What’s the secret to juicy, delicious chicken? Marinade! There are thousands of chicken marinade recipes out there, but I’ve rounded up 15+ of my favorite ones for make-ahead chicken meals.
15+ Easy, Make-ahead Chicken Marinades for Juicy Chicken Meal
1. The Ultimate Grilled Chicken Marinade
I love this recipe because it’s simple, and the flavor is perfect for grilled chicken. For this marinade, you’ll need lemon juice (fresh is best), soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, Dijon mustard and a handful of spices. Marinate your chicken for at least 30 minutes (I prefer overnight), and you’re ready to start grilling. You can easily prepare this marinade a day or two in advance.
2. Greek Chicken Marinade
There are so many variations of Greek chicken marinade recipes out there, but I prefer this one if I’m making it ahead of time. Why? Because the red wine vinegar and lemon juice have time to meld with the honey, garlic, oregano and other spices. It’s a bit more potent.
You can use this recipe for any kind of chicken dish. It’s especially great for gyros, salads and even simple chicken and rice dishes. If you don’t have lemons on hand, you can use limes or even oranges. The flavor will be slightly different, but it will still have that punch that citrus gives to any marinade.
3. The Best Chicken Marinade
Here’s one of my favorite simple and reliable make-ahead chicken marinades. It’s tangy, savory and slightly sweet, thanks to the mix of balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard and brown sugar. Rosemary and a few other spices add just the right amount of flavor.
One thing that I love about this recipe is that it uses pantry staples that most of us have on hand all of the time. And you can easily use any type of mustard that you have in the fridge if you want.
Related: 25 Chicken Air Fryer Recipes That Will Change The Way You Meal Prep
4. Chicken Taco Marinade
If you’re a fan of chicken tacos, then you’ll love this make-ahead marinade. It’s especially tasty on grilled chicken, but I’ve also used it for pan-fried chicken breast or even shredded chicken cooked in a slow cooker.
And you’ll be amazed by how simple it is to make this marinade. You’ll need fresh lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano and some salt. Easy and delicious.
5. Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade
Who doesn’t love honey mustard chicken? I love the addition of lemon juice in this recipe because it really enhances the flavors of the honey and Dijon mustard. If you’re not a fan of Dijon, you can use any type of mustard you prefer.
I’ve used yellow mustard and really enjoyed the flavor. You may even try spicy mustard if you want to kick the heat up a notch.
6. Mexican Chicken Marinade
Looking for chicken marinade recipes for your Mexican dishes? This one is perfect for make-ahead meals. It uses fresh cilantro, lime juice, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, chili powder, brown sugar, olive oil, salt and pepper. You can use this for any type of chicken, both breasts and thighs.
Whether you’re making tacos, fajitas or just chicken with cilantro rice, this marinade will be perfect.
7. Key West Style Marinade
This marinade has a laundry list of ingredients, but I promise it will be worth it. It’s both sweet, spicy and zesty, and it works well for most chicken recipes. Along with orange juice and lime juice, you’ll need honey, soy sauce, olive oil, jalapeno, garlic, cumin and a slew of other spices. Once you’ve tried this marinade, you won’t want to try any others.
8. Balsamic Chicken Marinade
Balsamic vinegar is the perfect pair for chicken, and this recipe mixes it with brown sugar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic and Italian seasoning. This recipe is perfect for grilled chicken, but it works just as well for roasting. You can omit the brown sugar if you don’t mind the acidity of this marinade.
Use a high-quality balsamic for this recipe. It will make all the difference in the end results.
9. Teriyaki Marinade
Sometimes, simple is best, and that’s exactly what this marinade is. You’ll need just a handful of ingredients to make this classic marinade: soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, dried onion flakes, garlic and ginger.
Mix all of the ingredients together, along with some water. Marinate your chicken and enjoy. It’s simple and perfect for make-ahead meals.
Here is a great Teriyaki chicken recipe on YouTube:
10. Citrus Dijon Marinade
This zesty and fresh marinade is a staple in our house because we always have the ingredients on hand. You’ll need citrus (lime, lemon and oranges), olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and fresh oregano and thyme. Fresh herbs really make a difference, so it’s worth it to use them over their dried counterparts.
While you can use bottled citrus juice, I recommend using freshly squeezed citrus. The flavor is incomparable, but if you’re in a pinch, use whatever you have on hand.
Related: 25+ Best Chicken Meal Prep Recipes to Try This Week
11. Homemade Mediterranean Chicken Marinade
Mediterranean chicken marinade recipes have always been my favorite because they have an amazing taste and are made with so few ingredients. Fresh is always best, and you’ll need three lemons, two garlic cloves, fresh mint and oregano, fresh dill and parsley, red pepper flakes, salt and olive oil.
The recipe calls for two pounds of chicken or less, and for the best taste, marinate overnight.
12. Italian Marinated Chicken
It seems like everyone is sharing their family’s secret recipes online, and the marinated Italian chicken is always a treat and so easy to make. You’ll need six trimmed chicken breasts (one for each serving) and just under an hour and a half for this recipe.
You’ll need some red or white wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic and onion powder, dried basil and oregano, salt and pepper, crushed red peppers and lemon juice.
While you’ll be grilling the chicken first, you will need a sheet pan to bake the chicken for an additional 25 – 30 minutes.
13. Easy Indian Tandoori Chicken
Just look at the amazing color of this chicken dish. It’s bright red and delicious with an Indian flair and a marinade created using:
- Cayenne
- Yogurt
- Garam masala
You’ll need a large whisking bowl and whisk to make the marinade, but since you’ll be coating the chicken drumsticks in it, you want to be sure everything is mixed well.
Prep time is just eight minutes and cook time is thirty-five minutes, so it will take you less than an hour from start to finish to make this dish.
And the majority of ingredients are spices, such as turmeric and paprika.
14. El Pollo Loco Marinated Copycat Chicken
Copycat chicken marinade recipes are always fun to try and see if they really taste like the original or not. Healthy and easy to make, total calories are just 220, so it’s a healthier chicken recipe that takes one day to prep (it needs to marinate for a long time) and 20 minutes in total to cook.
You’ll need two pounds of thinly sliced chicken breast, along with:
- Fresh oranges (you need a ½ cup of juice)
- 2 lemons
- 2 limes
- Olive oil
- Minced garlic cloves
- Onions
- Multiple spices
And each serving has 29 grams of protein – so it’s great for anyone on a high-protein diet.
15. Sweet Chili Chicken Marinade
Super healthy and flavorful? That’s exactly what this grilled chicken dish offers. You can serve it with seasonal veggies, potato salad or even baked beans if you want a healthy side dish that pairs well with this recipe.
You’ll need chicken breasts, oil, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce and a handful of other ingredients.
A good rolling pin is a must-have to flatten the chicken before coating it with the marinade and allowing it to sit for 2 to 24 hours. Aside from letting the chicken sit in the marinade for a while, you’ll only need to cook for a total of 25 minutes.
Related: 17+ Best Leftover Chicken Recipe Ideas You’ll Make Again and Again
16. Best Hawaiian BBQ Chicken
This recipe offers a delicious taste of Hawaii, with grilled pineapple, rice, salad, a ginger marinade and BBQ chicken thighs that will be devoured at any family party. You can prep this dish hours ahead of time and you’ll only need chicken thighs and broth, brown sugar, ketchup, fresh ginger and garlic, and soy sauce.
You’ll need to let the chicken marinate for six hours before grilling, but it’s worth the time.
You can serve with anything you like:
- Rice
- Grilled pineapples
- Many others
17. Chicken Marinade with Honey and Soy Sauce
Chicken marinade is the secret to tender, delicious-tasting meat that your teeth will easily sink into. You can make this marinade with just nine ingredients, so it’s easy to cook up, but it’s still a delight for your palate.
What will you need?
- Soy sauce
- Honey
- Lime juice
- Garlic
- Oil
- Ginger
- Sriracha
- Cilantro
- Chicken thighs
Nutrition-filled, this dish has 26 grams of protein, 17 grams of carbs and 30 grams of fat, for a healthy, balanced meal that takes just 15 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
