These 5 easy chicken marinade recipes are freezer-friendly, effortless to prepare, and totally delicious! These are the perfect chicken marinades for meal prepping, grilling, panfrying, Instant Pot, and more!
click here to pin this chicken marinade post for later!
Easy Chicken Marinades
If you’ve been hanging around my blog for a while, you’d notice that chicken is a staple in my household. A majority of my meal preps revolve around chicken – it’s affordable, accessible, and a great source of protein. However, chicken can sometimes get boring when eating it the same way daily so I’m always trying to find ways to add variety to my chicken recipes. This is why I love marinading chicken as it gives it a punch of flavour and helps keep it moist when cooking.
These 5 chicken breast marinades are a follow up to my first freezer friendly chicken marinade post where I shared 7 of my go-to easy freezer friendly chicken marinades because you can never have too many chicken marinades in your life. Gotta keep our chicken exciting!
THE MARINADE FORMULA: MEAT + MARINADE + COOK = FLAVOUR BOMB
So how does this whole chicken marinating thing work? You pick your cut of meat (chicken breast – whole or diced, thighs, wings, drumsticks, etc), you pick your marinade (I’d like to think that mine are the best chicken marinades out there), and then you cook it! These are the perfect chicken marinades for meal prepping, grilling, panfrying, Instant Pot, and more!
HOW TO COOK THESE FREEZER FRIENDLY CHICKEN MARINADES
I bake mine in parchment paper to seal in the flavour and moisture. I make a little envelope by folding the parchment paper in half and then folding the edges in like I do with my freezer friendly beef empanadas (video instructions on folding empanadas can be found there)!
Tips on making the perfect chicken marinades/using the marinades
- If you are cooking these chicken marinades in the Instant Pot, please remember to add extra liquid so the IP can come up to pressure
- Do NOT reuse the marinade used on raw chicken unless it has been boiled first. Boiling the used marinade first should destroy any harmful bacteria if you really want to re-use the marinade. If you would like to use the marinade as a baste while cooking, I really recommend setting aside a portion of the marinade to use later before putting raw chicken into it. As someone who washes her hands religiously when cooking with chicken, it’s better to err on the side of caution than be sick!
- Always thaw chicken properly. It can be tempting as it may be to try and “quick-thaw” frozen chicken, food safety guidelines recommend that you always thaw steak slowly in the refrigerator. (Plus if you’re using yogurt in the marinade, quick thawing will split the yogurt)
- How do you avoid freezer burn on the make ahead chicken marinades? Get all the air out of your ziploc bags – I press out to make sure that all the air is pushed out.
THE TOOLS TO PREP FOR FREEZER FRIENDLY CHICKEN MARINADES
- Ziploc Freezer Quart Bags or (silicone ones if you prefer)
- Tongs
- Pyrex Simply Store 11 cup Food Storage Dish (to store in the freezer)
- Bag Holders (makes it easier to put your marinade and chicken in without letting the raw chicken touch the seal of the ziploc bag. alternatively, fold the top half of the bag inside out.)
- Sharpie (please mark the dates on the bag!)
- Glass meal prep containers (afterwards to bring the chicken to work)
- Instant read meat thermometer (chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 74°C/165°F )
Easy Chicken Marinades
1. Rosemary Citrus
This Rosemary Citrus chicken marinade is so light and the acid gives it such a fresh flavour. Made with a combination of lemon, lime, orange juice, and rosemary, you’re going to want to drink it up! This marinade is great with chicken thighs as well. I’m not on a Whole30 diet but I’m pretty sure this marinade is Whole30 approved as well! This Rosemary Citrus Chicken so simple but flavourful, I’d keep the accompaniments also simple as well to not overpower the chicken: roasted potatoes (you could cook them in the roasting pan with the chicken), salad, roasted root vegetables.
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoon orange juice
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 3 tablespoon rosemary
- pinch of salt
2. Chipotle Lime
There’s sweetness, there’s tangy-ness, there’s smokey-ness, and there’s deliciousness! This Chipotle Lime Chicken has it all! I made a similar recipe on the blog (chipotle copycat) so click on over if you’re looking for 4 different ways to serve up this chicken! This Chipotle Lime Chicken is also great for tacos or a burrito as well.
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup chicken stock or water
- pinch of salt
- 2 clove garlic minced
- 1 lime juiced
- 93 mL adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers (I used half of the can shown above. More if you want more adobo flava flav)
- 1 chipotle pepper
3. Greek
I am obsessed with this Greek Chicken Marinade. The Greek yogurt makes the chicken so tender. The acid from the lemon also helps break down the chicken breast as well and adds a tang to the chicken. Click here to see how I make this Greek Chicken a whole meal prep. Here’s a similar recipe where I make Greek Chicken Meal Prep in an Instant Pot if you want to see how to make this and rice at the same time in one pot! Do NOT quick thaw this marinade to avoid the yogurt in the marinade splitting.
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 lemons, juiced
- zest of one lemon
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- pinch of salt and pepper
4. Vietnamese
This Vietnamese Chicken is amazing on the grill. It’s packed with flavour thanks to the soy sauce paste paired with the lemongrass (which tastes like mix of lemon and lemon mint). Skip the takeout and make this chicken instead! Check out this blog post to see how I grilled this Vietnamese Chicken and see how to make the quick pickled carrots that it is usually served with in restaurants.
- 2-3 tablespoon lemongrass, sliced
- 1 shallot, minced
- ⅓ cup soy sauce paste
- 1 garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon oil
5. Lemon Paprika
I feel like at this point you know how much I love lemon. I also loooove paprika on my chicken so I thought why not combine it? This Lemon Paprika Chicken is the easiest of the 5 marinades here to make as the ingredients are very likely already in your kitchen pantry.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 garlic
- pinch of salt and pepper
- pinch of lemon zest
5 Easy Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast, per marinade
ROSEMARY CITRUS
CHIPOTLE LIME
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup chicken stock or water
- pinch of salt
- 2 clove garlic minced
- 1 lime juiced
- 93 mL adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers, I used half of the can shown above. More if you want more adobo flava flav
- 1 chipotle pepper
GREEK
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 lemons, juiced
- zest of one lemon
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- pinch of salt and pepper
VIETNAMESE
- 2-3 tablespoon lemongrass, sliced
- 1 shallot, minced
- ⅓ cup soy sauce paste
- 1 garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon oil
LEMON PAPRIKA
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 garlic
- pinch of salt and pepper
- pinch of lemon zest
Instructions
- Whisk together the ingredients for (one) marinade in a small bowl until combined.
- Combine the marinade with the chicken in a ziplock freezer bag, and toss until the chicken is evenly coated in the marinade. Carefully press out the extra air in the bag before sealing.
If Freezing
- Immediately transfer the chicken pack(s) to the freezer, and freeze laying flat for up to 3 months. Then when you’re ready to cook the chicken, transfer the chicken pack back to the refrigerator for 24 hours, or until it has thawed completely.
If Using Immediately
- Refrigerate the chicken for anywhere from 30 minutes to up to 1 day to marinate.
Baking
- Heat oven to 425°F. Add chicken and marinade to a small baking dish. Bake chicken for 25-30 minutes.
Instant Pot
- Place the chicken into the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water (or broth) and pressure cook for 8-9 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken breast, 6 minutes per pound of chicken) and then Quick Release when done.
- Optional: After removing the chicken from the Instant Pot, press sauté, add a tbsp of cornstarch or heavy cream to thicken the liquid leftover in the pot to make it into a sauce! This does not work with the greek chicken though.
- Note: be sure to shake off the marinade for the greek chicken (the yogurt) before placing it in the IP with the 1 cup liquid.
Grilling
- Heat grill to medium-high. Grill for 18 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, until it is cooked through (165°F)
RESOURCES AND TIPS FOR MEAL PREPPING
- How To Cook Chicken Breasts Perfectly
- What Is An Instant Pot
- Tips To Help You Meal Prep For The Week Successfully
- Tips for Meal Prepping on a Budget
- 7 Freezer Friendly Chicken Marinades
Want more simple meal prep recipes? Check these out!
- Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken with Veggies
- Sheet Pan Chicken Teriyaki with Veggies and Pineapple Meal Prep
- Sweet and Spicy Chicken Thighs with Brussels SproutsSheet Pan
- Hoisin Sriracha Meatball Meal Prep
- Easy Hoisin Glazed Salmon Meal Prep (no reheating needed)
Other places to connect with me
Instagram: @carmyshungry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmyycom
Email: [email protected]
Vlogs/Recipe Videos: Youtube
Sarah says
You are amazing with all of your meal prep ideas! This is so, so smart– I love that you can even just put it in the freezer.
And all of your sauces sounds DELICIOUS! Meanwhile, I have no idea what’s for dinner tonight oops. I need to plan ahead for the rest of the week!
Melissa says
We eat a ton of chicken in our house! Always looking for new marinades to change it up. I’m not sure which I want to try first.
Lisa says
It’s like you peeked into my freezer and saw the 8 packages of chicken breasts… How did you know? Each of these easy marinades will be making an appearance on our dinner table, but I have to say, I’m really partial to the chipotle lime. I’m going to try that one first. I think it would fantastic if we grilled the chicken and sliced it over a good salad. Easy and healthy!
Tina says
We love chicken at our house, and these marinades sound delicious and flavorful. The tip for baking in parchment paper is just genius! I think I will have to one of each, please!
Debra says
This is a fabulous idea! Each of these marinades has a totally different flavor profile, so you’d never get bored! I love how easy it is during the week when you’re so busy to grab from the freezer the night before and then have a simple dinner ready for the grill when you get home from work. Genius. Thanks for sharing with all the tips for success.
Dana says
It is SO useful to have marinades like this in mind! There’s nothing worse than wanting to prep dinner on a whim and trying to figure out a marinade with whatever mumbo jumbo is in your fridge. I mean sure, anything works, but to have legit blends like this makes a huge difference. I want to try them all!
Marisa Franca says
This is a fantastic collection of marinades. I agree that marinating chicken really gives it a lot of taste that they wouldn’t get normally with just ordinary seasoning. We eat lots of chicken so these marinades will come in handy.
Amanda says
I love how you always keep chicken dinners so fresh and vibrant, Carmy! I so often have a tendency to make the same weeknight chicken dishes over and over, out of convenience at the end of a long day, and then we start getting bored. These marinades sound like the perfect trick to a winning chicken dinner. Love the sound of the Vietnamese one especially!
Dani says
I tried the Vietnamese marinade and it was the perfect easy marinade. It was a delicious and I can’t wait to try the rest of these easy chicken marinades.
Betty says
Easy chicken marinade indeed! I have them in my freezer now after a meal prep session today. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be trying the other 7 next.
Julia says
That Greek one is calling my name! Love all the different flavours and ideas. I am usually stuck with the simple lemon and garlic so I love all the flavour variations that you created. Thank you!
Elaine Benoit says
I would make and try each of these chicken marinades. They look easy and delicious! I love the tips you outlined and now I have to figure out which one I’ll try first. Probably the Mexican chipotle and lime one! :)
Kelly Anthony says
I love that I can cook these easy chicken marinades different ways depending on how much time I have that day. This collection of recipes will be perfect for meal prepping with the business of back to school schedules.
Michelle says
I love all of these marinades and I bet you could use them in so many ways too. Can’t wait to try that Vietnamese marinade, that one is definitely calling my name!
Jacquelyn Hastert says
Which do I make first? I think they are all amazing! It’s time to start marinading our chicken breasts.
Tammy says
I love the idea of baking them in parchment packages…I definitely need to try that next time. So many wonderful marinade ideas here!
Leslie says
I make a LOT of chicken in this house! I’m always on the hunt for some new chicken marinades. Thank you for this!
Kathryn says
Love the favors in each of these marinades and it’s fantastic that they are freezer friendly!
Marisa F. Stewart says
Oooooh! This is a great post. We eat chicken several times a week and end up making it the same way with the same flavor. Having different marinades would certainly rev up the taste. I’l pinning for making this coming week. That Greek is the first one I’ll start with.
Veronika's Kitchen says
Thank you for all these delicious marinade ideas! I love marinading chicken and love experimenting with flavors! Going to try your chipotle lime first!)
Leanne @ Crumb Top Baking says
I want to try all of those marinades, but since I love rosemary, I’ll probably start with that one! And I’ve never cooked chicken in parchment paper, so I need to try that method next time I cook chicken! Thanks for all the tips in this one! Pinned!
Sharon says
These 5 chicken marinades look so good and easy to make. Perfect to have these ready to make chicken to have on hand for salad toppings for the week.
Kushigalu says
Love all the 5 flavors here. I want to try all of them. Thank you so much for sharing these amazing marinades recipe.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
I always have chicken on hand, but never know what to do with it. This seems perfect for those days. The chipotle lime especially! *DROOL*
Sarah says
I used the rosemary citrus one last week and it was perfect! I baked the chicken and used it on a salad. I can’t wait to try the others!
Carmy says
Yay! So happy you enjoyed!
Jason says
These were very easy to prepare. In fact I just threw most of the ingredients for each marinade in my Magic Bullet blender (except for the chipotle) and made it even easier.
The soy sauce paste, though, seems like a very specific ingredient that neither my local supermarkets had, nor a nearby Japanese market that carries some Chinese products. Is there a good substitute?
Carmy says
Hi Jason, I would try dark soy sauce with a dash of brown sugar so it’s a bit thicker and sweet, like soy sauce paste. Hope this helps!
Susan says
Are the chicken breasts put directly into the liquid in the instant pot or do you use the trivet?
Carmy says
I do not use a trivet.