If you’re looking for easy, healthy chicken marinades, look no further!
These ten different recipes from Cook are all refined sugar-free and Whole30, Paleo, and gluten-free friendly.
Marinated chicken is more moist and flavorful than regular old chicken, and every recipe can be used to marinate chicken breasts, thighs, legs, and wings.
Orange Cumin Chicken Marinade
This recipe has a great balance between light citrus and earthy cumin.
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 clove garlic
- pinch salt & pepper
Ginger Sesame Chicken Marinade
Inspired by Asian recipes, this is a quick and simple, ultra flavorful marinade. Coconut aminos are salty and rich, and the ginger, garlic, and green onion lend bold, lightly spicy flavors.
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos (can be substituted with soya sauce)
- 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon minced ginger
- 3 green onions sliced
- 1 clove garlic minced
Garlicky BBQ Chicken Marinade
There’s nothing more classic than bbq chicken. When you add minced garlic, it pumps up the flavor and totally makes this next level. Since bbq sauce is a vinegar-based sauce, it has the acid component of a marinade already built-in.
- 1/4 cup of store-bought BBQ sauce
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Buffalo Ranch Chicken Marinade
Spicy, buttery, zesty, and rich, buffalo ranch marinade is next level flavorful! Since buffalo sauce is made with ghee or oil, the fat component of the marinade recipe already exists.
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 3.5 Tablespoons melted ghee or butter
- 4.5 Tablespoons hot sauce
- a pinch of garlic powder and onion powder
- 2 Tablespoons ranch seasoning
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
Fajita Chicken Marinade
Lightly spicy and always a crowd-pleaser, this fajita chicken is a great complete meal when served with sautéed frozen bell peppers and cauliflower rice.
- 1.5 Tablespoons fajita seasoning use your favorite storebought or homemade fajita seasoning blend
- 3 Tablespoons lime juice
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon minced cilantro optional
Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade
This is a classic chicken marinade! With so much flavor from lots of garlic, lemon, and herbs, this chicken is a total crowd-pleaser.
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice squeezed from about 1 – 1.5 lemons
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Pesto Chicken Marinade
Pesto is such a versatile condiment, and since it’s jam-packed with garlic, lemon, and basil flavor, it’s great as a base for marinade!
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
Spicy Mango Chicken Marinade
This marinade has tropical mango and lime flavors, bright cilantro, and spicy jalapeno.
- 1 mango pureed
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon minced jalapeno
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice squeezed from about 1/2 lime
- 1 Tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
“Honey” Mustard Chicken Marinade
Mixed with grainy mustard, vinegar, and oil, it mimics the unmistakable honey mustard flavor.
- 5-6 dates minced
- 2 Tablespoons grainy mustard
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons olive or avocado oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix all marinade ingredients together in a small dish.
- Set the chicken breasts in a shallow dish or ziplock bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, then turn the chicken so it’s fully coated on all sides. Allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Cook the Chicken and enjoy!
Will you be trying any of these marinades? Comment below to let us know
10 Different recipes to choose from and its healthy what a bonus and the chicken will be moist and flavourful. My family is going to Love it. We will start with “Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade” and move our way through testing all the others.
I now know what I’m gonna cook for my girlfriend when she comes to visits. Thank You for this article.
Thank you
Mmm..they all look delicious will have to try all.
oooooh Yummy! this will definetely be awesome meals, quick and easy
Will definitely try these out plus i love chicken.
Looks so yummy…will definitely try some
my love for lemon and garlic will definitely make me try the lemon garlic tonight and thanks for sharing some days is not easy to cook without knowing what u going to cook.
Definitely trying these chicken marinates soon. I love myself a nice marinated chicken in different flavors. Thanks the article. I’ve scored myself some recipes
Me and my wife are gonna enjoy making these❤️
I will be sure to try the Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade ASAP! It’s giving yum.