This really is the best grilled chicken marinade! It’s easy to prepare and makes any chicken taste like restaurant-quality chicken. So good!
THE BEST 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.
VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW:
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.
chicken tenderloins (or chicken thighs)
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST GRILLED 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.
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 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!
Enjoy!
Originally published: January 2011
Updated & republished: June 2019
THE BEST GRILLED CHICKEN MARINADE
Ingredients
- 1 cup olive oil
- ¾ cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup mustard (Dijon or yellow)
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1-½ teaspoon 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 and pour marinade over top of chicken.
- Make sure all the chicken is coated, then snap on the lid.
- 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.
- 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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
CRAVING MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS? YOU MUST TRY THESE!
BEST STEAK MARINADE & STEAKHOUSE BUTTER
CROCK POT ITALIAN BACON CHICKEN TENDERS
THE BEST GRILLED RIBS
CREAMY GARLIC POTATO PACKETS
GRILLED HONEY LIME CHICKEN SKEWERS
GRILLED ITALIAN LEMON GARLIC CHICKEN
CAMPFIRE APPLE PIE PACKETS
BBQ PORK POTATO FOIL PACKETS
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!
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
Brooks,that's the word I was looking for – rustic!
Sandra & Patti – we should have a Non-Super Bowl Super Bowl party…lol.
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
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…
These look delicious! And great presentation, too. I'm sure kids would love these!
A great looking dish with versatile use. A skewered protein is like a personal entree and a rustic, fun way to eat!
My hubby,the chicken lover, would love this! Thanks for sharing this recipe 🙂
the marinade sounds delicious.
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. 😉 )
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!
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!
I am going to try this soon. We love grilled chicken at our house
Fantastic, easy and convenient way to prepare meat.
Thanks for the post, love your blog:)
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!!!
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!
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.
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.
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/
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!!
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.
I don't have a grill, what is the next best way to cook these, it looks so good & I wanna try them
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.
looks great
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.