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The beauty of this marinade is how quickly it comes together with pantry staples, yet it transforms plain chicken into something special. Just 30 minutes of marinating time is enough to infuse flavor, but if you let it sit longer—even overnight—the results are even more tender and tasty. It works well with chicken breasts, thighs, or even skewered kebabs.
At my house I do 98% of the grilling. Darb will…but honestly…I really like to do it because it gives me an excuse to be outside.
Grilling a steak is probably my favorite thing to do but chicken is what I make the most. So having options is always a good thing.
Sometimes I will baste it with BBQ sauce, other times just a little Cajun seasoning but our very favorite is this Easy Chicken Marinade Recipe.
How to make an Easy Chicken Marinade
I made the marinade in a liquid measuring cup but a mason jar works awesome because you can shake it to mix the ingredients.
Begin by adding the oil and lime juice {be sure to zest one of the limes before juicing}. I love this juicer {because it works for lemons or limes} but in a pinch I will use lime juice that I purchase from the store.
Next, take the zest from one of the limes that you juiced and add it to the mixture. I always use a microplane to zest ingredients.
What Spices to Add to a Mexican-Style Chicken Marinade
After you have added the zest it is time to add the spices. Cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and oregano leaves can be measured and added to the mixture.
Whisk the marinade together to be sure that all of the ingredients are incorporated nicely.
In a large Ziploc bag, add the chicken and marinade. I always put the bag in a pan just in case the bag leaks.
Finally, add a few sprigs of cilantro and rings of onion. The fresh ingredients will not be cooked with the chicken but will give the marinade and meat amazing flavor.
Seal the bag and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. The longer you marinate the chicken the more flavor it will have.
When it is time to grill, preheat the BBQ to a medium-high heat.
Once it comes to temperature, put the chicken breasts on the grill and cook on the first side for about 5-7 minutes or until the top of the chicken is opaque.
Then turn the chicken and continue to cook for an additional 5-7 minutes or until it is cooked through.
You will be able to tell when it is ready when the juices are no longer pink and a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast reads 165 degrees.
5 Tips for Marinating and Grilling Chicken Breasts
Remove any fat or other imperfections from the chicken breasts before you marinate the chicken. This will allow you to take the chicken directly from the marinade to the grill.
Allow the chicken to marinade for at least 2 hours but preferably 8 hours-overnight. The longer you let it marinate, the more flavor your chicken will absorb.
Throw any extra marinade away. Remember that it has had raw chicken sitting in it and so the juice from the chicken is now in the extra marinade which could easily make you sick.
Grill marinated chicken breasts until they register 165 degrees on an internal thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast.
Allow the marinated chicken to rest before serving. Remove cooked chicken from grill, cover with foil and let it sit for 4-5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, giving you a juicy piece of chicken and not a dry one.
Storage
Store leftover cooked marinated chicken in an airtight container or zipper bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Combine the oil, lime juice, lime zest, brown sugar, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and dried oregano in a liquid measuring cup {or mason jar} and whisk together {or shake} to combine ingredients.
Put chicken breasts into a large Ziploc bag and pour marinade mixture over the top of the chicken. Add the cilantro sprigs and onion rings to the bag. Seal and place bag into a pan with sides {just in case the bag leaks}. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours {8 hours – overnight is ideal}.
Grill chicken over medium-high heat {discard remaining marinade} until thermometer inserted in the thickest part of chicken breast reads 165 degrees {about 5-7 minutes per side}. Remove chicken from grill and cover with foil. Let chicken rest for 4-5 minutes before serving. Store leftover chicken in refrigerator.
Hi, I'm June, the voice behind this food blog where I share my passion for simple and amazing recipes. I have loved cooking and creating in the kitchen for as long as I can remember. Being in the kitchen is definitely my happy place.
I love grilling chicken for meal prep and this marinade was perfect for that!