14 Chicken Marinades That Will Add Tons of Flavor

When you're grilling chicken, there's no simpler way to add flavor and moisture to your poultry than with a simple marinade. Just dig around your pantry for a few basic ingredients (like oil, vinegar, aromatics, seasonings and salt) and you're well on your way to making your own from scratch. Once you know how to marinate chicken to perfection, all that's left is to keep riffing on the basic formula. That's where these recipes come in. They'll help you find inspiration for whatever you're cooking up, from chicken breast to thighs.

Pro tip: We like to keep chicken (marinated in this chimichurri-inspired sauce) stocked up in the freezer. During the cooler months we bake the chicken on a sheet pan—but during the summer we’re all about throwing it on the grill!

This chile and jalapeño-infused sauce adds just the right amount of heat to your chicken. A bit of brown sugar helps balance out the marinade so it’s not too spicy, and apple cider vinegar brightens it up beautifully. Make sure to let your chicken sit for at least one to two hours to let the flavors develop.

This tangy-sweet marinade combines honey with both Dijon and whole-grain mustard to give weeknight chicken a serious flavor boost in just 10 minutes of prep. It's freezer-friendly too, so you can always have a delicious dinner waiting in the wings.

This super simple BBQ marinade is a great recipe to keep in your back pocket. Ready in just ten minutes, it’s a great way to add variety to your weeknight meals by infusing chicken with flavors of cumin, paprika and brown sugar. It’s sweet, spicy, and easy to prepare in advance.

Looking for a go-to marinade made from pantry essentials? This recipe is made completely from things you can find in your spice drawer or pantry. Dried herbs add freshness, while mustard and a touch of whatever vinegar you have on hand makes it super tangy.

This five-minute marinade brings together bourbon, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar for a bold smoky-sweet coating that takes chicken to a whole new level.

This basic marinade is super simple, which makes it a great way to enhance basic weeknight chicken. Fresh herbs work their magic by infusing olive oil with bright flavor, and shallots and garlic add just a hint of heat. Make sure to marinate chicken overnight in the refrigerator for optimal flavor.

The secret ingredient in this sweet and tangy marinade is a refreshing summer staple — lemonade! A bottle of store-bought lemonade is key to delivering sweet, tart flavor, while Dijon, cumin and garlic help balance out the sweetness. The best part? You can reduce the marinade over medium heat to make a thick, tangy finishing sauce.

This simple marinade recipe couldn’t be any easier. Simply combine lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey and a bit of olive oil to create a sweet and tangy sauce that’s perfectly balanced. The lemon juice helps tenderize the chicken to yield flavorful protein that’s the perfect texture when grilled.

This easy teriyaki recipe is perfect for whipping up on a busy weeknight. Soy sauce and sesame oil are enhanced with the fiery complexity of fresh ginger, and a bit of garlic adds a bit of kick. Sesame seeds add extra flavor and a bit of crunch.

This sweet and tangy sauce serves as a marinade but also doubles as a glaze that you brush onto the chicken while it’s cooking on the grill. Red miso paste combines with orange juice and chili flakes to make something totally savory and fresh, with hints of heat. We love adding creamed honey to balance out the heat with a bit of sweetness.

Yogurt is a great way to add tangy flavor and creamy texture to chicken, and this recipe is no different. Fresh herbs — like dill, parsley and scallions — make it taste bright and herbal, while red pepper flakes add just the right amount of heat. While this recipe makes a great marinade, the recipe can also be used as a finishing sauce.

Jarred cherries might seem like an unlikely ingredient to use in a chicken recipe, but they add necessary sweetness to this one. When combined with Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar and cumin seeds this fun and flavorful marinade becomes a sweet and tangy sauce you never knew you needed. Be sure to pulse all the ingredients together in a blender first.