Marinated Chicken 6 Ways

The reason I keep these six marinades on rotation is simple: I hate deciding what’s for dinner at 5pm. So on Sunday I’ll grab a big pack of chicken breasts, divide them into freezer bags, and pour a different marinade over each one. By the time I need them, half the work is done and the flavor has only gotten better.

What I love about doing it this way:

The freezer does the marinating for you. Chicken frozen in marinade keeps soaking up flavor as it thaws, so a bag pulled from the freezer tastes just as good one marinated the morning of.

Six flavors, one grocery list. It’s the same chicken breast every time, so there’s no boredom and no extra shopping, just a different bag for a different night.

They fit however I’m cooking. Oven on a busy night, air fryer when I’m rushing, grill in the summer. The marinade doesn’t care how it gets cooked.

How to Marinate Chicken

1. Mix the marinade. In a bowl or zip-top bag, combine all of the marinade ingredients and stir or shake until well mixed.
2. Add the chicken. Place the chicken in the marinade and turn to fully coat.
3. Marinate. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes for quick flavor, or up to 24 hours for deeper flavor.
4. Cook or freeze. Cook the chicken right away, or freeze it in the marinade for an easy future meal.

Six Easy Chicken Marinades

Each marinade below is enough for about 2 chicken breasts, which serves roughly 2 to 4 depending on the size of your breasts and how hungry everyone is. Every one of them scales up easily if you’re feeding a crowd or prepping for the week.

1. Fresh Herbs Chicken Marinade

Bright, zesty, and herby with lemon, parsley, and cilantro. This is the one I reach for in summer when I want something light that lets the chicken taste fresh rather than heavy.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Serve with: Air Fryer Veggies, Herb Garlic Roast Potatoes, or a simple summer garden salad.

2. Jerk Chicken Marinade

Bold, a little sweet, and warm with allspice, cinnamon, and brown sugar. It brings a taste of the Caribbean to the table without any hard-to-find ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Serve with: Coconut Rice, Sweet Potato Cakes, and Steamed Broccoli or Green Beans.

3. BBQ Chicken Marinade

The reliable crowd-pleaser. Use your favorite store-bought sauce or a homemade BBQ sauce, and it’s just as good baked in the oven as it is on the grill.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4-1/2 cup favorite BBQ sauce (or whip up this homemade BBQ sauce I use for my baked BBQ chicken legs recipe)

Serve with: Corn on the Cob, Coleslaw, Twice Baked Potatoes or Summer Pasta Salad

4. Curry Chicken Marinade

Creamy, mildly spiced, and tangy from yogurt, curry, and lemon. The yogurt tenderizes the chicken while it sits, so it comes out especially juicy.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Serve with: Perfect Brown Rice or Quinoa, Roasted Cauliflower or Cauliflower Steaks, and the Cucumber Raita from this Chicken Tikka with Cucumber Mint Raita recipe.

5. Salsa Verde Chicken Marinade

Tangy, herby, and a little zippy, made with fresh salsa verde. Possibly the lowest-effort of the six, since the salsa is already doing most of the flavor work for you.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup salsa verde
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Serve with: Pressure Cooker Black Beans, Steamed Rice, and Sautéed Peppers and Onions.

6. Soy Ginger Chicken Marinade

Sweet, savory, and bright with honey, soy, sesame, and ginger. This is the one my kids ask for most!

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger

Serve with: Steamed Rice or Rice Noodles, Roasted Broccoli, and Snap Peas or Carrots.

How to Cook Marinated Chicken Breast

Oven: Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165°F. I love baking chicken because it basically cooks itself while you’re busy doing other things. In a pinch, you can bake chicken straight from frozen, just add about 50% more cooking time and make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Air Fryer: Air frying is one of my favorite ways to cook chicken breasts. Air fry at 375°F for 8–12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internally.

Grill: Set the grill to medium/high and cook chicken breasts 5-6 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.