Description
The Best Chicken Marinade is a simple yet flavor-packed blend that transforms ordinary chicken into juicy, tender, and irresistible dishes. Combining tangy lemon juice, savory soy sauce, sweet honey, and aromatic herbs, this versatile marinade works perfectly for grilling, baking, or pan-searing, delivering mouthwatering results every time.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried herbs (such as oregano or thyme)
Instructions
- Combine the Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, black pepper, and dried herbs until smooth and well integrated.
- Prepare the Chicken: Trim any excess fat from your chicken pieces—whether breasts, thighs, drumsticks, or tenders—and place them in a sealable plastic bag or shallow dish for easy marinating.
- Marinate the Chicken: Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is fully coated. Seal or cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, ideally 2 to 4 hours for maximum flavor infusion.
- Cook to Perfection: Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Grill, bake, or pan-fry until cooked through and slightly caramelized on the outside, locking in those succulent juices.
Notes
- Marinate longer for more flavor, up to 24 hours to avoid texture changes.
- Always discard leftover marinade that’s been in contact with raw chicken to ensure food safety.
- Let marinated chicken sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking for even cooking.
- Pat chicken dry before grilling to avoid soggy skin.
- Consider adding fresh herbs or citrus zest for additional flavor bursts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling, Baking, Pan-frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken portion (about 4 oz)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg