The BEST All-Purpose Chicken Marinade for Juicy, Flavorful Chicken
This simple, quick marinade uses pantry staples to keep chicken breast juicy and flavorful, suitable for grilling, baking, or air frying.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- 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
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk until well combined.
- Place 1.5 to 2 pounds of chicken (breasts or thighs) into a large zip-top bag or shallow dish.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are fully 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. Do not marinate longer than 6 hours, especially with lemon juice.
- Remove chicken from the marinade, discard the excess liquid, and cook using your preferred method: grill, bake at 400F (200C) until internal temperature reaches 165F (74C), or air fry.
Notes
- For a Greek flavor profile, add 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary.
- For a Pollo Asado flavor, substitute the oregano with 1 tablespoon of chili powder and 1 teaspoon of cumin.
- This marinade freezes well; pour the marinade and chicken into a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
- This recipe works well for chicken breasts, thighs, or tenders.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of marinade mixture
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 15.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 0