30 Chicken Thigh Marinade Recipes That Will Take Your Dish to the Next Level!

October 14, 2024
Written by Kristy J. Norton

Marinating chicken thighs is a great way to tenderize the meat while adding even more flavor to the cut. Of course, the right marinade can make all the difference which is why this list of chicken thigh marinade recipes is so important. It shows you the many ways that you can marinate your chicken to get the most delicious results. Check it out! 

chicken thigh marinade

1. Lime Honey Garlic Marinade

If you are looking for a simple marinade that is also super tasty, then this is the one for you - it is perfect for grilled or baked thighs.  Here, honey, garlic, and soy sauce flavor the thighs while the lime juice is perfect for tenderizing the meat. Smoky spices round out the marinade. 

Get the recipe here

Lime Honey Garlic Marinade

2. Maple Mustard Marinade

This marinade is just what you need when you want to add a delicious touch of flavor and marinate your chicken thighs quickly! This marinade consists of stone ground mustard, dijon mustard, maple syrup, brown sugar, and vinegar. You have the perfect balance between sweet and tangy - plus you only have to marinate the thighs for 30 minutes before cooking them! 

Get the recipe here

Maple Mustard Marinade

3. Lemon Garlic Herb Marinade 

This classic marinade has all the flavors you need for any kind of chicken thigh dish you want to prepare. The chicken thighs are tossed in a mix of olive oil, lemon zest, parsley, thyme, garlic, and sugar. The marinade has a little bit of everything and can work its magic in just an hour! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Garlic Herb Marinade 

4. Maple Garlic Sesame Marinade

This marinade boasts a great balance between Western and Asian flavors, giving you the best of both worlds! Soy sauce and sesame oil rub shoulders with maple syrup and Worcestershire sauce, with garlic and lemon juice bumping up the flavor as well. This marinade works especially well for baked chicken thighs! 

Get the recipe here

Maple Garlic Sesame Marinade

5. Soy Mustard Mirin Marinade 

Savory, tangy, sweet, with a hint of spice, this is a well rounded marinade! Coat the chicken thighs in the marinade and then let it sit for only 30 minutes. When done, you can choose to grill or bake your chicken thighs! 

Get the recipe here

Soy Mustard Mirin Marinade 

6. Honey Mustard Marinade 

Want to produce the best ever grilled chicken thighs? Well, then you have to try out this recipe! It is made from honey, dijon mustard, soy sauce, and a little bit of spice. This classic combination ensures that your chicken thighs will be a hit with everyone! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Mustard Marinade 

7. Honey Lemon Soy Marinade

This is a great recipe for when you want to add a little bit of flavor to your chicken thighs but don't want to go overboard with flavor. The chicken thighs are marinated in a combination of honey, lemon juice and zest, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil. With this recipe, you can marinate the thighs for up to 12 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Lemon Soy Marinade

8. Vinegar Honey Mustard Marinade 

The cool thing about this marinade - apart from how delicious it is - is that you probably have all the ingredients you need right there in your pantry! All you need is apple cider vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, garlic, and a touch of herbs. Marinate for around 30 minutes and then grill, air fry, or bake the thighs! 

Get the recipe here

Vinegar Honey Mustard Marinade 

9. Butter Balsamic Marinade 

Need a slightly more indulgent marinade? Give this recipe a try! Here, the butter adds a touch of richness to the mix while the balsamic vinegar balances it out with a sweet tanginess. Soy sauce, honey, garlic, and sesame oil take this marinade up to another level! 

Get the recipe here

Butter Balsamic Marinade 

10. Tomato Lemon Garlic Marinade 

If you want to do something a little different with your marinade, then check out this recipe! The tomato paste adds a bright pop of flavor as does the lemon juice and zest. The marinade gets its earthiness from garlic and a light dusting of smoky spices. You can keep the thighs in this marinade for as little as 2 hours or even overnight!  

Get the recipe here

Tomato Lemon Garlic Marinade 

11. Brown Sugar Balsamic Marinade 

There are a lot of delicious flavors working together in this marinade! The recipe consists of brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, mustard, soy sauce, lemon pepper, rosemary, and garlic. You can marinate the thighs for about 30 minutes and then grill when done! 

Get the recipe here

Brown Sugar Balsamic Marinade 

12. Spicy Marinade

If you want your recipes to have a bit of a zing to them, then you have got to give this recipe a go! Here, spicy brown mustard and sriracha sauce combine to add some heat to the thighs, with soy sauce adding savoriness. Marinate the chicken for anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours before grilling! 

Get the recipe here

Spicy Marinade

13. Gluten Free Marinade 

If you have been struggling to find a good gluten free recipe, your search is over - the recipe might be simple but it packs quite the punch. Coat the chicken thighs with coconut aminos (or tamari), sea salt, garlic, olive oil, and lime juice and let it sit in the marinade for an hour or around 12 hours. Then, cook the thighs however you want! 

Get the recipe here

Gluten Free Marinade 

14. Balsamic Brown Sugar Soy Marinade 

This marinade may be simple but it is anything but basic thanks to the incredible flavors! The marinade is made from balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, oil, lemon juice, basil, mustard, and garlic. This means plenty of bright and tangy flavors balanced out by sweetness! 

Get the recipe here

Balsamic Brown Sugar Soy Marinade 

15. Soy Lime Fish Sauce Marinade 

This is a Thai-inspired marinade that makes your chicken dish really stand out! This marinade is filled with delicious ingredients like soy sauce, lime juice, fish sauce, ginger, sesame oil, garlic, and honey.  Mix well and cover the chicken in the marinade for 30 minutes or up to overnight! 

Get the recipe here.

Soy Lime Fish Sauce Marinade 

16. Tangy Honey Soy Marinade 

You can choose to cook chicken thighs marinated in this mix any way you want but it tastes especially good when grilled! This marinade is made up of lots of acids like cider vinegar and Chinese cooking wine for extra tender chicken. Don't worry because the honey and soy prevent the marinade from being too sour!

Get the recipe here

Tangy Honey Soy Marinade 

17. Sriracha Soy Marinade 

This marinade is made up of just 4 ingredients but it tastes so good all the same! Just mix soy sauce, sriracha, garlic, and cilantro and coat the chicken thoroughly. Then, pop the chicken in the refrigerator for 3 hours and you will be good to go! 

Get the recipe here

Sriracha Soy Marinade 

18. Honey Lemon Herb Marinade 

The light and bright flavors of this marinade make it absolutely perfect for a summertime barbecue! This recipe consists of honey, lemon juice, Italian herbs, parsley, soy sauce, oil, and garlic. You can marinate the chicken in this mix for up to 8 hours before cooking! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Lemon Herb Marinade 

19. Spiced Soy Brown Sugar Marinade 

The cumin and smoked paprika really add a smoky kick to your marinade! The recipe also includes soy sauce, oil, garlic, brown sugar, mustard, and apple cider vinegar. This gives you earthiness, savoriness, tanginess, and sweetness! 

Get the recipe here

Spiced Soy Brown Sugar Marinade 

20. BBQ Marinade 

Want your grilled chicken to have that traditional BBQ flavor? Well, then you have to give this recipe a try, especially since it is so easy to make! Just mix olive oil, brown sugar, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, mustard, lemon juice, and garlic. Marinate for up to 4 hours and grill! 

Get the recipe here

BBQ Marinade 

21. Aromatic Soy Marinade 

This is the marinade you should try if you want to cook your chicken thighs in a creamy coconut gravy! This is because the thighs are marinated in hoisin sauce, fish sauce, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. You can also customize the marinade with spices to infuse the chicken with your favorite flavors! 

Get the recipe here

Aromatic Soy Marinade 

22. Coconut Aminos Hot Sauce Marinade 

Want a keto-friendly marinade? Well, here you go! This marinade is made up of coconut aminos, hot sauce, mustard, garlic, and spices. It is proof that you can find a low carb recipe that is delicious and can infuse your chicken thighs with tons of flavor! 

Get the recipe here

Coconut Aminos Hot Sauce Marinade 

23. Lemon Garlic Herb Marinade 

This marinade is all about light, fresh, and bright flavors. The recipe ensures that your chicken does get a bump of flavor but it doesn't overwhelm the natural flavor profile of the meat. Here, you mix finely chopped mixed herbs such as parsley, dill, and cilantro along with lemon juice, oil, and garlic. You can marinate the chicken for up to a day before grilling! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Garlic Herb Marinade 

24. Aromatic Pineapple Marinade 

This Hawaiian-inspired marinade is just what you need to brighten up any meal! Combine onion, garlic, ginger, pineapple juice, soy sauce, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and sesame oil and add the chicken thighs in. This marinade works better over a longer period so you can marinate the chicken overnight or up to 3 days! 

Get the recipe here

Aromatic Pineapple Marinade 

25. Orange Juice Marinade 

This citrus based marinade tenderizes while adding a ton of flavor. This marinade is whipped up with orange juice, soy sauce, onion, garlic, rosemary, and oregano. Since the marinade is filled with such bright and refreshing flavors, it works especially well for grilling chicken thighs! 

Get the recipe here

Orange Juice Marinade 

26. Yogurt Marinade 

Yogurt is used as a base for marinades in many cuisines because it adds flavor and tenderness. In this recipe, the yogurt is mixed with simple herbs and spices for a simple dish. This marinade is a great option if you want to bake or roast your chicken thighs! 

Get the recipe here

Yogurt Marinade 

27. Balsamic Citrus Marinade 

Not only does this marinade make for delicious chicken thighs but it is also chock full of clean ingredients, perfect for a wholesome diet! The marinade is made up of citrus juice, balsamic vinegar, oil, coconut aminos, mustard, garlic, and seasonings. Let the chicken marinate for about 30 minutes and then bake! 

Get the recipe here

Balsamic Citrus Marinade 

28. Sweet and Spicy Marinade 

This is such an aromatic marinade with tons of Asian flavors! Mix lemongrass, serrano chiles, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, fish sauce, and soy sauce for an incredible marinade. This quick marinade is great for when you want to switch things up! 

Get the recipe here

Sweet and Spicy Marinade 

29. Lemon Herb and Spice Marinade 

This is another recipe that is ideal if you are looking for something low carb and there is so little prep involved! The marinade is made from lemon juice, oil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, and sage. Once coated, let the thighs marinade for at least 6 hours! 

Get the recipe here

Lemon Herb and Spice Marinade

30. Herb Lemon Brown Sugar Marinade 

This light marinade gives you the yummiest and freshest flavors! Marinade the chicken with a mix of lemon juice, basil, rosemary, parsley, brown sugar, and garlic. Marinate for 2 to 10 hours before grilling! 

Get the recipe here

Herb Lemon Brown Sugar Marinade 

Well, there you go - all the chicken thigh marinade recipes that you could possibly need! From simple marinades that are great for basic dishes to ones that are chock full with flavor, you can find them all. Go ahead and put these marinades to good use! 

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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