The Best Chicken Marinade recipe :The easy-to-make, tastes-so-good marinade that makes you the tastiest grilled or baked chicken every time. This is an easy marinade that has been a staple in our kitchen for years. Lately, it’s mostly been for making grilled chicken-they make excellent grilled chicken legs, too. It uses everyday ingredients you probably already have on hand. This is great because this marinade makes it versatile enough for baking or grilling chicken for a more savory dish year-round, and you’re not just limited to using it only when it’s warm enough to grill.
How to Make The BEST Chicken Marinade
I actually posted this marinade recipe years ago with my recipe for grilled chicken legs. Since it appears that everyone has been requesting it, I thought it deserved its own little home. Here’s the recipe for the BEST Chicken Marinade.
Ingredients
This marinade will yield roughly over 5 pounds of chicken. Here are the ingredients you will need to prepare this perfect marinade:
Olive Oil: Use good quality extra virgin olive oil.
Spice: Salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
Garlic: Fresh, minced cloves.
Onion: Chopped
Fresh Parsley: Minced.
Beer: Choose the beer you like. Incase you don’t, you may be allowed to use ginger ale, apple cider not vinegar or juice as substitute.
Now, I do not cook much with beer, but it really brings out the flavors of this dish. Any beer you like is fine-for me, it’s either Corona or Yuengling, but any beer will work fine. If you have a problem with beer, use some ginger ale, apple cider, or apple juice instead-all of those works like a charm and adds another flavor to the dish.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Mix Ingredients: Combine all spices and olive oil in a medium to large mixing bowl. Then add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and fresh parsley and stir them all together. Add the beer slowly, as it may foam up over the mixture if added in too much of a hurry. Stir well with the ingredients.
Apply the Marinade:Place chicken you plan to marinate in a large, heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag or an airtight container. Pour the marinade over the chicken and coat the chicken thoroughly. If using a zip-top bag, remove as much air as possible before closing the bag.
Chill the chicken: If you’re using a zip-top bag, place it on a sheet pan for any liquid spills. An airtight container should have the lid tightly closed. Refrigerate the chicken to marinate and soak all the flavors.
How Long to Marinate Chicken in Refrigerator:
- At least 1 hour
- Preferably overnight for best results
- No longer than 2 days
Every few hours, turn the bag from one side over to the other to keep the chicken coated with the marinade.
Freezer Instructions for Chicken in Marinade
You can freeze the raw chicken in this marinade. Here are the steps.
Package in a Freezer-Safe Container: Put the chicken parts in a freezer-safe container and pour your marinade over the chicken so that every piece is covered. Seal the container tight, allowing as little air in as possible. If you’re using a zip-top bag, freeze it flat on a baking sheet. Don’t forget to label the contents and date.
Freeze Chicken with Marinade: Place the container in the freezer and store for up to 3 months.
Thaw and Cook: When ready to use, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, remove the chicken from the marinade, discard the marinade, and cook the chicken according to your preferred recipe.
More Delicious Marinades and Sauces
FAQs for The Best Chicken Marinade Recipe
1. For how long shall I marinate the chicken?
Marinate the chicken for at least 2-4 hours. If you want stronger flavors, then go ahead and marinate it overnight but never more than 24 hours as then the chicken would turn mushy.
2. Can I freeze the chicken in the marinade?
Yes, you can freeze the chicken in the marinade up to 3 months. Leave overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
3. Can I use this marinade for other meats?
You can certainly marinate pork, turkey, or beef and the marinade infuses very delicious flavor to different meats too.
4. What can be used in place of beer in the marinade?
Substitute beer with ginger ale or apple cider juice or apple juice if one doesn’t drink beer.
5. Do I have to discard the marinade after use?
Yes, discard the marinade that has been in contact with raw chicken as it will contaminate your food for safety reasons.
6. Can I grill, bake, or pan fry this marinated chicken?
Yes, this marinade works perfectly for grilling, baking, or pan-frying and offers great flavor in each method of cooking.
The Best Chicken Marinade Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 1/2 cups beer, ginger ale, apple cider, or apple juice
Instructions
- Pour olive oil into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup.
- Best Chicken Marinade Recipe – This easy, delicious chicken marinade comes together in minutes to deliver the most flavorful grilled or baked chicken you've ever made! This guarantees juicy, tender chicken every time it's made.
- Pour the marinade into the zip-top bag with the chicken. Getting as much air out and closing it up is important. Tumbling the bag gently so the chicken is fully coated with marinade will also work.
- Lay the bag flat on a small rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate for up to 1 hour, or for best flavor overnight; turn the bag every few hours so that the chicken remains evenly coated.
Notes
Freezer Instructions:
To freeze raw chicken in this marinade, follow these steps:Package in a freezer-safe container: Put the chicken into a freezer-safe container and pour the marinade over, making sure to cover all pieces. When sealing the container, remove as much air as possible. Lay a zip-top bag flat on a baking sheet to freeze. Label contents and date. Leave the marinated chicken in the deep freeze: Store it in the deep freeze in its airtight container for up to 3 months. Refrigerator thaw and cook as desired: When you want to cook, thaw the chicken overnight in the refrigerator. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade after thawing. Cook according to your preference recipe.
Nutrition Facts
- Amount Per ServingCalories430
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
40g
62%
- Saturated Fat 6g 30%
- Sodium 886mg 37%
- Potassium 148mg 5%
- Total Carbohydrate
7g
3%
- Protein 1.5g 3%
- Calcium 35%
- Iron 1.5%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
