Ultimate Zesty & Juicy Grilled Chicken Marinade
This recipe provides a quick and flavorful marinade that keeps chicken tender and moist when grilled, baked, or pan-seared.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until fully combined.
- Place 1.5 pounds of chicken pieces (breasts or thighs) into a large resealable plastic bag or shallow dish.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for maximum flavor. Do not marinate longer than 4 hours due to the lemon juice content.
- Remove chicken from the marinade, discard the excess liquid, and cook using your preferred method (grill, bake, or pan-sear) until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Notes
- For meal prep, you can prepare this marinade up to 5 days ahead and store it in the refrigerator.
- If you plan to bake the chicken, place it on a foil-lined baking sheet for easy cleanup.
- This marinade works well for pork tenderloin or firm tofu as well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz raw chicken coated
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 13
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 80