30 Chicken Marinade Recipes That Will Take Your Dishes to Another Level!

October 17, 2024
Written by Kristy J. Norton

Have you been disappointed with dry or lackluster chicken before? Well, those days are over! These chicken marinade recipes are all that you need to turn out the most incredible recipes each and every time! It doesn't matter if you want to saute, grill, or bake your chicken, these marinades will serve you well! 

Chicken Marinade

1. Lemon Garlic Marinade 

This is the perfect recipe when you want to lightly season your chicken without overpowering its natural flavor profile! The main ingredients are lemon and garlic but soy sauce and oregano help to add even more flavor into the mix. You can marinate the chicken in this mix for anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Garlic Marinade

2. Honey Mustard Marinade

Tangy and sweet, this is just the marinade that you need when you want to liven up the flavor of your chicken. This marinade contains not one but two kinds of mustard really kicking up the taste of the marinade. Keep the chicken in the marinade for about 2 hours and it is ready for baking! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Mustard Marinade

3. Teriyaki Marinade 

If you want your chicken to have as much flavor as possible, then this is the marinade to steep your chicken in! The marinade is made up of soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, ground spices, sweet chili sauce, honey, and more! This marinade can also be used as a basting sauce to create a lovely glaze on the chicken! 

Get the recipe here

Teriyaki Marinade

4. Greek Yogurt Marinade

This is a great marinade if you want to grill your chicken - it infuses the chicken with so much flavor. This marinade has a little bit of everything - Greek yogurt, herbs, spices, aromatics, and red wine vinegar. The chicken can be marinated in this for anywhere from an hour to 8 hours before transferring to the grill! 

Get the recipe here

Greek Yogurt Marinade

5. Balsamic Marinade

Balsamic vinegar is excellent for tenderizing the chicken as it is for adding flavor, making this a great marinade for perfect meat! The dijon mustard adds a bit more tang while brown sugar sweetens the marinade. Garlic and Italian seasoning helps to round out the flavors! 

Get the recipe here

Balsamic Marinade

6. Soy Sriracha Marinade

It doesn't get any simpler than this marinade - it is just a matter of combining soy sauce and sriracha - but boy does this combo pack a flavor punch! The marinade takes your chicken to a whole new level. Best of all, the marinade is super versatile, allowing you to grill, bake, or pan fry the meat once it has steeped in the solution. 

Get the recipe here

Soy Sriracha Marinade

7. Cilantro Lime Marinade

Don't want to have to marinate your chicken forever? Well, this is the recipe to consider! Here, the chicken is marinated in a concoction of cilantro, lime juice, garlic, and cumin. Just 15 to 20 minutes is enough to get this marinade to work its magic. 

Get the recipe here

Cilantro Lime Marinade

8. Italian Marinade

If you love Italian flavors then this recipe may become your new favorite marinade! The chicken is placed in a marinade made from Italian seasoning, fresh herbs, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes. For those flavors to really make an impact, marinate your chicken in this concoction for 24 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Italian Marinade

9. Buffalo Chicken Marinade

This is the ideal marinade for anyone who loves buffalo wings! In this recipe, the chicken is steeped in cayenne pepper sauce, honey, lime juice, and smoky seasonings. This marinade works just as well for baked chicken as it does for grilled chicken. Save some of the marinade to use as a drizzle once the meat is done cooking. 

Get the recipe here

Buffalo Chicken Marinade

10. Tandoori Chicken Marinade 

This is such a flavorful marinade and is just right when you want to take your grilled chicken to a whole other level! The chicken is marinated in yogurt, garam masala, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and lemon juice. For best results, try to marinate the chicken for around 8 hours. 

Get the recipe here

Tandoori Chicken Marinade

11. BBQ Marinade

If you are looking for the ultimate barbecue marinade, then you have found it! In this recipe, the chicken is marinated in a concoction that is made of barbecue sauce, soy sauce, smoked paprika, and garlic. This marinade also functions as a basting sauce to give your chicken even more flavor! 

Get the recipe here

BBQ Marinade

12. Ginger Lime Marinade

This marinade produces a chicken that is earthy, tangy, and so delicious! All you have to do is to blend ginger, lime juice and zest, garlic, and soy sauce together. Let the chicken sit in that for around 2 hours before choosing to bake, grill, or fry your chicken! 

Get the recipe here

Ginger Lime Marinade

13. Ginger Soy Marinade

If you want your chicken to taste just like takeout, then this is the marinade to consider. It consists of grated ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic. You can marinate the chicken in this marinade for 30 minutes or for a whole day! 

Get the recipe here

Ginger Soy Marinade

14. Quick Orange Chicken Marinade 

This orange marinade is super simple and helps to add a sweet and tangy flavor to baked chicken. Marinate the chicken in orange juice, orange zest, and seasonings. You can marinate the chicken for up to 4 hours for tender and flavorful meat! 

Get the recipe here

Quick Orange Chicken Marinade

15. Jerk Marinade

This marinade is going to give you some of the most flavorful chicken you have ever prepared! The marinade is made by blending together spices, herbs, aromatics, green chilis, and a touch of brown sugar for sweetness. Marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours for the best flavors! 

Get the recipe here

Jerk Marinade

16. Maple Mustard Marinade

This is a classic marinade and one that doesn't need all that much time to work its magic! Dijon mustard, maple syrup, herbs, and garlic come together to form a truly yummy marinade. Coat the chicken in the marinade for about 20 minutes and then bake to perfection! 

Get the recipe here

Maple Mustard Marinade

17. Coconut Curry Marinade

If you ever wanted to combine curry and barbecue, this marinade lets you do just that! In this marinade, coconut milk, curry powder, aromatics, paprika, hot sauce, and lime juice create the perfect curry flavors. Try to marinate the chicken in this overnight for the best flavors! 

Get the recipe here

Coconut Curry Marinade

18. Chimichurri Marinade

While you might be used to using chimichurri as a serving sauce, here you use it as a marinade! Blend all those herbs and aromatics together and coat the chicken in it. You can marinate the chicken anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight, depending on your preference! 

Get the recipe here

Chimichurri Marinade

19. Honey Garlic Marinade

This marinade is great when you want a light and classic chicken recipe! The marinade is made up of honey, garlic, and soy sauce. You can marinate the chicken in this for at least 2 hours before cooking it! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Garlic Marinade

20. Pesto Marinade

If you are looking for a simple marinade that also offers up a great flavor, this recipe will do the trick! You can use store bought pesto along with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt to coat the chicken. Marinate the chicken for up to 12 hours and grill when you're done! 

Get the recipe here

Pesto Marinade

21. Garlic Ranch Marinade

These flavors are sure to be a hit among kids and adults alike and this marinade is really easy to make! Just toss ranch dressing mix, garlic salt, and lemon juice together. Marinate the chicken in this for anywhere from 4 to 24 hours and the chicken will be ready to cook! 

Get the recipe here

Garlic Ranch Marinade

22. Spiced Marinade

If you like Tex Mex chicken, this marinade may become a favorite! The chicken is steeped in yummy spices like cumin and chili powder as well as herbs. The vinegar adds tang and helps to tenderize the chicken. This marinade is great for chicken that needs to be baked, slow cooked, or grilled! 

Get the recipe here

Spiced Marinade

23. Miso Marinade

This Asian inspired marinade is incredible and is ideal for when you want to do something a little different with your grilled chicken. The marinade consists of miso paste, soy sauce, chili flakes, and sesame oil for the most flavorful finish. You can marinate the chicken anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight. 

Get the recipe here

Miso Marinade

24. Lemon Paprika Marinade

This marinade is great for spicing up your chicken without overpowering it. It is made up of lemon juice, paprika, and other spices. You can marinate the chicken for up to 4 hours or even freeze the chicken with the marinade for a future meal! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Paprika Marinade

25. Harissa Marinade

If you aren't afraid of spice, then this could be the marinade for you! With this recipe, the chicken is tossed in harissa which is mixed with lemon juice, cumin, paprika, and oregano. You can let the chicken sit in this marinade for 2 hours before sauteing or grilling! 

Get the recipe here

Harissa Marinade

26. Spicy Hoisin Marinade 

This is another great recipe if you want to prepare an Asian inspired dish. Here, the chicken is marinated in the sweet, savory, and spicy flavors of your homemade hoisin marinade. Make sure to marinate the chicken for at least 6 hours for the best results! 

Get the recipe here

Spicy Hoisin Marinade 

27. Moroccan Marinade 

This is the marinade that you should check out if you are tired of boring chicken. This recipe has so many spices that it is just bursting with flavor! You can keep the chicken in the marinade for 2 to 8 hours before grilling. 

Get the recipe here

Moroccan Marinade

28. Lemon Pepper Marinade

This is such a simple marinade but it packs such a punch! The lemon juice and lemon zest add tanginess to the mix while the pepper is both smoky and fiery. The minced garlic offers a nice earthy flavor. Marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours. 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Pepper Marinade

29. Orange Ginger Marinade

This marinade is zesty on so many different levels! The orange juice and zest and the lime juice and zest certainly add their tang to the marinade but the ginger adds an earthy and spicy zestiness into the mix. This is all balanced out by soy sauce, sugar, and ginger. Marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours. 

Get the recipe here

Orange Ginger Marinade

30. Buttermilk Marinade

This buttermilk marinade is going to guarantee that your chicken is going to come out tender, moist, and flavorful. It is made up of buttermilk, mustard, garlic, paprika, and sriracha. This marinade works well for all chicken pieces and they can be marinated overnight for better flavor. 

Get the recipe here

Buttermilk Marinade

These marinades will not only help you inject flavor into your chicken, they will also ensure that the meat is perfectly tender each and every time. So, check out these recipes so that you can cook up the best ever chicken!

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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