The BEST Grilled Chicken Marinade

The BEST Grilled Chicken Marinade recipe ever! This marinade makes chicken breasts so flavorful and incredibly moist. You’ll love how easy it is to make!

THE BEST GRILLED CHICKEN MARINADE RECIPE

I love this chicken marinade! I promise that you will say goodbye to dry, bland grilled chicken! Chicken breasts are a great light lunch or dinner with any side dish. Sometimes I like to grill extra chicken breasts to use throughout my week in different recipes. They’re delicious sliced and topped on leafy or grain salads, cubed or sliced for pasta dishes, shredded for soups or tacos, or layered in quesadillas. You and your family will love all these options!

THE PURPOSE OF MARINATING

Marinating adds so much flavor and tenderizes grilled meats. An acid, such as, citrus fruit juice or vinegar is essential for the tenderizing process. While marinating meat, it begins the process of cooking by allowing fluids and seasonings to enter the meat so the meat will maintain moisture while grilling.

Marinades are important when grilling meats because of the high, intense heat from the grill. An acidic marinade can help reduce the formation of harmful chemicals that can be formed during grilling. Poultry can quickly dry out on the grill and benefit from being marinated to retain moisture and tenderness.

MARINATE SAFELY (IMPORTANT!)

Marinating raw meat may contain harmful bacteria and might contaminate the marinade. If you want to brush the meat with the marinade during and after grilling, set aside some of the marinade in a separate small bowl that will not touch the raw meat. Discard the marinade that has had the raw meat in it. The best containers for marinating meat are glass bowls or ziploc (food safe) plastic bags. Do not use pottery glazed bowls or metal (unless food safe) because they can react with the acids in the marinade.

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THE BEST GRILLED CHICKEN MARINADE

• Skinless, boneless or bone-in chicken breasts or skinless, boneless or bone-in chicken thighs, or chicken tenders
• Olive oil
• Fresh lemon juice
• Soy sauce
• Balsamic vinegar
• Worcestershire sauce
• Brown sugar
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Ground Black Pepper

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST GRILLED CHICKEN MARINADE

• In a bowl large enough to marinate the chicken breasts, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Add the chicken breasts and cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap.
• Marinate the chicken for 1 hour or up to 4 hours.

• Preheat the grill to medium heat, then brush the grates with oil or use a grill non-stick spray.
• Place the chicken on the grill and cook for about 5-6 minutes on each side.
• Using a meat thermometer, cook to 165°F.
• Remove chicken breasts from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before cutting.

NOTE

• Optional: If you want to brush the meat during and/or after grilling, set 1 cup of the marinade aside that will NOT be touched with raw chicken.