How long to marinate chicken for grilling

Total Time:

4 hrs 20 mins

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This top-rated grilled chicken marinade recipe ensures perfectly tender, juicy, and flavorful chicken every time.

Grilled Chicken Marinade Ingredients

You likely have everything you need for this top-rated grilled chicken marinade in your pantry. If not, here's what you'll need to add to your grocery list:

Red Wine Vinegar
This top-rated grilled chicken marinade starts with sweet, tangy, and flavorful red wine vinegar.

Oil
Aromatic olive oil infuses the meat with flavor and moisture, ensuring deliciously juicy chicken every time.

Soy Sauce
This grilled chicken marinade calls for low sodium soy sauce, which we think delivers the perfect amount of saltiness. Of course, if you like your marinade extra salty, you can use regular soy sauce.

Spices and Seasonings
This savory grilled chicken marinade calls for these earthy, herbaceous spices and seasonings: dried parsley flakes, dried basil, dried oregano, garlic powder, and ground black pepper.

How to Make Grilled Chicken Marinade

It truly couldn't be easier to make this chicken marinade: Simply mix the first eight ingredients (vinegar, soy sauce, olive oil, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic powder, and black pepper) in a bowl and pour into a zip-top bag.

Of course, you'll find the full recipe below — including step-by-step instructions for marinating and grilling the chicken.

How to Use Grilled Chicken Marinade

This recipe offers detailed instructions for marinating and grilling skinless, boneless chicken breasts. You can't ask for an easier or more delicious meal! The marinated breasts pair perfectly with just about anything, and they're the perfect choice for busy weeknights or your pickiest dinner guests.

This marinade is ideal for grilling or baking any cut of chicken. Use it for breasts, thighs, wings, or drumsticks.

No matter how you use it, it's important to discard the marinade as soon as you remove the meat (for food safety reasons, do not try to use it as a sauce or dressing).

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"I've done this twice on chicken thighs with a side of kale salad and it's been a huge hit," raves Domestic goddess. "I love how quickly I can whip it up. It makes a lovely dish with minimal work. A total win for a busy mom!"

"Great because it was tasty and super simple," according to heidi. "The second time around, I added seasoned salt, a touch more pepper, and a little green Tabasco for a little extra [flavor] — still fabulous!"

"Made this for my whole family this weekend," says JudyC. "I did not make any changes to the recipe, but I did let it marinate overnight. The chicken was really very tasty. So simple to make and so good — will definitely make it again!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar

• ¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 1 ½ teaspoons dried parsley flakes

• ½ teaspoon dried basil

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano

• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

• 5 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Whisk vinegar, soy sauce, olive oil, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic powder, and black pepper together in a bowl and pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add chicken, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator, at least 4 hours.

2. Preheat grill for medium-low heat and lightly oil the grate. Drain and discard marinade.

3. Grill chicken on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center, 4 to 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

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Editor's Note:

The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the marinade ingredients. The actual amount of the marinade consumed will vary.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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