When it comes to cooking and grilling flavorful, juicy chicken, a good marinade is absolutely key. Whether you’re using chicken in a recipe or enjoying it as a side to your fav side dishes, get ready to try the best chicken marinades that are easy, healthy and full of flavor.
I have over 15 chicken marinade recipes because there’s no reason to go through life without making chicken that tastes AMAZING.
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Healthy chicken marinades 101
A great chicken marinade requires three key ingredients
- Fat from oil or even full fat yogurt or buttermilk
- Acid from vinegar or citrus fruit
- Plenty of seasonings like spices and fresh or dried herbs
With the chicken marinade recipes below, you’ll simply whisk the ingredients together and add them to a resealable bag with 1 pound of chicken (I love Stasher bags!)
Organic chicken breast tends to have more moisture and better flavor, so if you are able, I always suggest purchasing organic chicken breast. The longer you marinate your chicken the better, but be sure to let it marinate for at least 2-4 hours.
Cozy spices
Think curry, chili, cumin, and a little heat from cayenne pepper. These are great for tacos and rice bowls.
Bright & herby
Filled with fresh cilantro, citrus fruits, and jalapeño. I love using these marinades when I’m adding chicken to fresh salads.
The classics (that double as dressings!)
Homemade ranch! Honey mustard! Caesar! These marinades double as dressings and have a creamier base, and are great for sandwiches, wraps, and more salads.
- Honey Mustard
- Greek Yogurt Ranch
- Chipotle Ranch
- Curry Honey Mustard
- Tahini Caesar
- Thai-Inspired Peanut
BONUS: Healthy Salad Dressings (that double as marinades!)
Picked your marinade? Let’s get cooking
I have a few amazing resources for cooking your marinated chicken, plus great ways to use it:
- How to grill chicken breast
- How to make oven baked chicken breast
- How to make slow cooker chicken
- Recipes to pair with grilled chicken
I hope you love these easy chicken marinades! If you try them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them. Enjoy, xo!
I used the spicy maple dijon marinade all the time & now it’s gone! Where can I find it?
Hi! You can find it in this recipe 🙂
When you use the ranch marinade how do you cook the chicken and what would you pair it with?
Grilling it is always my fave but pan roasting works great as well! I would pair deliciously with THIS salad.
These marinade recipes are an awesome way to change up a boring chicken breast on the grill all summer long! The spicy maple dijon was in regular rotation in our house this summer. Thank you for these great ideas!
Thanks so much for leaving a review, Mariana! I’m so glad to hear you’ve been enjoying them 🙂
If you bake the chicken legs, do you pre marinate them or add them onto the legs before baking?
Hi, Tali! I’d definitely marinate them beforehand to ensure the flavor really gets into the chicken 🙂
Can you freeze the chic iij en in these marinades?
Hi, Katherine! Yes, definitely 🙂