Grilled Chicken Marinade
Tired of flavorless, dry, and tough chicken? Then let your raw chicken marinate in this easy grilled chicken marinade before cooking. Each piece of chicken will soak in the delicious flavors of this honey based sauce, and turn out moist and flavorful after it's cooked!
This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links support A Joyfully Mad Kitchen at no additional cost to you. I receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase through these links.
Before I learned how amazing marinated chicken was, I always thought it was just an unnecessary extra step in the cooking process. But, now I almost don't grill chicken without it! I especially don't like to grill chicken that hasn't sat in a marinade.
This grilled chicken marinade is so easy to make and truly creates the most tender and juicy chicken. The key is making sure you have even size pieces of chicken breasts so they grill evenly (more on that below!).
Shop My Favorite Grilling Tools
I love to throw some chicken into this marinade and let it do it's magic. Then I cook it on the grill and serve it over a bed of crunchy fresh lettuce like this grilled chicken salad.
And yes! You can use this marinade even if you don't have a grill. Just cook the chicken over medium-high heat with any method you want and it will turn out perfect.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
Trust me, marinating chicken is the way to go. Once you try it, you'll see what all the hype is about! It's great for meal prep or if you have dietary restrictions where store bought sauces aren't ideal. Plus the ingredients are simple pantry staples!
Chicken Marinade Ingredients
These key ingredients are all you need to make this easy honey mustard chicken marinade:
- honey
- lemon juice
- white wine vinegar
- dijon mustard
- olive oil (substitute avocado oil if needed)
- salt
- dried rosemary
How to Make Grilled Chicken Marinade
Making a marinade is super simple! Grab a small bowl or a large glass measuring cup and whisk together the wet ingredients first. Then you'll add the spices and whisk again. You'll want the ingredients to be totally mixed together.
How to Marinate Chicken
Then use the marinade for boneless skinless chicken breast or boneless chicken thighs! You'll want to first make sure your chicken breast is even. With thicker pieces, I like to cut through the center of the chicken breast horizontally to create two more even pieces.
You can also pound the chicken breast with a meat mallet if you'd like. This will help ensure the chicken stay juicy and tender after it's cooked.
Place the chicken into a large mixing bowl then allow it to marinate in the fridge for 1 to 24 hours.
Don't do more than that, or the citrus in the vinaigrette will begin to turn the meat. You can, however, prepare the marinade ahead of time and only add the chicken to it when you are ready to start the marinating process.
Grilling Marinated Chicken
Ready to grill?! Me too. Let's get started.
Once you've reached your desired marinating time, preheat the grill to 400°F (20°C) Fahrenheit.
Then place the marinated chicken onto the hot grill and use a basting brush to coat each piece in marinade that is leftover in the bottom of the bowl.
Grill chicken for about 3 minutes then flip and continue cooking for 4-5 more minutes. Use an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temp of each piece of chicken.
Once the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), pull the chicken off of the grill. Let it rest for 5 minutes then slice and serve!
How to Store Grilled Chicken Marinade
Place leftover chicken pieces into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze this tender and moist chicken for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight before reheating.
Store this great marinade in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the fridge for a couple of weeks. Give it a good shake before using it as a marinade or a salad dressing.
Uses for Grilled Chicken Marinade
Not only can you marinate chicken in this, you can use it as a salad dressing. Grilled chicken salad is a tasty way to include both uses in one dish! Or, drizzle it on top of a strawberry spinach salad.
Feel free to use this marinade on any type of chicken you want; chicken wings, chicken legs, chicken thighs, tenders, chicken breast, even a whole chicken.
Don't forget to serve your yummy chicken with an easy side dish like fruit salad, roasted potatoes, or pasta salad.
Tips for Success
- Don't have a grill? Cook this tasty chicken in a skillet, casserole dish, air fryer, or any of your other favorite cooking methods.
- The longer you marinate, the more layers of flavor the chicken will have. One hour is the recommended minimum, but I highly encourage you to let it sit longer.
- Since this is a honey and citrus based marinade, keep an eye on the grill while the chicken is cooking. There is a possibility for some flare-ups and you don't want the chicken to burn!
Did you make this recipe?
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Grilled Chicken Marinade
Equipment
Ingredients
Marinade
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons white wine vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
Grilled Chicken
- 1 to 1.5 pounds boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup chicken marinade from recipe above
Instructions
Make the marinade
- Add 3 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 1 ½ teaspoons white wine vinegar to a mixing bowl and combine.
- Then add 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard, ½ cup olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary to the bowl and whisk until combined.
- Use immediately or store for later.
Marinate the chicken
- Reduce the thickness of the 1 to 1.5 pounds boneless chicken breasts to ½ inch thickness by slicing them in half or using a meat mallet. This will help ensure the chicken cooks easily and stays juicy and tender after it's cooked.)
- Place the chicken into a large mixing bowl and pour 1 cup chicken marinade over it. Allow it to marinate in the fridge for 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Don't exceed 24 hours or the lemon juice will start to break down the chicken fibers.
Grill the chicken
- Once you've reached your desired marinating time, preheat the grill to 400°F (20°C) Fahrenheit.
- Then place the marinated chicken onto the hot grill and use a basting brush to coat each piece in marinade that is leftover in the bottom of the bowl.
- Grill chicken for about 3 minutes, then flip and continue cooking for 4-5 more minutes. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temp of each piece of chicken.
- Once the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), pull the chicken off of the grill. Let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve!
Nutrition
More Marinade Recipes
- Chicken Fajita Marinade
- Lemon Chicken Marinade
- Grilled Shrimp Marinade
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
FAQ
Marinades are typically made from three different basic ingredients. A successful marinade will have an acid (like vinegar), an oil, and then finished with spices. So, a good base for a marinade would be any variation of these ingredient!
It is not necessary to poke holes in the chicken before marinating it, but it's also not a bad thing to do! Using a fork or knife to poke some holes into the chicken will just help get the marinade deeper into the chicken. If you'd like the flavor to seep into more layers, then poke a couple holes in the chicken before seasoning it or placing it into marinade.
My friends call me Mad and you can too. Here you'll find easy, wholesome recipes, and designed to share with those you love.
