Best Grilled Chicken Marinade
On January 16, 2024 (Updated May 11, 2024)
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If you want tender, juicy chicken that’s sweet, bright, and dripping with savory, indulgent flavor then you want my Grilled Chicken Marinade. It will turn any cut of chicken you’re grilling into an all-star dish.
Grilled Chicken Marinade
This marinade is the perfect flavor combo for grilling all kinds of chicken. It’s easy enough to whip up with pantry ingredients, and so tasty your guests will demand more. This simple marinade does it all. With bright notes from the vinegar, savory sweetness from the simple blend of seasonings, and some oomph from the garlic and Parmesan, you’ll be marinating with it in your dreams.
Marinades are a great option for quick and easy dinners when you know you’ll need it. Simply pop the chicken into the marinade in the morning and grill in the evening. And, yes, I’m biased, but I think this is the best grilled chicken marinade around.
Ingredients for Marinade for Chicken
Not only is this the best chicken marinade you’re likely to find, but it’s a breeze to make and produces tender, savory chicken every time. Here’s what you’ll need to make this chicken marinade for grilling.
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, breasts, or tenders
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 ounces shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Once you have your chicken marinade ingredients assembled, then combine them all in a gallon-sized zip-top bag and massage to mix. Add your chicken, massage the marinade in, and then place in your refrigerator. The marinade will work its magic and you can relax until it’s time to grill.
How Long to Marinate Chicken
Once you’ve your chicken soaking in your marinade and chilling in your refrigerator, you’ll want to let it marinate for 4-8 hours. You want to make sure you give your chicken a minimum of 4 hours to ensure all your herbs and spices have a chance to do their thing. If you have the time, and you want to bring out the natural flavor of your chicken while taking it to a whole other level, go for the full 8 hours. It’s no more work on your end, and your tastebuds will thank you.
Tips for Making Marinade
This marinade alone is a game-changer for your grilled chicken recipes, but I’ve got some tips to help you get the absolute best flavor in every bite of chicken.
- Start with quality. This marinade only takes a few minutes to make and uses common ingredients. That’s why I recommend going with top quality ingredients where you can. Opt for fresh cracked black pepper over that old shaker, and grate your own Parmesan.
- Double the recipe. We make this marinade and grill batches of chicken to use throughout the week as a meal prep protein. It tastes great on salads, in rice bowls, or tossed into some pasta.
- Shop on sale. This recipe works as an awesome flavor enhancer for all cuts of chicken. Buy breasts when they’re on sale, or swap for legs, wings, and thighs when you need something super economical.
How to Grill Chicken with Marinade
Now that you have the recipe for this awesome marinade, it’s time to grill up chicken so tasty it’ll bring a tear to your eye. Here’s how to prepare chicken with this killer marinade on your grill.
- Marinate. Combine the ingredients for your marinade in a gallon-sized zip-top bag and then massage to combine. Place your chicken in the marinade, remove any excess air, seal, and massage your chicken to soak in all the amazing flavors. Then, simply place in your fridge for 4-8 hours..
- Grill. Preheat your favorite grill to 450 degrees F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place the chicken directly on your grill grates. Let your chicken cook for 5-7 minutes, flip, and cook another 5-7 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Be sure to use an internal meat thermometer for this to ensure you don’t over or undercooked your chicken.
- Rest. Promptly remove the chicken from the grill and rest for 5-10 minutes. This is going to allow for all those flavorful juices to settle and ensure tender, savory goodness in every bite.
- Enjoy. Once you’ve given your chicken some time to rest, slice it up, serve alongside your favorite Hey Grill Hey sides, and dig in.
More Delicious Marinade Recipes
Marinades are a great way to infuse meats and vegetables with flavor and moisture before firing them on your grill. Check out even more of the delicious marinade recipes from Hey Grill Hey:
- Steak Marinade
- Marinated and Grilled Flank Steak
- Sweet Heat Grilled Chicken Breast Marinade
- Marinated Smoked Turkey Breast
- Grilled Shrimp Marinade
- Balsamic Grilled Chicken
- Marinated and Grilled Mushrooms
Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe
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Grilled Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast or thighs any chicken pieces will work for this recipe
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make the marinade. Combine the ingredients for the marinade in a gallon-sized zip-top bag and massage the combine thoroughly.⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 Tablespoons white wine vinegar, 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, 2 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt
- Add the chicken. Add your chicken pieces to the bag with the marinade. Press any air out of the bag and seal it tightly. Massage the marinade around the chicken breasts.2 pounds chicken breast or thighs
- Marinate. For the best results, refrigerate the marinating chicken for 4-8 hours (8 hours is optimal) before grilling.
- Preheat. Turn on the grill and preheat it to medium-high heat (around 450 degrees F).
- Grill. Remove the chicken from the marinade. Place the chicken directly on the grill, close the lid, and grill for around 5-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
- Enjoy. Remove the chicken from the grill to a serving platter. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We published this post originally in January 2023, but we recently updated it with more information, helpful tips, and new photos. The recipe remains the same.
I don’t normally post or rate recipes, but I ABSOLUTELY love this and so does my whole family. Adult and kid friendly. I don’t change a thing! I have shared this recipe with other friends and family and it’s on their favorite list a well.
This recipe sounds great. Could the marinade be whisked together in a blender to make it a bit thicker and more emulsified?
Sure!
I made this marinade tonight for chicken thighs and it was DELICIOUS! Packed with flavor and easy to prepare. Thank you!