Summer is just around the corner and these 6 flavor-packed marinades not only taste great and are easy to make, but also freeze beautifully! Try them as a quick 30 minute marinade for a weekend grill out, or meal prep for a fast weeknight dinner when there doesn’t seem to be enough time to whip up a home cooked meal.
Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl; place desired number of chicken pieces in a disposable zip top bag; pour marinade over chicken making sure to coat all pieces; seal and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
If freezing, place filled and sealed bag on sheet pan, food tray or in a casserole dish and place in freezer. You can remove the pan/dish once food is frozen. (This helps to prevent bag from falling through slats of freezer and getting stuck!)
FAJITA MARINADE:
1/4 cup lime juice, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon hickory flavor liquid smoke, 2 cloves minced garlic, 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, salt and pepper
THAI MARINADE:
1/3 cup chopped cilantro, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon sriracha, 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1/4 cup oil*
HONEY DIJON MARINADE:
1/3 olive oil*, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
ITALIAN HERB MARINADE:
1/4 cup olive oil*, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon Italian Herb Blend, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, [optional: for a little added heat, add a few red pepper flakes]
ASIAN SESAME MARINADE:
1/3 cup avocado oil*, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 3 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon grated ginger root, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon minced green onion, 2 cloves minced garlic
SOUTHWEST MARINADE:
1/2 cup avocado or olive oil*, 1/2 cup lime juice, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cumin, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1/3 cup white wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons oregano, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
*If you have dietary restrictions and have to limit fat intake, substitute oil amounts in these recipes with low sodium chicken broth.
NOTE: Be aware that while grilling with direct heat, using marinades that contain oil may result in flare ups that could burn marinade before chicken is fully cooked. Make sure you have a cool spot on the grill to move chicken to in order to prevent burns or use flame diverters on grill grates.
