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Raw chicken pieces in a glossy chicken marinade with herbs and garlic

The Best Chicken Marinade

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 290
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 0.33 cup olive oil
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice about 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 2 lb chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks

Method
 

  1. Whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, garlic, paprika, oregano, and black pepper in a bowl.
  2. Place the chicken in a zip-top bag or dish and pour the marinade over it, turning to coat.
  3. Marinate in the fridge at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours for the best flavor.
  4. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the used marinade.
  5. Grill, bake, or pan-cook until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, then rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

This base marinade is endlessly adaptable: add ginger and sesame for an Asian version, cumin and chili for a Mexican version, or yogurt for a tender Greek version. Always discard used marinade that touched raw meat.