My 7-ingredient chicken thigh marinade recipe has become a staple in our household. It’s savory, smokey, slightly sweet, and makes for mouthwatering chicken every time!.
We love cooking chicken thighs at home because they’re juicy, flavorful, and frankly, they’re hard to mess up. When we want to infuse our chicken thighs with the most flavor (but with minimal effort), I break out this marinade.
Not only does it help to tenderize the chicken, but it infuses every bite with a savory, addictive flavor. While I prefer it on chicken thighs, it’s also a great all-around chicken marinade, whether we’re talking baked chicken breasts or grilled chicken tenders.
Chicken thighs are a great cheaper and flavorful alternative to chicken breasts. They contain more fat, making them extra juicy and tender when cooked. However, on their own, chicken thighs can be a little bland. That’s where marinating comes in – it’s one of the easiest ways to infuse your chicken thighs with lots of extra flavor. But with so many marinade options out there, how do you choose what to marinate chicken thighs in?
Over the years, I’ve tried many different grocery store and home-made marinades. Through trial and error in my own kitchen, I’ve found the best marinade recipes and ingredients for always juicy, flavorful chicken thighs.
In this article I’ll share my tips on how to choose the right marinade ingredients to marinate chicken thighs in along with the most popular and delicious chicken thigh marinade recipes. Follow my advice and you’ll be serving restaurant-quality chicken thighs to your family in no time!
How to Choose a Chicken Thigh Marinade
The key to a great chicken thigh marinade is finding the right balance of acid, oil, and flavoring. Here are the components to look for:
Acid: The acid tenderizes the chicken and helps the marinade penetrate deep into the meat. Good choices are lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, yogurt or buttermilk.
Oil: Oil carries flavor and keeps the chicken moist. Olive oil and vegetable oil work well.
Spices, herbs, soy sauce, mustard, honey, and other flavors can be added here. Garlic, onions, herbs, spices, and more can make chicken thighs taste great.
Time: For best results, marinate chicken thighs 12 hours or overnight. But even just 30 minutes – 1 hour makes a difference.
Pairings: Consider what you’ll serve the chicken with. Matching flavors like barbecue sauce, salsa, or teriyaki marinades go great with the sides you plan to eat.
Once you understand the basic building blocks of a marinade, it’s easy to improvise with whatever ingredients you have on hand. Let your tastebuds guide you!
Next, I’ll talk about my favorite marinades that I use all the time to make chicken thighs that are juicy and full of flavor.
10 Best Chicken Thigh Marinade Recipes
1. Soy Sauce, Honey, Garlic
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
It’s easy to make and has a mix of salty, sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. Honey caramelizes the outside, giving it a delicious grilled or roasted flavor. Soy sauce makes the meat tender.
2. Italian Herbs and Lemon
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon each dried basil, oregano, parsley
Bright lemon and savory Worcestershire sauce give a Mediterranean twist to basic Italian herbs. Olive oil keeps the chicken nice and moist.
3. Chili Lime
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Zest and juice of 2 limes
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
The lime juice tenderizes the meat while zippy chili powder, spicy jalapeño and sweet honey liven up the flavor. This marinade is begging to be served with sides like rice, beans or guacamole.
4. Jerk Seasoning
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 habanero pepper, seeded and minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons jerk seasoning
Transport your tastebuds to the Caribbean islands with this spicy, herby marinade. The habanero and jerk seasoning really bring the heat!
5. Greek Yogurt and Lemon
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
The yogurt tenderizes the chicken and creates a lovely tangy flavor. Lemon brightens it up and herbs add a Greek twist. This pairs well with sides like tzatziki and pita.
6. Beer and BBQ Sauce
- 12 oz beer (lager or pale ale)
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Beer makes chicken extra juicy while the BBQ sauce infuses a smoky sweetness. The Worcestershire and spices round out the flavors. Try it with baked beans and coleslaw.
7. Tuscan White Wine
- 1 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
White wine marinades are excellent for chicken. The acid tenderizes while imparting a lovely richness. Italian flavors like lemon, rosemary and red pepper finish it off.
8. Curry Coconut Milk
- 1 13.5 oz can coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon red curry paste
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
Coconut milk makes the chicken super moist and lends a gentle sweetness. Red curry paste, lime and fish sauce add lots of Thai flavor. This is delicious served over rice.
9. Cranberry Mustard
- 1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 shallot, minced
I love this unique marinade for fall and winter meals. Tart cranberries and mustard are balanced by the sweet orange juice. Yummy with roasted Brussels sprouts.
10. Cajun
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Dash of cayenne pepper
Buttermilk tenderizes the chicken and mingles with the spices for extra flavor. Hot sauce and cayenne bring the heat. Think jambalaya rice, black beans and corn bread.
Now that you’ve got my best marinade recipes, you’re all set for juicy, flavorful chicken thighs anytime! From quick weeknight dinners to weekend grilling, these marinades transform basic chicken into something sensational.
Don’t limit yourself to just these suggestions either. Once you know the basics of building a marinade, you can improvise with ingredients you have on hand. Try new acids, oils and seasonings in different combinations. Part of the fun is experimenting to create your own signature chicken thigh marinades.
Here are a few extra tips to get the most out of marinating chicken thighs:
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Use a nonreactive bowl or zip top bag to mix the marinade and marinate the chicken. Acids in the marinade can react with metals.
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For safety, don’t reuse a marinade after it’s been on raw chicken.
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You can reserve a portion of the marinade before putting raw chicken in it, then boil to use as a sauce.
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Marinate chicken thighs in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
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Pat chicken dry before cooking for best sear or grill marks.
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Bake, grill, sauté, or broil marinated chicken thighs using your desired method.
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Brush extra glaze on towards the end of cooking if you want a thicker coating.
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Chicken thighs pair well with so many flavors. Try complementary sides like veggies, rice, beans, salad, potatoes and more.
How to make chicken thigh marinade
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post to print out the full recipe instructions and amounts of the ingredients.
Step 1- Mix. Whisk together all of the marinade ingredients in a small bowl.
Step 2- Marinade. Pour the marinade into a resealable plastic bag, add the chicken thighs, and marinate before cooking.
More ways to use this marinade
- Use fresh or frozen chicken thighs. You don’t have to thaw frozen thighs first; you can just put them in the marinade.
- Consider the type of chicken thighs. When I roast or grill chicken, I like bone-in chicken thighs because they stay juicy and add more flavor. When time is short, I like chicken thighs that are boneless and skinless.
- Don’t pat the chicken dry. Do not pat the chicken dry when you’re ready to cook. Instead, shake off the extra. You want a light coating of the marinade to remain.
It’s best not to reuse the marinade because it might have come in contact with harmful bacteria from the raw meat. However, if you want to repurpose the used marinade, the USDA recommends boiling it for 5 minutes first. This may thicken the consistency, making it better off as a baste or sauce.
This marinade doesn’t contain an intense acidic element (like lemon juice or vinegar), which means the thighs can be left to soak for a minimum of 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. But remember that marinating chicken thighs for too long can produce mushy meat with an overpowering flavor, so don’t overdo it!.
Why I love this recipe
- Made with pantry staples. There are some things that can be used instead of the ones listed in this recipe if you don’t have them all.
- Easy to modify. You can change up my base recipe by adding any herbs or spices you like.
- Sweet, savory, and smokey. Like all good marinades should be.
- Works with other cuts. Like my marinade for chicken with only four ingredients, you can use it on anything, even vegetables.
- Honey. Honey is my favorite because it’s just sweet enough and helps the chicken thighs caramelize while keeping the middle juicy. You could also use agave or honey.
- Soy sauce. For umami flavor. I like low-sodium soy sauce better because I can control how salty it is. Gluten free soy sauce or coconut aminos also work.
- Worcestershire sauce. This builds on the marinade’s sweet, savory, and tangy flavors.
- Garlic. Freshly minced garlic cloves are best.
- Ginger. To make the marinade taste and smell more zesty and peppery
- Pepper. For a subtle spicy kick. Freshly ground black pepper is ideal.
- Smoked paprika. Improves the marinade with a smoky and subtly sweet flavor.
You only have 30 mins, make Honey Garlic Glazed Chicken Thighs
FAQ
What’s the best thing to marinate chicken thighs in?
In a bowl, mix Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, molasses, and liquid smoke until the molasses is gone. Then, add canola oil, sesame seeds, brown sugar, minced garlic, paprika, garlic salt, and garlic pepper, and mix them all together again. Pour marinade into a resealable plastic bag.
What are the best ingredients for marinating chicken?
In a medium bowl, mix together oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, wine vinegar, and lemon juice. Stir in mustard powder, salt, pepper, and parsley. Use to marinate chicken before cooking as desired. The longer you marinate, the more flavor it will have.
What is a good seasoning for chicken thighs?
Garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and fresh cracked pepper are mixed together to make plain chicken thighs taste amazing.
How to make chicken thighs more flavorful?
Seasoning mix: salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning add easy, tasty flavor. Add a dash of cayenne pepper for a little heat. Oct 11, 2023.
What is chicken thigh marinade?
This chicken thigh marinade is a savory blend of fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil, lemon and seasonings. The marinade can be used for grilled, broiled or baked chicken thighs with perfect results every time! I’m always looking for new and interesting ways to prepare chicken thighs.
What is a good marinade for grilled thighs?
This is the simple marinade you’ve been looking for—it tastes great on both grilled and baked chicken thighs. Here, honey, garlic, and soy sauce flavor the thighs while the lime juice is perfect for tenderizing the meat. Smoky spices round out the marinade. Get the recipe here. 2. Maple Mustard Marinade.
Can You marinate chicken thighs overnight?
You can marinate chicken for 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. It is OK to marinate chicken thighs overnight using this marinade. I don’t recommend marinating the thighs any longer than 24 hours, as the meat will start to break down. How Do I Make a Spicy Chicken Thigh Marinade?
What is a good marinade for chicken?
Worcestershire sauce and low sodium soy sauce: Both of these ingredients add a savory, umami-richness to marinades. Dijon mustard: Not only does it add great flavor, it also acts as an emulsifier, helping the oil and other ingredients blend together and cling to the chicken more effectively.
How do you make grilled chicken thighs taste good?
Use some apple cider vinegar for more tang. Add some spice- Chili powder, red pepper flakes, and hot sauce can all give your grilled chicken a kick. Use different meats- Bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs can work, or chicken breasts. Just adjust cook times as necessary. Make the marinade. Place the chicken thighs into a large bowl.
What is a good substitute for chicken thighs?
Lemon juice: the acid that tenderizes the chicken thighs. Lime juice, orange juice, or apple cider work as nice substitutes, too. You could even use a vinegar for the acidic component, like balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Worcestershire sauce, honey, oregano, rosemary, and garlic salt: add so much rich flavor to the marinade.