Name: The BEST Chicken Marinade Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup extra virgin olive oil; ½ cup balsamic vinegar or other vinegar; ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce; ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce; ⅛ cup lemon juice; ¾ cup brown sugar; 2 teaspoons dried rosemary; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard or spicy brown mustard; 1 ½ teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 6 chicken breasts (about 3.5 lb total)

Description

This BEST Chicken Marinade recipe offers a flavorful, easy-to-make marinade perfect for juicy grilled chicken breasts. Combining olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, and spices, it infuses the chicken with a tangy, slightly sweet, and savory taste. Ideal for marinating chicken before grilling, it includes a method to turn reserved marinade into a delicious basting sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

Marinade Ingredients

½ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup balsamic vinegar or other vinegar
¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
⅛ cup lemon juice
¾ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard or spicy brown mustard
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder

Main Ingredient

6 chicken breasts (about 3.5 lb total)

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Instructions

Prepare Marinade: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, dried rosemary, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until well combined. Reserve half a cup of this marinade separately to use later for basting and optional sauce.
Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 24 hours, to allow the flavors to infuse the chicken thoroughly.
Preheat Grill: When ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium-high heat to prepare for grilling the marinated chicken.
Grill Chicken: Remove chicken from the marinade and place on the preheated grill. Grill the chicken breasts for approximately 5 to 6 minutes per side, basting occasionally with the reserved marinade to keep the meat moist and enhance flavor. Cook until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Rest Chicken: After grilling, remove chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring moist and tender chicken.
Optional Sauce: Pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer until slightly reduced and thickened, ensuring the marinade is fully cooked to be safe as a sauce. Serve this sauce alongside the grilled chicken for added flavor.

Notes

Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes for flavor, but marinating up to 24 hours gives best taste and tenderness.
Ensure to discard any marinade that has touched raw chicken or boil it thoroughly before using as a sauce to avoid contamination.
Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
This marinade works well with other types of poultry or even pork chops.
If you prefer, swap balsamic vinegar for apple cider or red wine vinegar for a different flavor profile.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Grilling
Cuisine: American