If you think chicken errs on the dry or bland side, prepare to give its reputation a glow-up. Once you learn how to marinate chicken using our two easy methods, you’ll look forward to adding this budget-friendly lean protein to your menu.
Most chicken, especially boneless, skinless chicken breasts, have a reputation for being dry, boring "diet food." But once you master the basics of how to marinate chicken, you'll realize this affordable, versatile, lean protein can be just as succulent and crave-able as its richer counterparts, like steak and pork chops.
If you're looking for the best options for how to marinate chicken, our Test Kitchen pros swear by these two options:
- A dry marinade
- A wet marinade
This guide for how to marinate chicken explains when to choose one or the other, how to make both, plus we're sharing some essential food safety tips that will help keep you and your family safe. (First things first, if you're washing your raw chicken, please stop!)
Carson Downing
How to Marinate Chicken
As we mentioned, a basic chicken marinade can be made in two ways: dry or wet. They both work wonderfully to tenderize and infuse the meat with flavor. Your desired cooking method will help you decide which to choose.
How to Marinate Chicken with a Wet Marinade
Wet marinades generally consist of:
- Cooking oil to moisten and add flavor.
- An acidic liquid, such as vinegar, wine, tomato, yogurt, or citrus juice (or a natural enzyme, such as ginger or pineapple) to break down the dense protein to tenderize it.
- A variety of seasonings and/or sweeteners, including garlic, molasses, honey, fresh or dried herbs, and spices to amp up the flavor.
Wet chicken marinades should be thin in consistency so they can penetrate the meat to infuse it with flavor. The marinade penetrates about ¼ inch into the surface of the meat, so it will not reach the meat's interior, but the surface will be uber-tasty. You can see this concept at play in these slices of Turmeric-Ginger Marinated Chicken below.
Andy Lyons
To marinate chicken in a wet marinade:
- Place the chicken in a shallow dish or a gallon-sized zip-top bag. Add your homemade marinade (such as Roasted Red Pepper Marinade, Avocado-Buttermilk Marinade, or Garlic Soy Marinade) on top. If using a bag, place the bag inside a shallow dish or large plate to catch any drips. Seal the bag, if using, and place the chicken in the refrigerator.
- Turn the bag occasionally so the marinade is distributed evenly over all sides of the food, or if using a dish, use tongs to flip the chicken a few times during the marinating time (being careful not to drip any raw chicken juices around your kitchen).
- Use tongs to remove food from the marinade. Some of the marinade will stick to the food. Discard the remaining marinade.
Test Kitchen Tip: Do not marinate chicken directly inside a metal container, as the acidic mixture can react with the metal.
How to Marinate Chicken with a Dry Rub
A dry rub is similar to a wet marinade, just minus the liquid. The mixture of herbs and spices creates a crust on the chicken, which seals in moisture and amplifies its flavor. Cayenne pepper, red chile flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, sage, thyme, rosemary, basil, and brown sugar are common stars.
To marinate chicken in a dry rub:
- In a bowl or shallow dish, combine the dry rub ingredients. (Need some flavor inspiration? Try our Smoky Rub, Lavender Rub, or Double Pepper Barbecue Rub.)
- Use paper towels to dry the surface of the chicken well, then coat the exterior of the chicken with the dry rub.
- Use your clean fingers to massage the spice rub into the chicken, then thoroughly wash your hands.
How Long to Marinate Chicken
For dry rub marinades, 30 minutes to 2 hours should be plenty to allow the flavors to penetrate enough of the chicken to add flavor.
For wet marinades, we know that it can be tempting to let them swim for a bit—if a little soaking is good for tender, tasty meat, more must be better, right? This is one situation in which you actually can overdo it; allowing the boneless chicken to marinate for more than 2 hours or bone-in chicken to marinate for more than 12 hours will leave you with mushy meat. (The acidic ingredients can begin to "cook" the chicken and make it tough, too.)
As a general rule of thumb, follow these timelines as you perfect your skills at how to marinate chicken:
- Boneless chicken: 30 minutes to 2 hours
- Bone-in chicken breasts, drumsticks, wings, or thighs: 1 to 12 hours
Food should be cooked immediately after marinating. Marinating does not extend the shelf life of food, which includes the day of purchase and thawing time. If you're searching for how to marinate chicken for another day, try one of our foolproof freezer chicken recipes.
Test Kitchen Tip: If you forgot to marinate before you start preparing your chicken dinner, it's not too late! Consider a "reverse marinade." After cooking your chicken thighs or breasts as you normally would—grilling, roasting, searing, etc.—soak them in a chicken marinade for about 5 minutes right after the meat has come to temp. (Reminder, the safe internal cooking temperature of chicken is 165°F.)
How to Marinate Chicken Safely
Steer clear of cross-contamination by following these important steps.
- Keep it cool. Marinate foods in the refrigerator; do not leave them out on the kitchen counter. Place them on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to rule out any possible leaks or spills onto the foods below, and if you're marinating in a zip-top bag, place it in a larger bowl, plate, or baking dish to catch any drips.
- Don't mix your meats. Do not return cooked meat to the unwashed plate you used to carry the raw marinated meat to the oven or grill. Marinated meat is still raw and should be handled accordingly.
- Dump the marinade. Never reuse marinades to prevent the risk of contamination that can lead to food-borne illnesses. Before adding the marinade to the raw meat, set some aside to use for basting or as a table sauce if you'd like.
This article was written by Karla Walsh from Better Homes and Gardens and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive Content Marketplace. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
