My very BEST Grilled Chicken Marinades! Hand picked out of hundreds of chicken recipes I’ve shared over the years, these marinades are MADE for chicken cooked on the BBQ!
Get ready to see your neighbours’ faces popping over the fence when the chicken hits the grill!
BEST Grilled Chicken Marinades
There’s several hundred chicken recipes on my website. And here are my picks for the BEST Grilled Chicken Marinades for your BBQ, the marinades that are especially good for chicken cooked on the BBQ!
Are you ready?? Here we go!
Everyday Marinades
I call these my Everyday Grilled Chicken Marinades because these are the ones I make over and over again!
1. STICKY Grilled Chicken
This one’s a guaranteed hit with everyone! It tastes a bit like BBQ Sauce, a bit country style, and a whole lot of YUM! You’ll love how it’s made with pantry staples.
Ingredients: ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, sugar, olive oil
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
2. Honey Soy Chicken
Everybody’s favourite Honey Soy Chicken marinade! It does everything you expect from a marinade (tenderises, adds flavour), and gives it a lovely lacquered finish PLUS you get a glossy honey garlic sauce to smother the chicken and everything else on your plate.
Ingredients: Honey, soy, garlic (lots!), vinegar, Chinese cooking wine / sherry (secret ingredient), sesame.
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs, breast
3. My Back Pocket Chicken Marinade
This is the chicken marinade I make the most often because it’s made with pantry standbys. It tenderises, adds savoury flavour with a touch of sweet, and it’s quick to make. It’s my emergency marinade!
Ingredients: brown sugar, olive oil, soy sauce*, lemon, Worcestershire, garlic, oregano, pepper
* The secret ingredient, acts as brine and adds flavour but does not make this taste Asiany at all!
Ideal for: Brilliant for chicken breast, also great for any cut of chicken.
4. Lime Marinated Chicken
The lime flavour in this is really terrific! The key is using lime ZEST as well as juice – the zest is where most of the flavour is.
Ingredients: Fresh lime (zest and juice), garlic, soy sauce, olive oil
Great for: Especially great for breast, but will work for any cut of chicken.
Asian Chicken Marinades
Cooking over charcoal is huge all across Asia! So it’s no surprise that I have a a handful of really great Asian BBQ chicken marinades. Here are my favourites!
5. Asian Chicken Marinade
This will always be remembered as the chicken that rendered my group of girlfriends silent…. It’s sticky, sweet, savoury, garlicky, gingery and totally delicious!
Ingredients: garlic, ginger, soy sauce, ketchup (secret!), oyster sauce, Chinese cooking wine or mirin, sriracha, sesame
Ideal for: Chicken breast and boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
6. Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
Long time personal favourite, the marinade I make over and over again for gatherings with friends! The Lemongrass Marinade is so good, I guarantee you will fall in love with it too!
Ingredients: Lemongrass, lime juice, lots of garlic, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar.
Ideal for: Chicken breast and boneless thigh if making noodle bowls. Can also use for bone in chicken.
7. Thai Satay Chicken with Peanut Sauce
A satay coconut marinade infuses the chicken with flavour before cooking on the BBQ then served with the most UNBELIEVABLE Thai Peanut Sauce! Skewering is optional, the peanut sauce is not.😂 This is a fairly new recipe that’s quickly become a firm favourite among readers!
Ingredients: coconut milk, red curry paste, peanut butter, curry powder, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar
Ideal for: Boneless chicken thighs (breast also ok), bone in thighs
8. Thai Grilled Chicken (Gai Yang)
Traditional Thai Street Food – in your own backyard! The smell when this is cooking is insane.. (as in – insanely good!)
Ingredients: lemongrass, garlic, lime, chilli, fish sauce, Chinese cooking wine, sesame, sugar, honey, pepper
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
9. Southern Thai Tumeric Chicken
The lesser known but equally delicious Thai Tumeric Chicken! I was hunting for this recipe for years and years after I sampled it in Thailand….
Ingredients: garlic, fish sauce, oyster sauce, turmeric, fresh coriander/cilantro, sugar, pepper
Ideal for: Bone in thighs, also skinless boneless chicken thighs and chicken breast.
10. Thai Coconut Grilled Chicken
Thai flavours with the richness and fragrance of coconut milk…. it’s the taste of Asia! (Well, Thailand 😂)
Ingredients: garlic, ginger, chilli, lemongrass, coriander powder, tumeric, curry, sugar, fish sauce, coconut milk
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast. Can also use bone-in thigh.
11. Tandoori Chicken
All across India and neighbouring countries, Tandoori chicken is cooked not only in the traditional tandoor but also over charcoal. And it’s Amazing with a capital A!
Ingredients: yogurt, lemon, ginger, garlic, coriander, cumin, tumeric, kashmiri, chilli powder, garam masala spice mix (subs available)
Ideal for: Bone in skin on chicken (drumsticks, thighs, Marylands, butterflied / spatchcock chicken) – longer cook time required to get that gorgeous Tandoori crust.
12. Chinese BBQ Chicken (Char Siu)
The chicken version of the famous Char Siu Chinese BBQ Pork!
Ingredients: garlic, soy sauce, hoisin, oyster sauce, honey, sugar, five spice powder, sesame
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
Mediterranean & Middle Eastern
Heavily spiced marinades smell amaaaaazing when cooked on the BBQ!
13. Chicken Shawarma
One of my signature recipes, I love making this heavily spiced Middle Eastern chicken for BBQ gatherings! Easy to make spreads with flatbreads, lettuce, yogurt sauce and/or hummus, tomato, onion and spiced rice pilaf to let everyone make their own wraps or plates.
Ingredients: coriander, cumin, cardamom, cayenne, paprika, garlic, lemon
Ideal for: Chicken breast and boneless thigh
14. Greek Chicken Gyros
The marinade for this chicken is so good, I use it even when I’m not making Gyros! Yogurt is the secret ingredient – flavour carrier, tenderiser for this garlicky, oregano infused Greek chicken!
Ingredients: yogurt, garlic (LOTS!), oregano, lemon, olive oil, vinegar
Ideal for: Chicken breast and boneless thigh
15. Nando’s Copycat Peri Peri Chicken
I thought I was so clever making a copycat of Nando’s Peri Peri Sauce but it turns out, many people think they’ve cracked it too! I’m still loyal to mine though. 😂 One of my personal favourites. Make burgers or serve chicken as is!
Ingredients: fresh chilli, capsicum/bell peppers, garlic, vinegar, paprika, oregano, onion powder, sugar
Ideal for: Any cut of chicken suited to the marinade, but for burgers, skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
You’ve done the post-pub midnight run to the kebab shop. Now – make it at home! Use this to make Kebab Rolls OR plates with spiced rice.
Ingredients: yogurt, tomato paste, lemon, oil, garlic, coriander, cumin, paprika, cayenne, onion powder
Ideal for: Bones skinless chicken thighs
17. Italian Marinated Chicken
It’s basically your favourite Italian Dressing used as a Marinade to infuse and tenderise chicken with fabulous Italian flavours!
Ingredients: white wine vinegar, garlic, olive oil, mustard, sugar
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
Loaded with classic Greek flavours of lemon, garlic and dried oregano, this one is fabulous for an outdoor BBQ! Skewering not essential – try it with whole breast or thighs!
Ingredients: Lemon, garlic, oregano, olive oil
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
Mexican
19. Chicken Fajita Marinade
The secret ingredient that makes this simple Fajita marinade so good is orange juice. It injects flavour as well as brining, makes the chicken caramelise beautifully. And it doesn’t taste like oranges at all once cooked!
Ingredients: lime, orange juice (secret ingredient!), garlic, cumin, olive oil
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
20. Chipotle Marinated Mexican Grilled Chicken
Another one adapted from a Bobby Flay recipe, you’ll know just by scanning the ingredients that this is one flavour loaded marinade!
Ingredients: lime, orange juice (secret ingredient!), vinegar, garlic, chipotle, oregano, paprika, all spice, cinnamon, cayenne
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
TROPICAL!!
21. Coconut Marinated Chicken
Adapted from a Bobby Flay recipe, if you’re a coconut marinade first timer, you’re in for a lovely surprise! Coconut adds richness and injects a subtle hint of coconut flavour into chicken. Bonus: terrific coconut based serving sauce!
Ingredients: coconut milk, lime, curry powder, paprika, ginger, garlic, hot sauce
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
22. Pineapple Coconut Hawaiian Chicken Skewers
One bite of these Pineapple Coconut Hawaiian Chicken Skewers, and you’ll be doing the hula dance! The Hawaiian coconut and pineapple marinade infuses the chicken with tropical flavour as well as tenderising. Skewering not mandatory!
Ingredients: Canned pineapple, coconut milk, sugar, ketchup, lime, soy sauce, garlic, onion powder, cumin, paprika, ginger powder, cayenne
Ideal for: Skinless boneless chicken thighs are my first preference, followed by chicken breast.
23. Huli Huli Chicken Marinade (Tropical Hawaiian Chicken)
There’s just no chance you don’t do a little Hula dance as you’re grilling these….
Ingredients: Pineapple juice, ginger, garlic, ketchup, soy, brown sugar, vinegar, sherry (secret ingredient!), sesame oil
My Favourite Everyday Grilled Chicken Marinade
Here’s the recipe for my Everyday Chicken Marinade – full post is with glowing reader reviews here! It’s the chicken marinade I use the most because it does exactly what it promises – infuses chicken with flavour and tenderises – using ingredients I always have on hand. And it’s excellent grilled or cooked on the stove. Enjoy! – Nagi x
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A great Chicken Marinade (great grilled or pan seared!)
Ingredients
- 700g / 1.4 lb chicken breast, tenderloins or thigh (Note 1)
Chicken marinade (subs Note 3):
- 2 tbsp honey OR brown sugar
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or any oil)
- 5 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano (or rosemary, thyme, minced herbs)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper , ground
Garnishes (optional)
- Finely chopped parsley
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Recommended: Pound breast to even thickness using a meat pounder, rolling pin, or fist. OR cut large ones in half horizontally to form 2 cutlets (steaks) for each.
- Mix marinade in a ziplock bag (or container in which chicken fits snugly). Add chicken.
- Marinate 3 hours to overnight, though even 30 minutes is effective. (Note 2)
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, and cook chicken per times below until deep golden (see video). If browning too quickly, lower heat.
- Transfer to serving plate, cover loosely with foil and rest for 3 minutes before serving, garnished with parsley and lemon slices if desired.
Cook times:
- Whole breast and boneless thighs: 3 - 4 minutes each side (internal temp 165F/75C)
- Cutlets and tenderloin - 2 minutes each side
Recipe Notes:
- Brown sugar - sub 2 tbsp white sugar, 1.5 tbsp honey, maple syrup
- Soy - any normal, all purpose soy or light soy good here, or tamari, mushroom soy sauce. If you have sweet soy or kecap manis, skip sugar. Dark soy sauce not recommended (label will say "dark soy).
- No soy? Dissolve 1 tsp salt in 4 tbsp water, then use in place of soy sauce.
- Only got DARK soy? Use 2 tbsp then add 3/4 tsp salt and 3 tbsp water instead of 5 tbsp soy sauce.
- Lemon - sub with less sharp vinegars like cider vinegar, white wine or red wine vinegar, rice vinegar. Or 1.5 tbsp other vinegars (normal white vinegar, balsamic)
- Worcestershire - dollop of ketchup or BBQ sauce would be a decent sub there! Say 2 tbsp, then cut down sugar. HP Sauce, steak sauce or other savoury sauces also good.
- Garlic - 3 tsp from jar, or 3/4 tsp dried garlic powder good here. Also 1/4 tsp onion powder would be nice too.
- Dried herbs - anything is the go here, go with what you like. Fresh won't really work here, too delicate unless doing a short marinade. Exception - fresh rosemary is terrific, 1 tsp finely chopped.
- Breast and boneless thighs - bake 18 minutes at 425F/220C oven, or internal temperature is 165F/75C, followed by quick grill/broil on high to brown
- Drumsticks, wings and bone in thighs - 50 minutes at 180C/350F, basting with juices once or twice
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Dozer getting waaaay too close to the BBQ for my comfort! He was promptly shooed away after taking a photo 😂
PS To Aussies reading this, I don’t recommend the BBQ brand pictured below…. very uneven heat distribution. I don’t invest in BBQs because the salty air destroys them within 2 – 3 years, even though I keep them covered, wipe them down etc etc #FirstWorldProblems
Hi Nagi,
Which chicken dish was it that you had on sunrise this morning? (December 11th). It looked delicious!
Hi Nagi,
Will it work if I freeze the chicken with the marinade and thaw it whenever I need?
Wow this marinade was so nice and the chicken was so tender. Even the critics (partner and a teen) loved it. This will definitely feature on rotation from now on.
Woo hoo!! That’s great Karen! N x
Haha! Loved the non-recommendation of the BBQ. After decades of cheap BBQs from Bunnings, I purchased a Weber 4-burner BBQ. I always thought they were for tossers until I bought one. The build quality is outstanding the heat distribution perfect.