18 easy Marinated Chicken Recipes

Trust us: it's worth the extra step!

It's time to kiss dry, bland chicken goodbye once and for all! Marinades are an easy way to give chicken dinners a boost of flavor and lock in moisture for a juicy bird, no matter how it's cooked! Grilled chicken recipes, golden fried chicken, chicken threaded on kebabs, saucy chicken wings for the perfect party finger food—there aren't many chicken recipes that don't benefit from a zippy marinade.

Every great marinade has a few of the same elements: fat, salt, sweetness, and brightness. You may have a standard recipe you use for all your chicken, but don't be afraid to mix up something new! Blend up a spicy mixture full of jalapeño, lime, and lots of spice for juicy jerk chicken or try a totally different approach with a fragrant peanut butter-based marinade for a sheet pan dinner worth repeating. If you want to replicate your favorite Asian take-out meals, pull out ingredients like sesame oil, vinegar, brown sugar, and ginger to give your chicken that authentic flavor. Recipes like chicken teriyaki and delicious stir-fries are easy to make right at home! But marinades don't have to be all about the oil and vinegar! Chicken fried chicken and air fried tenders get their tenderness from a soak in good ol' buttermilk. Whether grilled, spiced, sauced, or skewered, these marinated chicken recipes bring on the flavor.

Hang up the car keys! There's no need to visit your local take-out spot tonight. Saucy chicken teriyaki is one of the best weeknight meals to make right at home. You can even marinate the chicken for up to four hours so it's ready to go come dinnertime.

Get the Chicken Teriyaki recipe.

SHOP GRILLING TOOLS

The secret to juicy, flavorful grilled chicken is in the marinade! It combines marinade essentials like olive oil for fat, soy sauce that adds salt, a touch of brown sugar for sweetness, and lemon juice and dijon mustard for much-needed brightness.

Get the Grilled Chicken recipe.

Marinating chicken in thick, tangy buttermilk helps tenderize it and make it extra juicy when fried crisp and golden. A little pickle juice is the secret ingredient in the marinade. It brings big flavor to these thighs!

Get the Chicken Fried Chicken recipe.

A quick marinade goes a long way in this light, healthy meal. The bold flavors of lemon juice, mustard, and garlic work in harmony to brighten up the chicken, and the zucchini is so tasty, you won't even miss pasta!

Get Ree's Grilled Chicken with Zucchini Noodles recipe.

Switch up your classic roasted chicken recipe with this delightfully spicy spin. Ingredients like jalapeño, lime juice, garlic, ginger, and a handful of classic jerk spices get blended up to coat the chicken. Marinate it overnight for the best flavor!

Get Ree's Roast Jerk Chicken recipe.

SHOP PLATES

Chicken marinades aren't all about the oil and vinegar—buttermilk does wonders to tenderize these tenders and lock in moisture. Serve 'em with your favorite dipping sauce!

Get the Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe.

Peanut butter may sounds like an unexpected addition to a chicken marinade but it totally makes this recipe. The broccoli cooks right alongside the chicken on a sheet pan, so all there's left to do is make some rice!

Get Ree's Sheet-Pan Spicy Peanut Chicken and Broccoli recipe.

An herby, lemony marinade gives these kebabs so much flavor. Consider this an all-in-one meal perfect for busy weeknights. Serve with a side of rice or just heat up some pita and dinner is ready!

Get Ree's Greek Chicken Kebabs recipe.

Skip the takeout and make this Asian-inspired meal right in the comfort of your own home! You use the sticky-sweet sauce in two parts of the recipe—once to marinate the chicken and the rest to coat the entire dish. It's flavorful and delicious!

Get Ree's Chicken-Snow Pea Stir Fry recipe.

Salads are only as great as all the extra bits thrown in, and this one is full of 'em! There's kalamata olives, ripe tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, marinated grilled chicken, and pita chips for some crunch!

Get Ree's Greek Salad with Chicken recipe.

SHOP PLACEMATS

A grilled chicken wrap makes a delicious lunch, especially on a hot summer day. This one is packed with not just tender chicken, but strawberries, greens, and tangy goat cheese, too.

Get Ree's Grilled Chicken & Strawberry Salad Wrap recipe.

In her cookbook Indian Flavor Every Day, Maya Kaimal offers approachable ways to get Indian flavor on the dinner table. These chicken tikka skewers are just that! Marinated in yogurt to tenderize the chicken, ginger, lime zest, and lots of spice, they're exceedingly tasty.

Get the Chicken Tikka recipe.

A restaurant favorite you can make right at home, Ree's lettuce wraps star chicken that's been marinated in a sticky-sweet Asian-inspired sauce. Carrot, cabbage, cucumber, and peanuts add great crunch to this all-in-one meal!

Get Ree's Lettuce Wraps recipe.

The tangy-sweet peanut sauce that coats this dish doubles as a marinade for the chicken! Just reserve some sauce and let it hang out with the chicken for a few hours so the chicken has a chance to absorb all that delicious flavor.

Get Ree's Grilled Peanut Chicken and Broccolini recipe.

Serve this juicy marinated chicken with sides like pinto beans and pico de gallo or grab some corn tortillas, pull the chicken from the bone, and serve everything taco-style!

Get Ree's Pollo Asada recipe.

SHOP CUTTING BOARDS

Let the oven do all the work to get these sizzling fajitas to the dinner table. The chicken is marinated in a South-of-the-border-style seasoning blend for zesty flavor.

Get the Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas recipe at Feasting at Home.

Sticky chicken wings are the first dish to go at every party, and this recipe is no exception. Orange and lime give the chicken a bright, citrusy punch! Oh yeah, and they're super easy to make, too.

Get the Sticky Mojo-Inspired Chicken Wings recipe at A Cozy Kitchen.

This restaurant-inspired recipe makes the ultimate build-your-own bowl meal. The juicy, harissa-spiced chicken is seared to perfection in a skillet before it's piled into a bowl with rice, tzatziki, hummus, and whatever other Greek-style toppings you crave.

Get the Harissa Chicken Bowls recipe at Butter Be Ready.

Georgia Goode is the Senior Food Editor/Writer at ThePioneerWoman.com. When she's not editing recipes and sneaking bites from the test kitchen, you can find her scouting out the best eats around town and dreaming up dinner party menus with friends.

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