The BEST All-Purpose Chicken Marinade for Juicy, Flavorful Chicken
This quick and easy marinade works for grilling, baking, or pan-searing, keeping your chicken breast or thighs tender and full of flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Marinating
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, pepper, and salt until well combined.
- Place 1.5 to 2 pounds of chicken (breasts, thighs, or wings) into a large zip-top bag or shallow dish.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours for best results.
- Remove chicken from the marinade before cooking. Discard the remaining marinade.
- Cook the chicken using your preferred method: grill, bake, air fry, or pan-sear until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Notes
- For a Mexican flavor profile, add 1 teaspoon of chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon of cumin to the mix.
- This marinade freezes well; pour it over raw chicken in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
- Do not marinate chicken longer than 4 hours, as the lemon juice can start to break down the texture too much.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of marinade mixture
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 15.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0.2
- Protein: 0.5
- Cholesterol: 0
