Description

This BEST Chicken Marinade Recipe combines a balanced blend of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and aromatic spices to infuse chicken breasts with rich, tangy, and savory flavors. Perfect for grilling, this marinade tenderizes the chicken while adding a delightful depth of taste, resulting in juicy, flavorful grilled chicken that pairs well with a variety of sides.

Ingredients

Scale

Marinade Ingredients

½ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup balsamic vinegar or other vinegar
¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
⅛ cup lemon juice
¾ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard or spicy brown mustard
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder

Main Ingredient

6 chicken breasts or 3.5 lb chicken

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Instructions

Prepare Marinade: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, low sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, dried rosemary, Dijon or spicy brown mustard, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until fully combined. Reserve half a cup of this marinade separately for basting later during grilling and potential sauce preparation.
Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken breasts into a large resealable food storage bag. Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken, seal the bag tightly, and refrigerate. Allow the chicken to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 24 hours to ensure deep flavor infusion and tenderness.
Preheat Grill: When ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium-high heat to ensure proper cooking and searing of the chicken breasts.
Grill Chicken: Remove chicken from the marinade bag and place on the grill. Cook each side for about 5 to 6 minutes, basting occasionally with the reserved marinade to keep the chicken moist and flavorful. Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) for safe consumption.
Rest Chicken: Once grilled thoroughly, remove the chicken breasts from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows juices to redistribute, resulting in moist and tender meat.
Optional Sauce: Pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce until it thickens slightly. Use this reduced marinade as a delicious sauce to accompany the grilled chicken.

Notes

Marinating time can be adjusted based on schedule; longer marinating enhances flavor but 30 minutes is sufficient.
Use low sodium soy sauce to avoid excessive saltiness in the marinade.
Always discard any used marinade that has come into contact with raw chicken unless boiled thoroughly as a sauce.
Resting the chicken after grilling helps keep it juicy.
Ensure the grill is properly heated before placing chicken to prevent sticking and to sear properly.