Mom’s 5-Ingredient Chicken Marinade
Five simple ingredients are all it takes to transform everyday chicken into tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful chicken the whole family will love! This easy homemade marinade is perfect for busy weeknights, grilling, baking, or air frying.
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Instructions
- Add the olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and minced garlic to a bowl or large resealable bag.
- Whisk or shake well until everything is fully combined.
- Add 1½–2 pounds of chicken breasts, thighs, or tenders. Make sure the chicken is well coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or for the best flavor, 2–8 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the used marinade.
- Cook the chicken on the grill, in the oven, on the stovetop, or in the air fryer until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Tip: Don’t marinate chicken for more than about 8 hours because the lemon juice can affect the texture.
Save this recipe—you’ll want to make this easy marinade again and again!