Easy Chicken Marinades! The best and easiest way to ensure you have tasty, juicy chicken breasts! I hope you try one of these marinades! I include cooking instructions on the recipe card below! Enjoy!
Who loves a good marinade? They are so incredibly easy to make so you have to try one of these the next time you have some chicken breast!
I have always preferred chicken thigh meat over chicken breast because it’s more tender and flavorful. “Both chicken thighs and breasts are good sources of lean protein. However, they differ in the amount of calories, fat and saturated fat. For example, a 3-ounce skinless, chicken breast provides about 140 calories, 3 grams of total fat and just 1 gram of saturated fat.
The same amount of dark chicken meat without the skin would provide three times the amount of fat for a total of 9 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat and 170 calories. This difference may not seem like much, but depending on the portion size it can add up.”
Easy Chicken Marinades
So, how can we make those chicken breasts more tender and flavorful? MARINADES!
Just grab your large zip top bags, or even a shallow baking dish, and go at it. Here are two recipes that I use and love. The flavor is delicious and incredibly juicy. If you want some heat, try this one.
More Chicken Recipes
Easy Chicken Marinades
Ingredients
Italian inspired Chicken Marinade:
- 1/4 cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 to 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 1 to 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh or dry basil chopped
- 1 pinch kosher salt
For the Dijon Lemon Marinade:
- 1/4 cup olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 to 2 cloves fresh garlic sliced or smashed
- salt and pepper
- lemon slices optional
Instructions
- Add your chicken breast into a large gallon sized zip top bag and pour ingredients into the bag and mix around/massage with your hands from the outside. Alternatively, you can mix together the marinade ingredients in the bag first and then carefully place your chicken breast inside. For the Dijon Lemon Marinade, place the lemon slices on top of the chicken and close and seal the bag closed, ensuring as much air has been released from the bag.
- Place into the refrigerator for at least 1 to 3 hours, or overnight. Overnight is best! Grill, pan fry, or air fry and enjoy!
- Pan Frying instructions: Using a pan over high heat, add 1 tablespoon of avocado or olive oil. After 1 minute, add your marinated chicken breasts and cover the pan with a lid. I let the chicken cook for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side; longer if your chicken breasts are thicker. So, let the chicken cook, flip the chicken, cover with lid and let the chicken cook some more. Your chicken is ready when it registers 165 F with an instant read thermometer in the thickest part of the breast. Remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes before slicing or chopping. Enjoy in a salad, in a wrap, in a sandwich. . whatever you want!
- Air Fryer instructions: Air fry at 360° for anywhere from 6 to 9 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breast (see below). Then flip the chicken breast over and air fry for another 6 to 9 minutes. Larger chicken breasts need more cook time, and smaller ones need less time. Follow this guide: 4-5 oz breasts will take about 10 to 12 minutes, 6-8 oz breasts will take 13 to 15 minutes, and 9-12 oz breasts could take 16 to 20 minutes — or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees as measured by an instant read thermometer.
