The Best Chicken Marinade Recipe
This easy marinade for chicken will elevate your grilled or baked chicken to a different level of flavor. Olive oil, common spices, fresh garlic, and your choice of beer or substitution in this recipe ensure juicy, flavorful results that come out every time. It is perfect for marinating chicken for a minimum of an hour, although overnight is preferred; it is also a versatile recipe, working well with other meats as well as vegetables. Absolutely perfect for your backyard barbecue or even family dinners, this is a staple that makes dishes unforgettable.
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
- Best Chicken Marinade Recipe. This tasty yet easy chicken marinade takes just a few minutes to prepare, so it will be the most delicious grilled or baked chicken you ever cooked! Tender and juicy results are sure to happen every time!.
- Pour the marinade into the zip-top bag with the chicken. Remove all of the air possible from the bag and seal the top. Shake the ingredients in the bag gently to distribute the marinade throughout.
- Place the bag flat on a small rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate for up to 1 hour. For best flavor marinate for overnight, turning the bag every few hours to keep the chicken evenly coated.
Notes
Versatility: The marinade works well for all chicken, whether breast, thighs, wings, or legs. In fact, the thickness of the chicken's cut can vary with the marinating time, so while thinner cut pieces may only require 30 minutes, the same or longer could be needed for thicker pieces.
Flavor Variations: Experiment with different herbs and spices. Marinate fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano. Chop them up into a marinade and incorporate for another taste dimension. Brightness can be gained by adding a squeeze of fresh citrus juice like lemon or lime.
Storage: You can use leftover marinade only to marinate vegetables. Also, you can use it when basting when cooking. It's not appropriate to reuse a marinade containing raw chicken, though.
Freezing: Chicken can be frozen in the marinade for later meals. Just make sure you label the bag with date and chicken type, and it will last in the freezer for up to three months.
Cooking Tips: After marinating, grill, bake, or sauté the chicken. Make sure that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) to be safe.