. Honey Soy Lemon Marinade 

This marinade is a great balance of sweet, savory, and tangy! Combine soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, and vegetable oil, and garlic in a bowl and coat the chicken in this for 4 hours. Then, boil the marinade and baste the kabobs as they cook! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Soy Lemon Marinade

4. Greek Yogurt Garlic Marinade 

If you want the most tender chicken kabobs then you definitely want to give this marinade a try! Start by mixing Greek yogurt with garlic, spices, lemon juice and zest, onion, olive oil, and cilantro. Then, marinade the chicken for 2 hours or overnight! 

Get the recipe here

Greek Yogurt Garlic Marinade

5. Lemon Mustard Spice Marinade 

If you are looking for a marinade that is a little different, give this recipe a try! Here, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, dill, and spices like turmeric, paprika, and lemon pepper make up the marinade. The chicken is tossed in all of this and marinated for at least 6 hours for the best flavor! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Mustard Spice Marinade

6. Soy Corn Syrup Lemon Marinade 

THis is another marinade that has a bit of everything in it! For this marinade, you mix together soy sauce, vegetable oil, light corn syrup, lemon juice, sesame seeds, and spices. Let the chicken marinade in this combination for at least 2 hours before grilling! 

Get the recipe here

Soy Corn Syrup Lemon Marinade

7. Lemon Herb Spice Marinade 

This marinade is all about fresh bursts of flavor balanced out by the smokiness of the spices! It is made up of lemon juice, olive oil, cilantro or parsley, garlic, and spices. Toss the chicken in this and let it sit for about 20 minutes before cooking! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Herb Spice Marinade

8. Greek Yogurt and Aleppo Pepper Marinade 

Looking for a recipe with a bit of kick to it? Well, this could be the perfect pick for you - the Aleppo pepper adds a bit of heat but the Greek yogurt balances it out. In addition to this, this yummy marinade is also made with crushed garlic, red wine vinegar, tomato paste, and lemon slices. Marinate the chicken in this for at least an hour! 

Get the recipe here

Greek Yogurt and Aleppo Pepper Marinade

9. Greek Yogurt Lemon Spice Marinade 

This is a tart and tangy marinade that will tenderize your chicken and add a refreshing flavor to the meat too! It is made up of Greek yogurt, lemon juice and zest, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. You can also marinade any veggies that you want to grill too. Keep the chicken in this marinade for around 2 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Greek Yogurt Lemon Spice Marinade

10. Middle Eastern Marinade 

If you are looking for a more traditional Middle Eastern kabob, give this recipe a look! For this marinade, combine lemon juice and olive oil with cumin, coriander, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Coat the chicken in this and marinate for 24 hours for the best results! 

Get the recipe here

Middle Eastern Marinade

11. Yogurt Tahini Lemon Marinade 

This marinade is perfect if you are looking to make Mediterranean inspired kabobs! Here, Greek yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, olive oil, and oregano make up the marinade. Keep the chicken in the marinade for at least 15 minutes or at the most 6 hours. Some of this marinade can also be reserved to use as a serving sauce! 

Get the recipe here

Yogurt Tahini Lemon Marinade

12. Balsamic Marinade 

This recipe is all about keeping it simple, with the balsamic vinegar doing an excellent job of tenderizing the meat! For this recipe just combine balsamic vinegar with olive oil, basil, and garlic powder. Let the chicken sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes! 

Get the recipe here

Balsamic Marinade

13. Aromatic and Spiced Marinade 

If you are all about the flavor then you are going to love this marinade! Begin by blending or crushing garlic and ginger together. Then, add in soy sauce, vinegar or lime juice, honey, coriander, and chile powder. Coat the chicken in this and then steep for 2 hours or overnight! 

Get the recipe here

Aromatic and Spiced Marinade

14. Yogurt Feta Lemon Marinade 

This is another zesty marinade that is great for infusing your chicken kabobs with delicious flavors! For this marinade, mix up yogurt, lemon juice and zest, feta cheese, oregano, rosemary, and seasonings. Toss the chicken in the marinade and let it sit for about 2 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Yogurt Feta Lemon Marinade

15. Garlic Lemon Spice Marinade 

This is just the marinade to try if you want to test out different flavors - it contains ingredients like green cardamom and Spanish paprika! Begin by combining the spices together and covering the chicken. Then, coat the chicken with a mixture of lemon juice, garlic, and onion. Drizzle all of this with olive oil and marinate for at least 30 minutes!  

Get the recipe here

Garlic Lemon Spice Marinade

16. Balsamic Lemon Mustard Marinade 

This is a great recipe for a bright and fun marinade - perfect for summertime chicken kabobs! Mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, dijon mustard, brown sugar, herbs, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. You can keep the chicken in this marinade between 1 and 4 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Balsamic Lemon Mustard Marinade

17. Soy Lemon Brown Sugar Marinade 

You get the juiciest and most tender kabobs with this marinade! The marinade is made from soy sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic. If you want your kabobs done quickly, marinate for 30 minutes or for up to 24 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Soy Lemon Brown Sugar Marinade

18. Soy and Citrus Marinade 

There is a lot to love about this marinade - not only is it delightfully light and bright, you can also marinate your kabobs in a short period of time! Blend citrus juice and zest, soy sauce, vegetable oil, garlic, cilantro, and scallions together. Once nice and smooth pour over the chicken and let sit for no more than an hour! 

Get the recipe here

Soy and Citrus Marinade

19. Soy Garlic Lemon Marinade 

With this yummy marinade, you lightly flavor the chicken without overpowering the natural flavors of the meat! Mix up soy sauce, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and oregano together and coat the chicken in this. Let the chicken sit for about 2 to 24 hours and then cook! 

Get the recipe here

Soy Garlic Lemon Marinade

20. Teriyaki Chicken Marinade 

This marinade is going to make your chicken kabobs as good as any that you can get in a restaurant! Make the marinade by simmering soy sauce, water, brown sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, and ginger. Cool and use some of the sauce as a marinade. The reserved marinade can be used as a basting sauce. 

Get the recipe here

Teriyaki Chicken Marinade

21. Honey Lime Sriracha Marinade 

This marinade boasts all the flavors you could possibly hope for! Blend soy sauce with honey, oil, lime juice and zest, garlic, ginger, and sriracha. Use half as a marinade and the rest as a dipping sauce. Marinate the chicken for at least 6 hours before cooking! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Lime Sriracha Marinade

22. Aromatic Coconut Marinade 

Creamy and so filled with flavor, this marinade is ideal for when you want to do something quite different! Blend the garlic and ginger and add to the chicken and follow this up with soy sauce, coconut cream, sugar, and oyster sauce. Marinate for at least an hour! 

Get the recipe here

Aromatic Coconut Marinade

23. Lime Brown Sugar Cumin Marinade 

This marinade is great for anyone who loves Mexican inspired flavors! Whisk lime juice, cilantro, oil, soy sauce, cumin, and brown sugar together. Add in chicken, ginger, and garlic and let the meat sit in this for at least 30 minutes! 

Get the recipe here

Lime Brown Sugar Cumin Marinade

24. Honey Chipotle Marinade 

Sweet, smoky, and oh so good - you just have to try this marinade recipe! Mix honey with a chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, orange juice and zest, garlic, and taco seasoning. Let the chicken sit in this for about half an hour and then cook! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Chipotle Marinade

25. Moroccan Marinade 

With the smoky spices and the tang of the other ingredients, this marinade is just incredible! Mix turmeric with red pepper flakes in hot water and then mix with Greek yogurt, red wine vinegar, tomato paste, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. Coat the chicken with this for at least an hour before cooking! 

Get the recipe here

Moroccan Marinade

26. Peanut Sauce Marinade 

This creamy marinade ensures that your chicken kabobs are just coated in flavor! Simply combine peanut butter, garlic, soy sauce, white vinegar, ground ginger, green onions, and cilantro. Toss the chicken in this and let it sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes! 

Get the recipe here

Peanut Sauce Marinade

27. Ranch Rosemary Marinade 

Light and delicious, this is the perfect marinade for when you want subtler flavors! For the marinade, mix olive oil with ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, lemon juice, vinegar, and sugar. Let the chicken marinate for at least 8 hours. 

Get the recipe here

Ranch Rosemary Marinade

28. Tandoori Chicken Marinade 

The resulting dish is going to taste so good that you are going to feel like you are a gourmet chef with this marinade! Toss the chicken in a ton of spices, yogurt, and lime juice. Let the chicken sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes before you cook!  

Get the recipe here

Tandoori Chicken Marinade

29. Lime Spice Cilantro Marinade 

The bright flavors of the lime and cilantro are balanced out by the spices making for an incredible marinade! The chicken is coated in spices like allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and paprika as well as lime juice and cilantro. The chicken should stay in the marinade for at least 2 hours for the best results! 

Get the recipe here

Lime Spice Cilantro Marinade

30. Garlic Spice Lemon Marinade 

This marinade will ensure that your chicken kabobs are just bursting with flavor! The marinade is made up of a garlic paste combined with Hungarian paprika, cumin, lemon juice, and thyme. The chicken should marinate for a couple of hours before cooking! 

Get the recipe here

Garlic Spice Lemon Marinade

These marinades are sure to take your chicken kabobs from ok to incredible! They infuse the meat with flavor and tenderize them at the same time. You just have to give these marinades a try! 

By Kristy J. Norton
I'm Kristy – a chef and connoisseur of all things BBQ! You can find me either in my kitchen (or someone else's) or at a big outdoor barbecue surrounded by friends and family. In both my professional and personal life I’ve picked up more than a few tips and tricks for turning out delicious food. I consider it a privilege to share it with others!
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