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    7 Chicken Marinade Recipes You Can Freeze

    March 16, 2021 by Denise Bustard 277 Comments

    Home / Recipes / Chicken Freezer Meals / 7 Chicken Marinade Recipes You Can Freeze

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    These 7 chicken marinade recipes make your chicken tender, juicy and so flavorful! You can cook these up in the oven or on the grill. It's so easy to prepare a bunch at once and freeze for later.

    One of the best ways to add flavor to boneless skinless chicken breasts is to marinate them, but sometimes marinades can be disappointing. Today I'm sharing 7 flavorful chicken marinade recipes that are going to bring a ton of pizzazz to your dinner table!

    collage image with 7 bags containing chicken marinade with chicken
    Table of Contents show
    1 Reasons to ♡ these chicken breast marinades
    2 Recipe video
    3 Ingredients used in marinades
    4 How to marinate chicken
    5 How to cook after marinating
    6 Marinade FAQ
    7 7 marinade flavors
    8 7 Chicken Marinade Recipes (Freezer-Friendly!)

    Not only are these marinades full of flavor, but they are perfect for meal prep!

    Here's my meal prep trick: take five minutes at the start of the week and make one of these marinade recipes. Pop the chicken + marinade into the freezer together, and your chicken will absorb so much flavor when you thaw it to cook!

    It's also a great tip for when chicken breasts go on sale. Stock up and get a little assembly line going!

    Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

    Reasons to ♡ these chicken breast marinades

    • they are simple and made with pantry staples
    • they are fridge and freezer-friendly
    • the chicken turns out tender, juicy, and so flavorful!
    • you can cook them in the oven or on a grill

    Recipe video

    Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped these marinades. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.

    Ingredients used in marinades

    • olive oil- to disperse the seasonings onto the chicken; the oil also helps the chicken brown up when cooking in the oven, and prevents it from drying out.
    • acid- citrus, yogurt or tomato-based ingredients help brighten the flavors and tenderize the meat slightly; on the flip side, if you leave the chicken in acidic ingredients for too long (over 24 hours), it can have a negative impact on the texture
    • dry spices- activated by the oil and liquid ingredients, you will get so much delicious flavor from them
    • umami-rich- soy sauce helps bring savory and umami flavors to the meat. Other ways to add umami? Worcestershire sauce, miso paste, fish sauce and tomato paste all pack a punch of extra flavor
    • aromatics- garlic and ginger bring dimension and extra flavor to some marinades; sometimes the garlic can react with certain ingredients and turn blue, but it still tastes great
    • fresh herbs- cilantro is used in the cilantro lime marinade, and adds a bright, fresh flavor. The leaves do get soft after baking.

    How to marinate chicken

    • combine marinade ingredients first
    • add chicken, marinate in the fridge or freezer
    1. Combine ingredients in a bag or shallow bowl. Mix well.
    2. Add chicken breasts, and turn to coat.
    3. Marinate for at least 2 hours.

    Best containers for marinating

    The best way to ensure complete coverage of the chicken breast is to marinate in a bag; a bowl or container just will not cover the chicken breast with the marinade evenly.

    Over the years I have moved away from disposable freezer bags, and now prefer silicone Stasher bags.

    • use the sandwich Stasher bags for 1 lb (2 chicken breasts)
    • use the ½ gallon Stasher bags for 2 lbs (4 chicken breasts)

    Marinate at least 2 hours

    In the past, I’ve been disappointed with a lack of flavor from my chicken marinades, and it really comes down to a lack of time. These chicken marinade recipes require at least 2 hours to infuse flavor into the chicken breast.

    On the other hand, you do not want to marinate the chicken for more than 24 hours, as the acidic ingredients can start to break down the muscle fibres of the chicken breast, leading to mealy chicken.

    If you are not able to cook your chicken breast within 24 hours, I recommend popping it into the freezer! You can freeze for up to 3 months.

    Freezing chicken in a marinade

    Freezing chicken in a marinade is a great meal prep hack. As the chicken thaws, it absorbs so much flavor.

    1. Label bags with name, date and cooking instructions.
    2. Prepare chicken marinade as you normally would.
    3. Squeeze as much air out of the bag, then place in the freezer.
    4. Freeze for up to 3 months.
    5. Thaw completely before cooking as directed in the recipe card.

    Other proteins you can use

    This marinade works great for other proteins as well. The recipe as written works for a pound of chicken breasts, but you could swap for the following:

    • boneless chicken thighs- 2-24 hours marinating time
    • shrimp or fish- 30 minutes marinating time
    • pork tenderloin- at least 24 hours to marinate
    • tofu- press first, then marinate for 2-24 hours

    How to cook after marinating

    Baking

    1. Heat oven to 425°F.
    2. Arrange chicken with marinade liquid into a baking dish.
    3. Bake for 25 minutes, flipping halfway.
    4. Double check that your chicken has reached 165°F using an instant read thermometer.
    5. Rest for 5 minutes, then serve.

    Grilling

    1. Heat BBQ to medium-high heat (450°F).
    2. Make sure the grill is clean and well greased.
    3. Shake of excess marinade and place the chicken over direct heat.
    4. Grill with the lid down for roughly 8 minutes, flipping every 2 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 155°F *.
    5. Allow to rest for 5 minutes (covered).

    *carryover cooking will ensure your chicken reaches 165°F and prevents overcooking.

    Air Fryer

    I recommend slicing the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create two thin slices; this prevents them from overcooking. Alternatively, you can pound the chicken to even thickness.

    1. Heat air fryer to 400°F.
    2. Shake off excess marinade, and arrange the chicken into the air fryer basket.
    3. Cook for 4 minutes, flip, then cook for an additional 2 minutes.
    4. Check that it has reached 165°F internally, then remove from the air fryer.
    5. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

    Instant Pot/Slow Cooker

    These recipes do not have enough liquid to cook in either appliance. For tried and true recipes, check out:

    • 7 Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes
    • 7 Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipes
    chicken marinade recipe in bags sitting in a glass container

    Marinade FAQ

    Can I use these marinades without freezing them?

    Yes, absolutely. Pop them in the fridge for 2 hours all the way up to 24 hours. I don't recommend marinating longer than that without freezing.

    How long can these be frozen?

    Up to 3 months. As everything freezes, the marinating process stops, and starts up again as the chicken thaws.

    What if my chicken is already frozen?

    Do not thaw your chicken if you are going to freeze again. Add the marinades to already frozen chicken, and you will still get a ton of flavor from marinating while it thaws.

    How to thaw the chicken?

    The safest bet is in the fridge overnight, but you can do a rapid-thaw process in cold water for a few hours. Just make sure your freezer bag is heavy duty so you don't have any leakage!

    Do these marinades work for tofu?

    Several readers have had success using these marinades on tofu.

    7 marinade flavors

    All seven chicken marinade recipes are in the card below, but you can print the individual marinades by clicking through to each post:

    • Easy Chipotle Chicken Marinade + Sauce
    • Simple Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
    • Shortcut Jamaican Jerk Chicken Marinade
    • Ginger and Lemon Chicken Marinade (5 ingredients)
    • Honey Garlic Chicken Marinade (with sauce)
    • Curry Yogurt Chicken Marinade (5 Ingredients)
    • Sweet Chili Chicken Marinade
    overhead shot of a variety of chicken marinades in freezer bags
    overhead shot of 7 chicken marinades labeled in freezer bags
    Print Recipe
    4.5 from 110 votes

    7 Chicken Marinade Recipes (Freezer-Friendly!)

    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Calories: 190kcal
    Author: Denise Bustard
    Servings: 4
    These 7 chicken marinade recipes make your chicken tender, juicy and so flavorful! You can cook these up in the oven or on the grill. It's so easy to prepare a bunch at once and freeze for later.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Marinating time2 hrs
    Total Time2 hrs 5 mins

    Ingredients

    Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade

    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast roughly 2 large chicken breasts; see note 1
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice
    • 1.5 tablespoons honey
    • ½ cup cilantro leaves chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Sweet Chili Chicken Marinade

    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast roughly 2 large chicken breasts
    • 6 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
    • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (reduced sodium recommended)
    • ¼ cup water

    Jerk-Inspired Chicken Marinade

    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast roughly 2 large chicken breasts
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
    • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice

    Lemon Ginger Chicken Marinade

    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast roughly 2 large chicken breasts
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoons minced ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

    Chipotle Lime Chicken Marinade

    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast roughly 2 large chicken breasts
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 teaspoons adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle peppers)
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Honey Garlic Chicken Marinade

    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast roughly 2 large chicken breasts
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (I prefer reduced sodium)
    • ¼ cup honey
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ¼ cup water

    Yogurt Curry Chicken Marinade *note 3

    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast roughly 2 large chicken breasts
    • ¼ cup yogurt plain
    • 2 teaspoons lime juice
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons curry powder
    • 1 teaspoon brown sugar

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients in a heavy duty freezer bag or reusable silicone bag.
    • Add chicken breasts and turn to coat in marinade. Marinate the chicken in the fridge for 2-24 hours.

    Cook

    • Oven- Heat oven to 425°F.
      Arrange chicken with marinade liquid into an 8x8 inch baking dish.
      Bake for 25 minutes, flipping halfway. See note 2.
      Double check that your chicken has reached 165°F using an instant read thermometer.
      Rest for 5 minutes, then serve.
    • Grill- Heat BBQ to medium-high heat (450°F).
      Make sure the grill is clean and well greased.
      Shake off excess marinade and place the chicken over direct heat.
      Grill with the lid down for roughly 8 minutes, flipping every 2 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 155°F *.
      Allow to rest for 5 minutes (covered).
    • Air Fryer- Slice chicken breasts in half horizontally to create two thin slices.
      Heat air fryer to 400°F.
      Shake off excess marinade, and arrange the chicken into the air fryer basket.
      Cook for 4 minutes, flip, then cook for an additional 2 minutes.
      Check that it has reached 165°F internally, then remove from the air fryer.
      Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    1- you may also use this marinade for boneless skinless chicken thighs or drumsticks. Slide the serving size number to increase the serving size.
    2- approximate total bake times for chicken breasts:
    • For small, 5 oz chicken breasts, 18-20 minutes at 425°F
    • For 7 oz chicken breasts, 25 minutes at 425°F
    • For 10.5 oz chicken breasts, 25-30 minutes at 425°F
    3- the yogurt curry marinade will flake/break after freeze/thawing, but still has great flavor!
    Freezing chicken in marinades
    To freeze chicken in marinades, prepare as directed, then pop into the freezer. They may be frozen for up to 3 months.
    Thawing frozen chicken marinades
    These marinades must be thawed before cooking. 
    1. Thaw 24 hours in the fridge or
    2. Immerse the bag in a bowl of cold water (with a heavy item on top to submerge the bag). Let it sit for 2 hours.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4oz | Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 48mg | Sugar: 7g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @SweetPeaSaffron or tag #sweetpeasandsaffron

    About Denise Bustard

    Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more. read more

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