Description
Chicken Marinade brings juicy, tender flavor to your dinner table with simple ingredients that make meat taste incredible. Grab some herbs, spices, and your favorite liquid base to create a quick and delicious coating that elevates ordinary chicken into something special.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Liquid Base:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
Instructions
- Grab a medium bowl and whisk together ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, ¼ cup soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce until smoothly blended.
- Add 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard and 2 minced garlic cloves. Whisk energetically until fully incorporated.
- Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes if you desire extra kick.
- Sample the marinade and adjust seasonings to your taste preference.
- Transfer 2 lbs chicken cubes into a large resealable plastic bag. Pour entire marinade over meat, massaging to ensure complete coverage.
- Seal bag tightly and refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes or maximum 8 hours. Gently flip bag every couple hours to redistribute flavors.
- For grilling, heat grill to 400F. Thread marinated chicken onto metal skewers. Cook 6-8 minutes per side until internal temperature hits 165F.
- When chicken reaches safe temperature, remove from heat and let rest 3-4 minutes to retain juices.
- Scatter fresh chopped parsley across top before serving for bright color and herbal accent.
Notes
- Customize the marinade by swapping herbs or adding your favorite spices for a personalized flavor profile.
- Use a resealable plastic bag for marinating to ensure even coating and easy cleanup.
- Avoid over-marinating chicken with acidic ingredients like lemon juice, which can make the meat tough if left too long.
- Pat chicken dry before cooking to help achieve a golden-brown exterior and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-40 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 309 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 421 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 82 mg