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This amazing back-pocket easy chicken marinade will transform your favorite cuts of chicken for the grill, oven, or air fryer. Made with common pantry staples this will become your go-to quick marinade for tasty homemade dinners!
This easy chicken marinade is dead-simple to throw together. Well, technically, you’re going to mix or whisk it. Results would be legit awful if you just threw the ingredients at a bowl.
It’s perfect for all cuts of chicken, so use your favorites – wings, drumsticks, thighs, breasts, etc. Let’s make a batch together and consider dinner sorted.
If you’re new to working with marinades and don’t exactly know where to start, try it with our air fryer chicken thighs, oven-baked chicken drumsticks, or air fryer chicken drumsticks.
- Look for low-sodium soy sauce.
- I tested this recipe with Diamond Crystal kosher salt. If you use Morton kosher salt, only use 1/2 tsp.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- This easy chicken marinade recipe will work for up to two pounds of chicken. If you need MORE, go ahead and adjust the serving size in the printable recipe card below.
- Don’t over-marinate the chicken. You might think that letting the chicken sit in the marinade for an extended amount of time will make it extra juicy and flavorful, but after 36 hours, the protein will begin to break down, and your chicken will have an off-putting, mushy texture.
- Regardless of which cuts of chicken you use, make sure to test for doneness using an instant-read thermometer. Temp, rather than time, is the best way to make juicy and delicious chicken without drying it out.
Go-To Easy Chicken Marinade
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp kosher salt {I used Diamond Crystal}
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 3/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp brown sugar
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl whisk to combine olive oil, soy sauce, and the dry seasonings.3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1.5 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, 3/4 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp brown sugar
- Add chicken and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 36 hours.
Notes
- I tested this recipe with Diamon Crystal kosher salt. If you use Morton’s, you will only need 1/2 tsp.
- Look for low-sodium soy sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
