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Home » Recipes

The Best Chicken Marinade

Published: Jun 22, 2022 · Modified: May 26, 2024 by Al Dente Diva · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

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This is easily the best chicken marinade recipe that I have to share. So simple to prepare and so much flavor.

The Best Chicken Marinade

From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito

If you’re looking for the best chicken marinade then search no further.

the best chicken marinade cover

I’ve been making this one for years and it’s my absolute favorite.

So easy to make and oh so much flavor.

Every ingredient plays a part in this marinade.

I love simple to make recipes like this.

marinated cooked chicken

Sometimes it’s so nice to plan a little bit ahead and let those incredible flavors really penetrate the meat.

Little effort for a big pay off if you ask me.

I make this chicken marinade for family dinners all the time.

the best chicken marinade being cooked in a grill pan

My family loves this recipe.

I also really like to these to BBQ’s because they’re so easy to toss right on the grill.

chicken being cooked

The chicken thighs really hold onto all of the flavors in the marinade and they come out so juicy every time.

the best chicken marinade done cooking

This one is always a hit when I make it.

I know if you give it a try that you’ll love this chicken marinade recipe, too. It really is the best.

Other Simple Marinades

If you like simple but delicious marinades like this one, here are a few more you’ll love, too.

the best ever steak marinade
  • The Best Steak Marinade
  • Lemon & Dill Salmon Kebabs
  • Grilled Chicken Thighs

Do I have to use chicken thighs?

Technically no you do not have to use chicken thighs but I do recommend them.

Chicken breasts or tenderloins would work here, too.

cubed chicken thighs

Chicken thighs are fattier then chicken breast and stay juicer when they’re being cooked.

It’s almost impossible to overcook them.

chicken thighs

If you’d like to use chicken breasts go ahead though. It’s up to you.

How should I cook the chicken?

I placed my chicken pieces into a skewer and cooked them in my grill pan.

grilling the beet chicken marinade

You can easily grill these outside or skip the skewers all together and just place them into a skillet.

I have never air fried them but I’m sure that would work also.

chicken thighs skewered

Just be sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° and is cooked all the way through.

Quick skewer tip:

If you’re going to cook these chicken thighs on a grill/grill pan like I did I have a tip for the skewers.

wooden skewers

Place the skewers in some cold water for a few hours to soak them before you add the chicken.

They will be much less likely to brown and burn that way.

chicken thighs on wooden skewers

This is especially helpful when grilling over an open flame.

The Best Chicken Marinade Ingredients

the best chicken marinade ingredients
  • Chicken Thighs
  • Olive oil
  • Brown Sugar
  • Soy Sauce
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic
  • Garlic powder
  • Lemon/ lemon zest
  • Thyme
  • Parsley fresh
  • Parsley dried (optional)

Instructions

First, cube up the chicken thighs into relatively equal pieces. About 2 inches big.

cubed chicken thighs

Next, add them to a medium sized bowl.

chicken thighs in a bowl

Now season them with the salt, pepper and garlic powder.

seasoned chicken thighs in a bowl

Then add the olive oil, soy sauce and brown sugar.

brown sugar

Then add the lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, parsley and thyme.

lemon juice

Mix everything together until it’s evenly combined.

the best chicken thigh marinade

Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge to marinate.

I like to leave it there overnight but if you don’t have that time just do it for as long as you can.

chicken in the marinade with plastic wrap

Now take the marinated chicken thighs and place them onto a wooden skewer.

the marinated chicken skewered

Then cook them on all sides in a grill pan over medium high heat until they reach an internal temperature of 165°

cooking the chicken skewers

Finally let them cool slightly and serve warm. Sprinkle them with some dried parsley if you’d like. Enjoy!

the finished chicken

The Best Chicken Marinade
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The Best Chicken Marinade

This easy to make chicken marinade is packed with flavor and the absolute BEST.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • wooden/metal skewers

Ingredients
  

  • 2-3 pounds Chicken Thighs, boneless & skinless
  • ¼ cup Olive Oil
  • 3 tbs Brown Sugar
  • ¼ cup Soy Sauce
  • 1 large Lemon
  • Sat and Pepper to taste
  • 4 cloves Garlic
  • 2 tbs Garlic Powder
  • 2 tbs Parsley, Fresh- Chopped
  • 2 tbs Thyme, Fresh or Dried
  • Parsley, dried (optional)

Instructions
 

  • First, cut the chicken thighs into about 2 inch pieces and place them in a medium sized bowl.
  • Add all of the ingredients except for the dried parsley. Mix it all together, cover it and place it in the fridge over night.
  • Remove it from the fridge and place the marinated cubed chicken onto wooden or metal skewers.
  • Place the skewers on a grill pan over medium high heat. Cook them on all sides until the chicken is cooked all the way through. It should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
  • Sprinkle them with some dried parsley of garnish if you'd like. Let them cool slightly and enjoy!
Keyword chicken marinade', chicken recipe, the best chicken marinade

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Comments

  1. Elaine says

    July 05, 2022 at 5:08 pm

    I saw a video where it looks like you marinated chicken then dabbed a sauce you made. I can’t find the sauce recipe. Can you help me out?

  2. Al Dente Diva says

    July 08, 2022 at 2:06 pm

    Hi! I might not have that one up yet. Was it with Catalina dressing?

  3. Anonymous says

    July 23, 2023 at 2:19 pm

    This really is the best marinade chicken! No cap, this was so amazing and I wanted to say thank you so much for sharing your amazing recipes, and I’m about to make another one of your recipes because we enjoyed that chicken so much!

  4. Al Dente Diva says

    July 23, 2023 at 7:05 pm

    Thank you so much for trying it and leaving the nice comment!!!

  5. Anonymous says

    October 24, 2023 at 9:53 pm

    Girl. Definitely a great marinade! The entire family loved it. I served it with homemade veggie fried rice ?

  6. Al Dente Diva says

    October 25, 2023 at 8:55 am

    I’m so happy to hear that!

Trackbacks

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Welcome!

Welcome to Al Dente Diva! My name is Tara Ippolito, and I’ve been the head cook in my family for 20 years now. After all that time testing, tweaking, and just cooking, I’ve found my passion in sharing these unique recipes with families everywhere

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