The Ultimate All-Purpose Juicy Chicken Marinade
This recipe provides a simple, flavorful marinade that keeps chicken breasts or thighs tender and juicy when grilled, baked, or pan-seared.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling/Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, thyme, pepper, and salt until well combined.
- Place 1.5 pounds of chicken pieces (breasts or thighs) into a large resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated evenly.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for best flavor penetration. Do not marinate longer than 4 hours if using chicken breasts.
- Remove chicken from the marinade, discard the excess liquid, and cook using your preferred method (grill, bake, or pan-sear) until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Notes
- For thicker cuts like bone-in thighs, you can marinate for up to 6 hours.
- If you are meal prepping, this marinade works well for chicken destined for salads or wraps later in the week.
- To make this a zesty marinade, add the zest of one lemon to the mixture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz cooked chicken
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 15.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 65