Grilled Chicken Marinade

This grilled chicken marinade will make dry, bland and boring chicken a memory of the past and is destined to become your favorite go-to marinade! It’s savory, tangy, slightly sweet, with layers of complex flavor due to a few key seasonings. It’s stand-alone scrumptious or fabulous in salads, sandwiches or wraps. Best of all, this grilled chicken marinade is made with pantry friendly ingredients of soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and seasonings so you can create effortlessly flavorful chicken in minutes. Come dinner time, just cook the chicken (grill, oven and stove methods included) and serve with your favorite sides like roasted potatoes, fruit salad.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs (pounded to an even thickness)
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 tsp EACH onion powder, garlic powder, salt
• 1 tsp EACH dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, paprika
• 1/2 tsp EACH pepper, red pepper flakes

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Whisk the marinade ingredients together in a freezer bag or glass bowl. Add chicken to the marinade and turn to coat. Marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate up to 12 hours (the longer the better).
2. 2When ready to cook, remove chicken from the refrigerator and let rest 15-30 minutes before cooking.
3. 3--- TO GRILL CHICKEN: ---
4. 4Preheat grill to 400 degrees, clean and grease grates.
5. 5Grill chicken undisturbed for 5-7 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through. (an inserted thermometer should reach 165 degrees F). Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
6. 6--- TO COOK CHICKEN ON THE STOVE: ---
7. 7Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once very hot, add chicken and cook, undisturbed, for 3-4 minutes, or until deeply golden on one side.
8. 8Flip chicken over, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Cook for approximately 5-7 more minutes (depending on thickness of chicken), or until chicken is cooked to 165 degrees F.
9. 9--- TO BAKE CHICKEN IN THE OVEN: ---
10. 10Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and lightly grease a baking dish with cooking spray.
11. 11Drain chicken from marinade and add to prepared baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 16-18 minutes (depending on thickness), or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. (Baking time is for chicken approximately 1/2-inch thick, increase cooking time as needed for thicker chicken.)