This really is the best grilled chicken marinade! It's easy to prepare and makes any chicken taste like restaurant-quality chicken. So good!
A SUPER FLAVORFUL GRILLED CHICKEN MARINADE
I started making this chicken and marinade about 20 years ago when we were stationed in London. Many of us Americans would get together and have Super Bowl parties. It was a comaraderie thing. Nothing like being with your fellow countrymen and eating all your favorite foods from home. My little chicken on a stick soon became a favorite of our friends and it was regularly requested at get-togethers. And I'm happy to say it is still a favorite in our home.

WHY USE A MARINADE FOR CHICKEN?
Chicken on its own is pretty bland. Especially chicken breasts. Like most marinades, this one has a base of oil and acid (the lemon juice.) Marinades generally have some sort of acid, like vinegar, that helps to tenderize the meat slowly. What really gives this marinade that oomph of flavor is the soy sauce, mustard and garlic. You've got a bit of salty, a bit of tang and the garlic just pushes it over the top. It may sound like a really odd combination of flavors, but I promise that they end up working perfectly together.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- olive oil
- soy sauce
- lemon juice
- mustard (Dijon or yellow)
- Worcestershire sauce
- minced garlic
- black pepper
- chicken tenderloins (or chicken thighs)

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHICKEN MARINADE:
Combine all marinade ingredients and whisk together well.

Put chicken tenders into a lidded container (or a Ziploc bag) and pour marinade over top of chicken.

Make sure all the chicken is coated.

Snap the the lid on. And pop it into the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.

When chicken is ready, soak your wooden skewers in water for at least a half an hour (so they don’t burn on the grill). Obviously you can skip this step if using metal skewers.

Preheat grill on medium-high heat. Once skewers have soaked, begin threading chicken onto skewers. Keep going until you are done with all of them. You can put either one or two chicken tenders on each skewer.

Preheat grill to medium high heat. Place skewers on clean grill

Cook for about 5-6 minutes per side (until internal temp. is 165F degrees). It's really important that you flip the chicken using tongs and you handle it by the meat portion of the skewer. Don't try flipping using the skewer itself. Metal ones will be too hot to handle at this point and the wooden ones might break. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before serving.

Grilling Pro Tip: To keep food from sticking to your grill, you need to make sure you scrub off any baked-on food that might still be on your grill grates or your chicken is just going to stick to that blackened char. Don't have a grill brush? Just preheat your gas grill to high for a few minutes and close the lid. Open it up, turn down the heat, and scrub grates with a wad of aluminum foil. Works for me every time!

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

The Best Chicken Marinade (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 cup olive oil
- ¾ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup mustard (Dijon or yellow)
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1-½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds chicken tenderloins
- 1 package wooden meat skewers (or metal skewers if you have them)
Instructions
- Combine all marinade ingredients and whisk together well.
- Put chicken tenders into a lidded container or tiptop bag and pour marinade over top of chicken.
- Make sure all the chicken is coated, then snap on the lid or zip the top closed.
- Pop it into the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- When chicken is ready, soak the wooden skewers in water for at least a half an hour (so they don’t burn on the grill). Obviously you can skip this step if using metal skewers.
- Once skewers have soaked, begin threading chicken onto skewers.
- Preheat grill to medium high heat (about 350F). Place skewers on clean grill.
- Cook for about 5-6 minutes per side (until internal temp. is 165F degrees).
- It's really important that you flip the chicken using tongs and you handle it by the meat portion of the skewer. Don't try flipping using the skewer itself.
- Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- To keep food from sticking to your grill, you need to make sure you scrub off any baked-on food that might still be on your grill grates or your chicken is just going to stick to that blackened char. Don't have a grill brush? Just preheat your gas grill to high for a few minutes and close the lid. Open it up, turn down the heat, and scrub grates with a wad of aluminum foil. Works for me every time!
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: January 2011
Updated & republished: June 2019
Bettie
I made these tonight. They were delicious. My daughter said she would like me to make these for her birthday this year! Thanks for this wonderful, flavorful recipe that I will definitely be making again.
Donna V
looks great
bitsybet
Anxious to try this. As for cleaning the grill rack, try leaving the messy rack in your lawn overnight and hosing it off in the morning. The dew breaks down the grime so that it is easily removed. My mom does this with her oven racks, too.
Lorraine Moore
I don't have a grill, what is the next best way to cook these, it looks so good & I wanna try them
The Country Cook
Lorraine, these can be made in the oven. I've only ever enjoyed them on the grill but I have had other readers tell me they come out great in the oven too. I don't have an exact cooking time for you though, I'm sorry. Maybe start with 350F degrees for about 30 min and go from there.
Lauren
Great idea! I made these skewars at our Labor Day cookout and I didn't even get to try one! By the time I got to them they were already gone! Such a hit, I will be making again soon so I can actually try them!! Love your site!!
Brittany @ Real Sustenance
Yummm! My husband loves this sort of thing. 🙂
Wanted to invite you to link it up at Seasonal Sundays- It fits the theme! 🙂
http://realsustenance.com/
The Mom Chef
I can see why this recipe has become a keeper! It looks fantastic.
Regarding the games coming up, I'm in the same boat, only worse. I'm from Chicago and am the Bears fan so will be hoping for a win tomorrow, but Hubby is a HUGE Steelers fan so if the Bears and Steelers win, the Super Bowl game is going to be VERY interesting around here.
thecountrycook
Becky - my husband is a huge Bears fan (he's from northern Indiana near the Illinois border - so he follows Chicago sports) and my Dad (being from Wisconsin)is a Packers fan. It should be an interesting Sunday for us...lol.
Becky
We have skewers, and we have chicken. I love all of the flavors on the marinade. We can make these for the big Bears vs. Packers game this Sunday. Go Bears!
Lizzy
I've printed this off...I love the combination of soy, lemon and mustard on pork! I know it will be fabulous on chicken 🙂 Thanks!!!
mywanderingspoon
Fantastic, easy and convenient way to prepare meat.
Thanks for the post, love your blog:)
Steph@PlainChicken.com
I am going to try this soon. We love grilled chicken at our house
Kimberly
We aren't big into sports in my house, so no super bowl parties for us. However these look amazing! But I love food on a stick, haha! I can't wait to give these a try!
Annie
OMG, it's chicken on a stick! This food is very popular around here at flea markets and fairs. So delicious and easy to hold onto as your walking around.
I'm not really into football either but can't help but get caught up in the excitement of the playoffs. These would be perfect to eat while watching the Steelers kick the Jets ***'s next Sunday!
scratch-made wife
Your grilled chicken looks so good! I've been trying to decide what to make for the big day, but I just can't decide.
(And, hello! I'm new here. 😉 )
something_good
the marinade sounds delicious.
Cakewhiz
My hubby,the chicken lover, would love this! Thanks for sharing this recipe 🙂
Brooks Walker
A great looking dish with versatile use. A skewered protein is like a personal entree and a rustic, fun way to eat!
Lindsay
These look delicious! And great presentation, too. I'm sure kids would love these!
Nisa Homey
Hi there...first time here from Kerala, India....lovely space u have and ur dish is looking yummmy....loved going throu ur space....following u...
ceodraiocht
Skewered protein is what many of my friends long for in their "low carb" endeavors. You should share this with the Decidedly Healthy or Horridly Decadent blog hop http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=30280
Maggie
thecountrycook
Brooks,that's the word I was looking for - rustic!
Sandra & Patti - we should have a Non-Super Bowl Super Bowl party...lol.
Patti
These look great! Anything on a stick is fun!! As for the football thing, I can't even keep track of the ball... Home Run!! Go Lakers!! LOL
Sandra
It looks AWESOME, but I hear you about not huge fan of the football. However, my sons(10, 4) are huge, huge fans..and those kids amaze me every time when the football is on..they know everything and everybody..So with two of my boys and my husband there is no way I can watch anything on tv when it is super bowl:D I just might go shopping with my daughter LOL!