30 Chicken Tenderloin Marinade Recipes That Will Turn Your Dish Into a Masterpiece!

November 14, 2024
Written by Kristy J. Norton

Chicken tenderloin tends to have a subtler flavor so sometimes you need to work a bit harder to make it into a flavorful dish. Well, these chicken tenderloin marinade recipes do all the heavy lifting for you! They infuse the tenderloin with a wide variety of flavor profiles to ensure a delicious result. Go ahead and check them out! 

Chicken Tenderloin Marinade

1. Lemon Garlic Marinade 

This is the perfect marinade for a classic dish! Simply toss the tenderloin in a mix of lemon juice and zest, garlic, honey, and herbs. Let the chicken marinade for at least 30 minutes although you will get better results with an 8 hour wait! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Garlic Marinade

2. Teriyaki Marinade 

For this recipe, you marinate the chicken in a homemade teriyaki sauce! Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, aromatics, and Worcestershire sauce together. Pour this over the tenderloin and then lit sit for up to hours before cooking!   

Get the recipe here

Teriyaki Marinade

3. Greek Marinade 

Not only is this Greek marinade delicious, it is also really easy to put together. All you have to do is whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, garlic, and thyme. Then, let the tenderloin sit in this marinade for between 30 minutes and a whole day! 

Get the recipe here

Greek Marinade

4. Honey Mustard Marinade 

This is the marinade to use when you want everyone in your family to scarf down their meal! Mix dijon mustard, stone ground mustard, honey, and rosemary together and marinate the tenderloin in this for 30 minutes or overnight! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Mustard Marinade

5. Lemon Thyme Marinade 

This simple marinade is absolutely hopping with flavor! It is made up of lemon juice, thyme, olive oil, and spices. Toss the chicken tenderloin in this and then let it sit for 30 minutes to 8 hours before cooking! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Thyme Marinade

6. BBQ Rub Marinade 

If you are looking to grill your tenderloin and want that traditional BBQ flavor, this is the marinade for you! Here, the chicken tenderloin is coated in a mix of oil, brown sugar, and smoky spices. Make sure to marinate the tenderloin for up to 6 hours, although 24 hours is ideal! 

Get the recipe here

BBQ Rub Marinade

7. Cilantro Lime Marinade 

This is the perfect marinade for when you want some bright pops of flavor! Whisk minced cilantro with lime juice, minced garlic, oil, and spices. Marinade the tenderloin for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Cilantro Lime Marinade

8. Buffalo Marinade 

Buffalo flavor isn't just for wings, it works just as well for tenderloin! For this recipe, you simply combine buttermilk and buffalo sauce together. Coat the chicken in this and let the tenderloin marinate for 4 to 48 hours in the refrigerator. 

Get the recipe here

Buffalo Marinade

9. Herby Mediterranean Marinade 

If you love herbs, then this is the marinade you need to try out! Combine olive oil with red wine vinegar, oregano, thyme, rosemary, chives, spices, Greek yogurt, and honey mustard. The tenderloin can marinate in this for 1 to 12 hours before cooking! 

Get the recipe here

Herby Mediterranean Marinade

10. Honey Soy Marinade 

Sweet and salty, this is a great all purpose marinade! Mix soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, and oil together and coat the tenderloins in this. Let them marinate for at least 30 minutes, although they can be kept for up to 24 hours before cooking!  

Get the recipe here

Honey Soy Marinade

11. Honey Ginger Marinade 

This aromatic marinade is great for Asian inspired dishes! Whisk honey, ginger, garlic, orange juice, lime juice, sriracha, and turmeric together and douse the tenderloin in this. Marinate the tenderloin for 2 hours for the best flavor! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Ginger Marinade

12. Italian Dressing Marinade 

This recipe is a simple way for infusing your tenderloin with creamy Italian flavors! All you have to do is mix Italian dressing with honey and lime juice. Then, toss the tenderloin in this for 30 minutes and cook! 

Get the recipe here

Italian Dressing Marinade

13. Mayo Coffee Marinade 

If you are on the lookout for interesting and complex marinades, then you should give this recipe a try! For this marinade, you mix mayonnaise, coffee rub seasoning, and Montreal steak seasoning. Marinate the chicken tenderloin for 4 to 6 hours. 

Get the recipe here

Mayo Coffee Marinade

14. Lemon Herb Garlic Marinade 

This is an excellent no fuss marinade that is perfect for when you want a simple meal! Just mix olive oil with garlic, herbs, and lemon juice. You can marinate the chicken in this for just 20 minutes or all the way up to 8 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Herb Garlic Marinade

15. Soy Worcestershire Lemon Marinade 

If you are looking for a well balanced marinade, then this is the recipe to try out! In addition to the soy sauce, Worcestershire, and lemon juice, this marinade also includes minced garlic, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup. Mix this all together, marinate the chicken, and let it sit for up to 4 hours before cooking!

Get the recipe here

Soy Worcestershire Lemon Marinade

16. Soy Apple Cider Marinade

This simple marinade recipe has a little bit of everything - soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and honey. This gives you a well balanced marinade that is perfect for almost any dish you want to make! Marinate the tenderloin for up to 8 hours!

Get the recipe here.

Soy Apple Cider Marinade

17. Soy Worcestershire Brown Sugar

This is the recipe for anyone looking for a smoky marinade! Here the soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce are mixed with brown sugar, spices, garlic, and liquid smoke. Marinate for a couple of hours and cook to perfection. 

Get the recipe here.

Soy Worcestershire Brown Sugar

18. Maple Lemon Marinade

Indulgent and delicious, this marinade works its magic in just 20 minutes! Mix together melted butter, lemon juice, maple syrup, garlic, and seasonings. Toss the tenders in and marinate for  delicious sweet, tangy, and earthy flavor!

Get the recipe here.

Maple Lemon Marinade

19. Maple Dijon Marinade 

If you are looking to branch out with flavors, this recipe fits the bill perfectly! Whisk maple syrup, Dijon mustard, capers and brine, vinegar, and seasonings together. Marinate for at least 4 hours before cooking!

Get the recipe here.

Maple Dijon Marinade

20. Balsamic Garlic Marinade 

This marinade will infuse the tenderloin with a sweet tang while also tenderizing the meat, ensuring a juicy dish. Mix the vinegar with garlic, olíve oil, and seasonings. Place the tenders in this and marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Get the recipe here.

Balsamic Garlic Marinade

21. Ranch Marinade 

If you love ranch, you are going to be very happy to learn that you can marinate tenders in ranch dressing! Just mix it with a little bit of milk and make sure to coat the tenders well. Then,  marinate for no more than 30 minutes!

Get the recipe here.

Ranch Marinade

22. Buttermilk Hot Sauce Marinade

This is a great recipe for when you want to fry chicken tenders - it gives you tender chicken that ends up nice and juicy! Mix buttermilk with hot sauce and spices and coat the tenders in this before marinating from an hour to overnight!

Get the recipe here.

Buttermilk Hot Sauce Marinade

23. Pineapple Marinade 

The great thing about a pineapple juice marinade - apart from the amazing flavor - is how quickly it works. You only need a short time before your tenderloin is ready for cooking. Simmer pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce together and coat the tenderloin in this. Marinate for at least 30 minutes and cook! 

Get the recipe here

Pineapple Marinade

24. Spiced Greek Yogurt Marinade 

This marinade is a great way to ensure that your chicken will be tender as well as incredibly tasty! For this recipe, mix Greek yogurt with turmeric, paprika, thyme, and garlic. Let the tenderloin sit in the marinade for up to 24 hours before cooking! 

Get the recipe here

Spiced Greek Yogurt Marinade

25. Fiery Fruit Marinade 

This marinade is going to infuse your chicken with sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors! Mix together orange juice, lime juice, papaya juice, hot sauce, cilantro, and cumin. Toss the tenders in this for at least 10 minutes and then cook! 

Get the recipe here

Fiery Fruit Marinade

26. Yogurt Herb Spice Marinade 

If you are all about the flavor, then this is the marinade for you! This marinade includes Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, thyme, oregano, paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper all working beautifully together. Marinade for 2 hours or overnight before cooking! 

Get the recipe here

Yogurt Herb Spice Marinade

27. Italian Salad Dressing Marinade 

Cant be bothered putting together a marinade? Not a problem! Simply grab your favorite bottle of Italian salad dressing and toss it all over the chicken tenderloin. Then, let this sit for 6 to 12 hours and then cook! 

Get the recipe here

Italian Salad Dressing Marinade

28. Soy Lime Garlic Marinade 

Savory, zesty, and earthy - what's not to love about this marinade? Mix olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, lime juice, and Worcestershire sauce together and submerge the chicken tenders in this. Marinate for about 2 hours and cook! 

Get the recipe here

Soy Lime Garlic Marinade

29. Pickle Juice Milk Hot Sauce Marinade 

This may sound like an odd combination but it can make your tenderloin juicy and delicious! Mix the pickle juice, milk, and marinade together. Pour this over the chicken tenderloin and then marinate for 2 hours and cook! 

Get the recipe here

Pickle Juice Milk Hot Sauce Marinade

30. Tandoori Marinade 

If you want to make an Indian inspired dish, then this is the recipe for you! This marinade consists of Greek yogurt, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, ginger, cilantro, garam masala, turmeric, and chili flakes. Mix all of this together, coat the chicken tenderloin, and then refrigerate for an hour! 

Get the recipe here

Tandoori Marinade

If you want to guarantee that your chicken tenderloin is going to taste amazing, you now know which marinades are going to make that happen. Best of all, there is a marinade for almost any dish that you want to make so go ahead and choose the one that fits your needs. Or, better yet, experiment with a few different ones and discover your favorite!

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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