The BEST 5 Flavorful Chicken Marinades for Grilling

5 Best Chicken Marinades for the Grill

One of the most-asked questions I receive on my blog and on social media is: “Do you have any great marinades you use for chicken?” And the answer is, yes! If you’ve ever wondered how to get flavorful grilled teriyaki chicken, cilantro lime chicken, or balsamic chicken kabobs, you’re in luck. Today, I am sharing 5 of my favorite chicken marinades for grilling. I use them mostly on chicken, but you could definitely try them on more proteins like steak or vegetables if you’d like.

These marinade recipes have been tested, re-tested, and approved as the best grilled chicken marinades around. I’ve included my teriyaki marinade, honey sriracha marinade, sweet balsamic, cilantro lime, and Greek marinades. I can’t wait to get grilling. And if you need detailed grilling tips, check out my guide on how to grill chicken breasts and how to grill chicken thighs.

The Secret to a Good Marinade

All great grilling marinades come down to a combination of 5 key flavor profiles:

1. Acid: Acidity, as you’ll find in vinegar and citrus juice, helps tenderize the meat.
2. Aromatics: Herbs, seasonings, etc., to build the flavor that will infuse the chicken.
3. Fat: For example, olive oil helps coat the chicken and helps it sear on the grill.
4. Sweet: A squeeze of honey or another sweetener to balance the flavors.
5. Savory: Umami-rich ingredients like soy sauce, tamari, Worcestershire sauce, and others help deepen the flavor.

Each one of the chicken marinades below has a tangy, sweet, acidic, aromatic, and savory component. It’s essential to include all of them when creating a flavorful marinade! If you want to build the flavors even further, try one of my easy chicken dry rubs before the marinade.

Teriyaki Marinade

This is my gluten-free teriyaki chicken marinade that’s sweet, salty, and slightly tangy from the rice wine vinegar. Add your leftover grilled chicken to these meal-prep-friendly teriyaki chicken bowls.

• Tamari – You could use soy sauce if you’re not making the marinade gluten-free.
• Brown Sugar and Honey – I use both, but feel free to use all of one or the other if needed.
• Rice Wine Vinegar – White wine vinegar or white vinegar is a good substitute.
• Sesame Oil – There really isn’t a substitute for the flavor of sesame oil in recipes. In a pinch, you can try tahini paste.
• Garlic – Freshly minced. If you don’t have fresh garlic, substitute 1 teaspoon minced with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Ginger – You can use fresh ginger instead of ground if you’d like. I also add black pepper to my marinade, but I skip the salt since there’s already tamari in the recipe.
• Sesame Seeds – Optional. They can be plain or toasted.

Honey Sriracha Marinade

If you like heat, then this sweet and spicy honey sriracha marinade is right up your alley. Made with honey, sriracha, and spices, it has the perfect Asian twist with a punch of spice! I love it on my honey sriracha grilled chicken thighs. This marinade is also delicious on grilled shrimp!

• Honey – It’s in the name, but if you don’t have honey, you can replace it with brown sugar.
• Olive Oil – Or your choice of cooking oil.
• Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed lime will have the best flavor, but bottled lime juice also works. Substitute lemon juice if needed.
• Sriracha – Feel free to adjust the amount to taste. Any hot chili sauce is fine to use.
• Seasonings – Ground ginger, smoked paprika, and ground cloves.
• Garlic – Again, you can use fresh garlic or garlic powder.

Sweet Balsamic Marinade

Next up is one of my most-used marinades. I call it my best grilled chicken marinade for a reason! This balsamic sauce has simple ingredients but packs big flavor. Use it to marinate the chicken in my grilled Caprese chicken or balsamic grilled chicken recipes.

• Balsamic Vinegar – Choose a good-quality Balsamic vinegar of Modena if you can.
• Olive Oil – Or any oil.
• Dijon Mustard – You can substitute Dijon with yellow or hot brown mustard if you want.
• Fresh Herbs – I use fresh thyme and chopped rosemary along with garlic, salt, and pepper. You can add in any Italian herbs you’d like, including oregano, basil, etc.

Cilantro Lime Marinade

A simple yet fresh cilantro lime marinade to brighten up your chicken and tenderize it at the same time. Made with lime juice, fresh cilantro, garlic, and cumin for a Tex-Mex spin. I especially love the grilled cilantro chicken in chicken tacos!

• Lime Juice – Fresh is best, but bottled works here, too.
• Oil – Olive oil or avocado oil both work well.
• Cilantro – If you really aren’t a fan of cilantro, swap it for fresh parsley instead.
• Seasonings – Cumin, salt, and a fresh garlic clove.

Greek Marinade

This is a zesty Greek chicken marinade filled with herbs for a tangy herbaceous punch you’ll love. Use it to marinate chicken to use in my Greek chicken bowls or this Greek salad.

• Garlic – Try to use fresh garlic, though pre-minced or powder is fine in a pinch.
• Herbs – Fresh or dried oregano and basil. If you’re using fresh herbs, you’ll need three times the amount as dried.
• Red Wine Vinegar and Olive Oil – Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar are also good options. A good quality olive oil really shines in this Mediterranean marinade.

How to Marinate Chicken

No matter which marinade you choose, the method to marinate the chicken is the same. Refer to the printable recipe card for the exact measurements for each marinade along with directions.

• Make the marinade. For each of the marinade recipes above, whisk together the ingredients.
• Combine with the chicken. Add your chosen marinade to a resealable freezer bag, then add your chicken. Seal the bag and toss the chicken around to make sure every inch is coated with the marinade. You don’t want only one side of the chicken getting all the flavor!
• Refrigerate. Place the bag with the chicken and marinade in the fridge. Leave it to marinate.

How Long Do You Marinate Chicken?

When marinating anything, the general rule is to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes, but overnight is always better. Here’s a quick guide:

• For a slow marinade: Leave the chicken in the marinade for 2-4 hours, or overnight.
• For a faster marinade: Score the meat before marinating. Doing so helps the marinade penetrate deeper. Just prick the surface of the chicken a few times with a fork or a knife before adding it to the marinade. Marinate for 30 minutes for a fast marinade.

Chicken Marinating FAQs

How to Freeze Chicken in Marinade

Honestly, one of many wonderful things about marinating chicken is that these grilling marinades freeze well. I made all 5 of these marinades in one day and froze 3 of them along with the chicken for later! Here’s how you do it:

1. Combine and seal. Add chicken to a freezer-safe storage bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Remove all the air from the bag and seal it. Using your hands, move the chicken around to make sure they are all coated. Label the container with the contents and date.
2. Freeze. Place the storage bag in the freezer, and try to arrange the freezer so that the bag is as flat as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months.
3. To thaw: Remove the bag from the freezer and thaw on a plate in the refrigerator overnight. After it’s thawed, remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade.