6 HEALTHY CHICKEN MARINADE RECIPES

If you’re a chicken lover, then try out these healthy and delicious chicken marinade recipes. Chicken marinade recipes are easy to make and aren’t time consuming either, but the result is totally worth it! We have pinned down marinade recipes from zesty citrus blends to savory herb infusions, we’ve got six different marinade recipes for you to flavor your chicken with.

Why should chicken be marinated?

Marination helps to tenderize the chicken and infuse it with flavor before it’s cooked. It also helps keep the chicken moist and helps the flavor get absorbed into the meat.

The longer you marinate chicken the better it is. Marination can be from 3 to 4 hours, even up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. You can cook the chicken in a slow cooker, instant pot, air fryer, grill, or in the oven.

Here are 6 chicken marinade recipes below:

1. Mustard and Honey Chicken Marinade

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lb. chicken 
• 2 tablespoons honey or 5-6 dates minced
• 2 tablespoons grainy mustard
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

RECIPE :

Into a mixing bowl, add in the honey or finely minced dates, oil, lemon juice, mustard paste, chopped garlic, salt and pepper powder and give it a mix. Then add in the pieces of chicken and mix well until all the pieces are well coated in the marinade.

Place in the refrigerator and marinade for at least 3 to 4 hours before the dish is made. You can keep the chicken at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. Add the chicken and marinade to the slow cooker, instant pot, air fryer, grill, or cook it in the oven.

2. Barbecue Chicken Marinade

Ingredients:

• 1 – 1.5 lbs. chicken
• ¼ cup barbecue sauce
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced

Recipe :

Into a mixing bowl, add in all the ingredients and give it a mix. Then add in the pieces of chicken and mix well until all the pieces are well coated in the marinade.

Place in the refrigerator and marinade for at least 3 to 4 hours before the dish is made. You can keep the chicken at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.

3. Curry Chicken Marinade

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt

Method:

Into a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients and give it a mix. Then add in the pieces of chicken and mix well until all the pieces are well coated in the marinade.

Place in the refrigerator and marinade for at least 3 to 4 hours before the dish is made. You can keep the chicken at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.

4. Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs. chicken thighs or breast
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp minced cilantro leaves
• 1 tsp each of salt and pepper
• 2 garlic clove minced
• 1 tbsp lemon zest ( optional)

Method:

Into a mixing bowl, add in the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper flakes and give it a mix.

Then add in the pieces of chicken and mix well until all the pieces are well coated in the marinade.

Place in the refrigerator and marinade for at least 3 to 4 hours before the dish is made. You can keep the chicken at room temperature for 30 minutes – 24 hours before cooking.

5. Pesto Chicken Marinade

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
• 2 tablespoon basil (fresh, chopped or basil paste)
• 2 tablespoon pine nuts or cashew or almonds
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
• ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper

Method:

In the bowl of a blender, add all the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Pour the marinade into a bowl, add in the pieces of chicken and mix well until all the pieces are well coated in the marinade.

Place in the refrigerator and marinade for at least 3 to 4 hours before the dish is made. You can keep the chicken at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. You can cook the chicken in a slow cooker, instant pot, air fryer, grill, or in the oven.

6. Teriyaki Soy Chicken Marinade

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 – 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
• ½ tsp pepper powder
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup oil
• 1 tsp flour
• 1 tbsp chopped garlic
• 1 tsp ginger paste

Method:

Into a mixing bowl, add in the soy sauce, pepper, salt, honey, oil, flour, chopped garlic and ginger paste and give it a mix. Then add in the pieces of chicken and mix well until all the pieces are well coated in the marinade.

Place in the refrigerator and marinade for at least 3 to 4 hours before the dish is made. You can keep the chicken at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.