# A Great Chicken Marinade (Great Grilled or Pan Seared!)

> This is a great everyday Chicken Marinade, one you make with things you've already got with plenty of sub options. It will make any cut of chicken extra juicy, infuse it with savoury flavour that's a touch of sweet, with a hint of herby goodness. Especially good for chicken breast, and terrific for grilling!

**Prep time:** 5 minutes
**Cook time:** 10 minutes
**Marinating:** 30 minutes (up to overnight)
**Total time:** 15 minutes
**Servings:** 4
**Calories:** 243 kcal per serving
**Storage:** Refrigerate cooked chicken 3-4 days (freeze raw chicken in marinade)

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## Ingredients

- 700g / 1.4 lb chicken breast, tenderloins or thigh (Note 1)

### Chicken Marinade (subs Note 3)

- 2 tbsp honey OR brown sugar
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or any oil)
- 5 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano (or rosemary, thyme, minced herbs)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, ground

### Garnishes (optional)

- Finely chopped parsley
- Lemon slices

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## Shopping List

### 🥩 Meat & Poultry
- [ ] 700g (1.4 lb) chicken breast, tenderloins or thigh

### 🥬 Produce
- [ ] 4 garlic cloves
- [ ] 1 lemon (for juice)
- [ ] Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
- [ ] Lemon slices (optional, for garnish)

### 🧂 Condiments & Sauces
- [ ] Honey or brown sugar (need 2 tbsp)
- [ ] Olive oil (need 1 tbsp plus more for cooking)
- [ ] Soy sauce (need 5 tbsp)
- [ ] Worcestershire sauce (need 2 tsp)

### 🧂 Spices
- [ ] Dried oregano (or rosemary, thyme, or fresh minced herbs - need 1 tsp)
- [ ] Ground black pepper (need 1/2 tsp)

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## Instructions

1. **Prepare chicken (Recommended).** Pound breast to even thickness using a meat pounder, rolling pin, or fist. OR cut large ones in half horizontally to form 2 cutlets (steaks) for each.

2. **Mix marinade.** In a ziplock bag (or container in which chicken fits snugly), add chicken.

3. **Marinate.** Marinate 3 hours to overnight, though even 30 minutes is effective. (Note 2)

4. **Cook the chicken.** Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, and cook chicken per times below until deep golden (see video). If browning too quickly, lower heat.

5. **Rest and serve.** Transfer to serving plate, cover loosely with foil and rest for 3 minutes before serving, garnished with parsley and lemon slices if desired.

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## Cook Times

1. **Whole breast and boneless thighs:** 3 - 4 minutes each side (internal temp 165F/75C)
2. **Cutlets and tenderloin:** 2 minutes each side

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## Notes

**1. Chicken cuts:**
- Easiest to BAKE bone in cuts (breast, legs, thighs) - see Note 4.

**2. Quick Marinade 30 min to 1 hr:** Cut breasts in half horizontally to form 2 thin steaks. For whole thighs or breast, poke a few holes in each breast using a fork. For drumsticks, cut a couple of slashes with knife.

**3. Marinade subs:**
- **Brown sugar:** Sub 2 tbsp white sugar, 1.5 tbsp honey, maple syrup
- **Soy:** Any normal, all purpose soy or light soy good here, or tamari, mushroom soy sauce. If you have sweet soy or kecap manis, skip sugar. Dark soy sauce not recommended (label will say "dark soy").
- **No soy?** Dissolve 1 tsp salt in 4 tbsp water, then use in place of soy sauce.
- **Only got DARK soy?** Use 2 tbsp then add 3/4 tsp salt in 3 tbsp water instead of 5 tbsp soy sauce.
- **Lemon:** Sub with less sharp vinegars like cider vinegar, white wine or red wine vinegar, rice vinegar. Or 1.5 tbsp other vinegars (normal white vinegar, balsamic)
- **Worcestershire:** Dollop of ketchup or BBQ sauce would be a decent sub there! Say 2 tbsp, then cut down sugar. HP Sauce, steak sauce, any of those sauces also good.
- **Garlic:** 3 tsp from jar, or 3/4 tsp dried garlic powder good here. Also 1/4 tsp onion powder would be nice too.
- **Dried herbs:** Anything is the go here, go with what you like. Fresh won't really work here, too delicate unless doing a short marinade. Exception - fresh rosemary is terrific, 1 tsp finely chopped.

**4. Baking** directions - stove is best to get nice browning, but to bake, cook as follows:
- **Breast and boneless thighs:** Bake 18 minutes at 425F/220C oven, or internal temperature is 165F/75C, followed by quick grill/broil on high to brown
- **Drumsticks, wings and bone in thighs:** 50 minutes at 180C/350F, basting with juices once or twice

**5. Storage:** Cooked chicken will be good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge, I always reheat in microwave because it keeps it moist (reheating cooked chicken, boneless thigh is best (stays juiciest).

**Freeze raw chicken** in marinade as soon as you make it up (chicken will marinade while thawing!). Thaw then cook per recipe.

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## Nutrition

**Calories:** 243 kcal | **Carbohydrates:** 8g | **Protein:** 33g | **Fat:** 7g | **Saturated Fat:** 1g | **Cholesterol:** 96mg | **Sodium:** 1202mg | **Potassium:** 622mg | **Sugar:** 6g | **Vitamin A:** 45 IU | **Vitamin C:** 5.9mg | **Calcium:** 21mg | **Iron:** 1.2mg