A chicken marinade is one of the best ways to give your favorite protein some big flavor and maximum juiciness. Choose from a bright Greek lemon marinade, to a sweet honey mustard marinade, and four more delicious flavors. Here’s everything you need to know about making and using the best chicken marinades!

Why You’ll Love These Chicken Marinades

Chicken is the protein I cook most often. And because I cook it most often, it’s important to switch up the flavor profiles to keep my meals interesting and exciting. That’s where these six chicken marinade recipes come in! And while I’m all for dry rubs for a savory top coat (like on my herb baked chicken or crispy baked chicken thighs), chicken marinades have several additional benefits.

• They tenderize. Chicken marinades are great for tenderizing the meat and keeping it ultra juicy as it cooks. That’s especially important for when you’re cooking up chicken breasts – because we all know how easily they can dry out!
• They infuse flavor. Chicken marinades are great for locking in your favorite flavors that go beyond the outside edge to really seep into the meat. This means every single bite is packed with flavor.
• They’re versatile. While I’m using chicken breasts today, you can use these marinades for chicken thighs, or even drumsticks. So have fun meal prepping a variety of dinner ideas for the week.

How To Marinate Chicken

You can marinate the chicken breasts in a large bowl or large sealable bag. I personally like to use Stasher Bags to save room in the freezer or fridge. But if you choose to use a bowl, just make sure it’s big enough so that the chicken breasts are fully immersed in the marinade.

• Make the marinade. Choose a chicken marinade flavor and place all ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
• Prep the chicken. Place the chicken breasts into a bag, then pour the marinade into the bag on top of the chicken. Seal the bag, trying to remove as much air as possible, and give it a good squish to make sure the chicken is fully coated.
• Let the marinating process begin! Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours (though you can go up to 24 hours).

Best Chicken Marinades

Note that these marinades are meant for one pound of chicken (which is about two to three chicken breasts). So if you’re marinating more than that, you can double the recipe. To get started – grab a small mixing bowl, whisk, and let’s get into it!

Greek Lemon Chicken Marinade

If you love bright and fresh Mediterranean flavors, you’ll fall head over heels for this one. I use it on my Greek lemon chicken, and it’s loaded with fresh lemon juice, lots of herbs, and a punch of Dijon mustard.

How to serve: Slice the chicken into strips with a side Greek salad, Greek fries or roasted veggies from my Greek sheet pan chicken recipe.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade

Taking inspiration from my cilantro lime chicken, this marinade has a punch of acidity and is extra zesty!

How to serve: This is perfect for when you need a quick Mexican fix. Serve the chicken alongside some cilantro lime rice, beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo.

Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade

This classic flavor never fails when it comes to chicken. But instead of making a sauce (like on my honey mustard chicken thighs or my honey mustard chicken wings), this sweet and punchy marinade is infused into the chicken, making each bite pretty darn irresistible.

How to serve: I love to eat slices of this chicken with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts or roasted broccoli. But it also makes a delicious addition (sliced or diced) to a salad tossed with a Dijon vinaigrette.

Teriyaki Chicken Marinade

Think of this as a simplified version of my teriyaki sauce (because I know not everyone has sake and mirin in their fridge). It’s rich, savory, and has hints of fresh ginger and green onion.

How to serve: Slice the chicken into strips and serve over a bed of white rice. And for veggie sides, both garlic ginger bok choy or steamed broccoli will round out this meal!

Fajita Chicken Marinade

This is essentially my fajita seasoning dry rub turned into a marinade, with all those classic Mexican flavors you love. In other words, it’s like my chicken fajitas that’s ready on-the-go.

How to serve: Serve up slices of this chicken in a taco salad or make the ultimate Mexican plate with a side of fajita veggies, Mexican rice, or corn salad.

Italian Chicken Marinade

This is everything you love about Italian seasoning, but with a kick! If you don’t like spicy heat though, you can reduce or omit the red pepper flakes.

How to serve: I love pairing this Italian chicken with fresh salads such as a caprese salad or a simple massaged kale salad. It’s also great on top of sauteed spinach and blistered tomatoes.

Label Bags for Freezer Friendly Meal Prep

If you plan to double or triple any of these recipes (which I highly recommend you do) and then store them in your freezer, it’s best to label the Stasher Bags with the marinade and date – so you don’t forget what’s inside!

To label the bags, it’s as easy as using a chalk marker and then writing on the matte side of the bag. Let the marker dry completely before storing it away. To remove the label, simply use soapy water and a sponge.

Ways To Cook With Marinated Chicken

When you’re ready to cook, you’ve got a few options. Baked chicken is my default method given how easy it is to just pop it in the oven for 20 minutes or so. But if you want that deliciously charred flavor, you can easily grill it.

• Baked Chicken: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Then pour the chicken breasts and the marinade into a small baking dish (Note: if you have a large baking dish or rimmed sheet pan, omit the marinade as it will spread out and get charred). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Once the chicken is done, make sure to let it rest for a few minutes before slicing into it.
• Grilled Chicken: Preheat the grill to medium-heat and grill each side of the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes, or until it’s cooked through with the perfect set of grill marks.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

If you often look to chicken for meal prep, consider these easy chicken recipes! They’re great for batch cooking and enjoying multiple meals throughout the week.

• Turmeric Chicken and Rice Casserole
• White Chicken Chili
• Chicken Stir Fry
• Teriyaki Chicken

Once you’ve marinated and cooked with these marinades, I’d love to hear what your favorite flavor is in a comment below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration (and exclusive content), join my free newsletter.

Recipe originally published March 2022, but update to include new information for your benefit!