The ultimate guide to chicken marinade

Marinades enhance the flavour, juiciness and tenderness of your chicken. They consist of cooking oil, an acidic liquid like vinegar, wine, tomato, or citrus juice, and seasonings like garlic, molasses, honey, fresh herbs, and spices. Oils help retain moisture while cooking, acids break down protein for tender meat and seasonings enhance flavour.

Discover the secrets of perfectly marinated chicken with our techniques and tips. We'll guide you through the process to achieve perfectly marinated chicken for flavourful results every time. 

How long to marinate chicken

Learn how to make a great chicken marinade with Tasty's tutorial video. 

If you're pressed for time, here are the essential points:

• A good marinade has four key elements: fat, acid, sugar and seasoning. 
• Fat is a crucial component of any marinade. Fat is essential because it moistens the meat during cooking and holds onto any seasoning you add to the marinade. This recipe uses olive oil, but you can also use canola, sesame or coconut oil. 
• Next, we'll need acid. The acid helps cut through the fat and brightens the dish. You could use lime juice, vinegar, orange juice or mustard – this marinade contains lemon juice. 
• Then we'll add something sweet. You could use brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, agave or granulated sugar. This recipe uses honey. Sugar aids caramelisation, resulting in that beautiful brown colour.
• The last thing we need to do is add seasoning. This is an essential part of the marinade, where your creativity can shine. The seasoning process helps develop layers of flavour. You can use oregano, salt, pepper, chilli powder, red pepper flakes, curry and garlic. This recipe uses a simple garlic, lemon and pepper marinade.
• Now that your marinade is ready, it's time to add the chicken. You can use any cut – this recipe uses chicken breasts. Make sure that every part of the chicken is fully coated. Once you coat it, cover it and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes for up to 4 hours. As you cook your chicken, whether on the grill, the oven, or the stovetop, all the incredible flavours will come to life.

How to marinate chicken for grilling

Apart from the Cooking With Claudia tips, whenever you crave some great grilled chicken, you can flavor it with a specific marinade that makes the meat tender and juicy. As a base, there are several options with olive oil that you can enrich with acidic ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar. Don't forget the aromatic herbs and spices such as paprika and cumin. Combine these ingredients in a kitchen plastic bag.

Separately, prepare the chicken by making shallow cuts to allow the marinade to be absorbed, then place the meat in the marinade bag and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. The longer you let the meat marinate, the more optimal the result will be.

How to marinate chicken for frying

The marinade for fried chicken isn't different from the one used for grilled chicken. You'll need oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and also aromatic herbs like rosemary and oregano along with some spices like cumin, black pepper, and paprika. Of course, the proportions depend on personal taste.

For this type of preparation, it's also necessary to cut the chicken into equal pieces and make surface cuts. Leave the chicken completely covered by the marinade for a minimum of 30 minutes up to overnight.

Watch the video from Howcast.com to learn how to cut a whole chicken and prepare it for frying.

How to cook marinated chicken

When you're ready to cook the meat on a grill, remove the chicken from the marinade, let excess marinade drip off, and set the meat aside. Preheat the grill to a medium-high temperature, then place the meat on the grill and cook, brushing it with additional marinade prepared separately, until the internal temperature reaches 75°C. Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving.

To fry the marinated chicken, drain the meat from the marinade, then coat it in breadcrumbs or a mixture of flour and spices. Heat frying oil in a deep pan, and when it reaches the right temperature, immerse the chicken in the hot oil and let it cook until the meat inside reaches at least 75°C. Once cooked, place the chicken on paper towels, let it rest for a few minutes, then serve at the table.

Chicken marinade recipes

If you want to transform your chicken dishes into culinary masterpieces, here are a few easy and tasty chicken marinade recipes for inspiration.

For a tangy and smoky flavour, try our chicken kebabs marinated in a lime-infused barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection. Or, for a taste of the Caribbean, this Jamaican recipe offers a perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and savoury goodness. And for a tropical twist, give our honey and chilli marinated chicken wings a try, paired with a sweet and sour mango dip. Finally, indulge in the complex flavours of our Japanese-style garlic and hoisin chicken wings, finished with a savoury soy and vinegar sauce.