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    Home » Chicken

    14 Must-Try Chicken Marinades for Grilling Season

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated May 13, 2026 · Published May 20, 2026 · Leave a Comment

    Grilling chicken can be a simple yet rewarding experience, especially when you have the right marinades to enhance the flavor. With 14 different marinades to choose from, you can easily transform your chicken into a delicious meal that everyone will enjoy. Whether you prefer something tangy, spicy, or sweet, these marinades will help you grill like a pro.

    Lemon Basil Marinade

    Grilled lemon chicken.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Lemon Chicken Marinade is quick and easy to whip up with simple ingredients. It's great for grilling, pan frying, or baking, and it keeps your chicken juicy and full of flavor.

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    Mexican Marinade

    Air fryer chicken legs.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Mexican Chicken Marinade adds a lot of flavor to your chicken with its zesty spices and tangy citrus. It transforms plain chicken into a tender and tasty meal.

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    Tamari Garlic Marinade

    Five Ingredient Chicken Drumstick
    Photo Credit: Karen Kelly.

    Juicy and flavorful drumsticks with crispy skin are easy to achieve with this simple 5-ingredient marinade. Combining tamari, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and garlic creates a great mix of flavors that keeps the meat moist.

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    Ginger Honey Marinade

    A jar of honey ginger marinade or salad dressing.
    Photo credit: Bowl of Delicious.

    Ginger and Honey marinade combines sweet and tangy flavors with a nice kick from fresh ginger. It's simple to make and can also be used as a tasty salad dressing alongside your grilled chicken.

    Get the recipe

    Balsamic Marinade

    Balsamic marinated chicken.
    Photo credit: Striped Spatula.

    Balsamic marinated chicken is a great way to elevate your chicken dishes. It's easy to whip up and works well for quick dinners, whether you're grilling, baking, or using an air fryer.

    Get the recipe

    Spicy Coriander Marinade

    Goan Chicken (Galinha) Cafreal.
    Photo Credit: Krumpli.

    Chicken cafreal is a flavorful dish from Goa with roots in Portuguese cooking. It features bone-in chicken legs marinated in a spicy coriander mix that really brings out the taste.

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    Greek Chicken Marinade

    Greek chicken skewers.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This grilled chicken marinade is easy to whip up and full of great flavors. You likely have everything you need right in your kitchen, making it a perfect option for a delicious meal.

    Get the recipe

    Copycat Chiavetta's Marinade

    Grilled chicken.
    Photo credit: An Edible Mosaic.

    This chicken marinade from Buffalo, New York is a classic that keeps your meat tender and juicy. You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Lemon Pepper Marinade

    Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks.
    Photo Credit: Chelsea Joy Eats.

    Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks are a flavorful option for a quick weeknight meal that everyone will enjoy. With just a simple marinade and a good sprinkle of lemon pepper seasoning, these drumsticks are packed with taste.

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    Salty Asian Marinade

    Asian chciken drumsticks.
    Photo credit: Mom Foodie.

    A flavorful Asian marinade can really enhance your chicken drumsticks, keeping them juicy and delicious. These drumsticks are great for grilling season, offering a tender bite that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Mexican Citrus Marinade

    Citrus marinated chicken.
    Photo credit: Confetti & Bliss.

    This Mexican citrus chicken marinade adds a fresh and vibrant flavor that's great for grilling, no matter where you are. It ensures your chicken turns out tender and juicy every time.

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    Smoky Marinade

    Air fryer chicken drumsticks.
    Photo credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This recipe transforms regular chicken drumsticks into tender pieces packed with a tasty sweet, savory, and smoky flavor. It's perfect for cooking in the air fryer or on the grill.

    Get the recipe

    Lemon Garlic Marinade

    Lemon garlic chicken.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This grilled chicken marinade is easy to whip up and full of great flavors. You likely have everything you need right in your kitchen, making it a perfect option for a delicious meal.

    Get the recipe

    Vietnamese Lemongrass Marinade

    Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
    Photo Credit: Pups With Chopsticks.

    Grilled Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken is easy to prepare and packed with flavor from a delicious lemongrass marinade. It's juicy and has a nice balance of sweetness and savory notes, making it great for a variety of meals.

    Get the recipe

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Chicken cacciatore.
      25 One-Dish Chicken Dinners You Just Dump, Cook, and Enjoy
    • Grilled chicken.
      14 Grilled Chicken Recipes to Up Your Backyard Barbecue Game
    • Nashville hot chicken sandwich.
      44 Chicken Recipes to Banish Dinner Boredom for Good
    • Chicken and rice soup.
      24 Dump-and-Cook Chicken Dinners You Can Make in One Dish

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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