20 Marinated Chicken Recipes That Put Your Fridge to Work (2024)

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20 Marinated Chicken Recipes That Put Your Fridge to Work (1)Alyssa AsaroUpdated: Aug. 01, 2023

    Marinading adds so much flavor with minimal effort. These marinated chicken recipes are some of our favorites.

    1/20

    Grilled Huli Huli Chicken

    Looking for a marinated chicken recipe that’s juicy and flavorful? Let a sweet and savory overnight marinade with brown sugar, ginger and soy sauce do all the work.

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    2/20

    Taste of Home

    Grilled Glazed Drummies

    These chicken wings are more mild than traditional hot wings, but still bring layers of flavor with a sweet and sour ginger, honey and soy sauce blend. Give yourself at least four hours for the drumettes to marinate. If you enjoyed this recipe, then you must try sweet and sour chicken.

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    3/20

    Roasted Honey Mustard Chicken

    You can’t go wrong with honey mustard. This roasted chicken only needs to marinate for three hours. Toss any leftovers into what’ll easily become your new favorite chicken salad.

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    4/20

    TMB studio

    Sticky Chicken Wings

    Sweet and sticky chicken wings are always a crowd-pleaser. The brown sugar marinade makes every bite worth the stack of napkins you’ll need to get through them!

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    5/20

    Taste of Home

    Sheet-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken

    This sheet-pan chicken with roasted potatoes and a bright pop of lemon is so easy to make. No need to plan too far ahead: You only need to marinate the chicken for 30 minutes.

    6/20

    Taste of Home

    Sheet-Pan Tandoori Chicken

    This sheet-pan marinated chicken recipe is easy to put together but tastes like a special occasion dinner. The chicken marinates all day in an aromatic blend of spices and yogurt. You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to make it milder or hotter.

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    7/20

    Tropical Island Chicken

    This overnight marinated chicken is perfect for summer. The ginger, garlic and soy sauce aroma alone will have you drooling! Sesame seeds add a satisfying texture.

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    8/20

    Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes

    Tomato and basil is a classic combination for a reason. Serve this marinated chicken dish with pasta, potatoes or a green salad.

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    9/20

    Taste of Home

    Filipino Chicken Adobo

    The chicken only needs to sit for 20 to 30 minutes to soak up all the flavors of the mildly sweet and tangy sauce. The vinegar helps make this marinated chicken extra tender.

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    10/20

    Five-Spice Chicken Wings

    The overnight marinade is the key to these crispy five-spice wings. We recommend making extra sauce for dipping.

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    11/20

    Taste of Home

    Slow-Cooked Mandarin Chicken

    This orange and olive chicken requires planning ahead, but most of the work is hands-off. Let the chicken marinate overnight, then cook it on low in the slow cooker all day. The end result is saucy and moist. It’s perfect over rice.

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    12/20

    Caribbean Chicken

    You won’t find a marinade this flavorful at the grocery store. It requires little prep work and has a big payoff. Friends and family will request this sweet and spicy chicken all the time.

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    13/20

    Taste of Home

    Flavorful Chicken Fajitas

    Need a meal in hurry? These one-hour marinated chicken fajitas are beautifully seasoned with just the right amount of zing. Serve them with a selection of toppings, like shredded cheese, sliced red onions and salsa.

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    14/20

    Honey-Glazed Chicken Kabobs

    These sweet and savory kebabs are a whole meal. But if you’re looking to serve a feast, some garlic bread on the side goes a long way. The six-hour marinade works with steaks as well.

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    15/20

    Roasted Lime Chicken

    This roasted chicken is sub-lime! You’ll impress your guests but more importantly your tastebuds with this herby marinade.

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    16/20

    Orange-Spiced Chicken

    Chinese five-spice powder is your grocery store’s best kept secret. So orange you glad you came across this overnight marinade recipe?

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    17/20

    Apple juice and chicken? Sign us up! This marinade goes on both the chicken and the vegetables, so all you have to do is grill and enjoy.

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    18/20

    Oven-Fried Chicken Drumsticks

    With a Greek yogurt, mustard and garlic marinade, you won’t even be able to tell the chicken isn’t actually fried. You can make the marinade and coat the chicken the night before, so everything is ready when it’s time to cook.

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    19/20

    Ranch-Marinated Chicken Breasts

    Ranch and chicken is one of our favorite combinations. Use the leftover sour cream marinade for a zesty wrap—it packs more of a punch than you’d expect.

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    20/20

    Grilled Basil Chicken

    This light summer meal is perfect with grilled romaine. Make it the night before so it’s ready for dinner.

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    Next Up: Make the best steak marinade.

    Originally Published: May 05, 2020

    20 Marinated Chicken Recipes That Put Your Fridge to Work (21)

    Alyssa Asaro

    Alyssa has been with Taste of Home for just over a year, but has been in food and lifestyle publishing since 2018. As an associate editor, she writes and edits recipe collections and runs several newsletters, including Top 10, Slow Cooker & Casseroles, Quick Dinners and Balanced Plate.When she's not planning her next trip overseas, you can find Alyssa trying out new Chicago restaurants or watching a movie.

    20 Marinated Chicken Recipes That Put Your Fridge to Work (2024)

    FAQs

    How long can raw marinated chicken stay in the fridge? ›

    The USDA recommends not keeping poultry in marinade for longer than two days, as it's possible that the marinade will start breaking down the meat's fibers and cause it to become mushy. A good rule of thumb is to keep marinating time under 24 hours.

    Why put marinated chicken in fridge? ›

    Always marinate chicken in the refrigerator instead of allowing it to sit at room temperature where bacteria can begin to form. Ideally, place marinating chicken on the bottom shelf of the fridge to prevent any possible leaks or spills onto the foods below.

    What is the formula for chicken marinade? ›

    Making a chicken marinade at home is fast and simple. Marinades are usually 2 parts oil to 1 part acid (something like wine, lemon juice or vinegar), and some salt.

    How long should you marinate chicken? ›

    Give it 5-6 hours for the best flavour and texture – if you don't have that long, even 10 minutes of marinating will give flavour to the outside of chicken. Marinades without acid can be left longer but won't make them work any better, so stick to 24 hours as a maximum. Try one of our delicious marinade recipes.

    Is raw chicken good in the fridge for 3 days? ›

    Fresh, whole chicken or chicken parts will last for 1 to 2 days when stored in the refrigerator, according to FDA guidelines. “Once you cook chicken or chicken dishes, your food should not sit out at room temperature for over 2 hours—or over 1 hour if the temperature is 90 degrees F or above,” Amidor says.

    How to tell if marinated chicken has gone bad? ›

    If your chicken is slimy, has a foul smell, or has changed to a yellow, green, or gray color, these are signs that your chicken has gone bad. Toss any chicken that's past its use-by date, has been in the fridge for more than 2 days raw or 4 day cooked, or has been in the temperature danger zone for over 2 hours.

    What liquid is best for marinade? ›

    Acids. These ingredients tenderise meat by unravelling its proteins – this softens the surface and allows flavours to be absorbed. Acids include vinegar, wine, sherry, citrus juice, yoghurt and buttermilk. Yoghurt and buttermilk tend to keep foods moist, while a citrus-based marinade can “cook” raw fish.

    What liquid tenderizes chicken? ›

    Findings. By the three-hour mark, the most tenderizing marinades were lemon juice, tomato sauce, orange juice, and yogurt.

    What are the three main ingredients when marinating? ›

    A typical marinade is made up of three essential components: an acid (such as vinegar, wine, or citrus), an oil (such as olive oil or sesame oil), and a flavouring agent (such as herbs and spices). These elements work together to transform the taste and texture of your dish in different ways.

    What not to do when marinating chicken? ›

    Don'ts of Marinating

    Don't add too much salt. Too much salt drains moisture from the meat, causing the meat to dry out and preventing flavors from absorbing. Don't re-use marinades or use them as a sauce. Marinades are in contact with raw ingredients; therefore, the marinade could contain harmful bacteria.

    Should I poke holes in chicken before marinating? ›

    While poking holes in your chicken while marinating it can be helpful, it's not mandatory. Mostly, this method helps if you don't have several hours to spare when marinating your poultry. Poking holes in your chicken can allow the marinade to penetrate better in a shorter period.

    Is marinating chicken worth it? ›

    Even on smaller pieces of meat, marinades really don't have much of an effect. Though marinating may be familiar and satisfying—you're getting ahead on prep and looking forward to a flavorful entrée to come—with just a few exceptions, the mixture won't do much more than coat the surface of the meat.

    Is it safe to eat chicken that was marinated for 4 days? ›

    For the most part, you shouldn't plan on marinating your chicken for longer than 24 hours. However, the USDA's website indicates that you can safely marinate chicken for up to 48 hours. Past that, however, you're going to risk turning your chicken into a mushy mess.

    How long can you keep marinated meat in fridge before cooking? ›

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends storing marinated meat in the refrigerator for no more than 3-5 days. This time frame accounts for the potential growth of harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

    Does marinade go bad in the fridge? ›

    Fresh marinades, which often contain acidic ingredients such as vinegar or citrus juices, can last in the refrigerator for around five days, provided they're stored properly in airtight containers. Commercially bottled sauces, by contrast, often have preservatives that extend their shelf life.

    How long can thawed chicken stay in the fridge? ›

    How Long Can Thawed Chicken Stay in the Fridge. Once it's defrosted, chicken will be good in the fridge for up to 2 days. Store in an airtight container on the lowest shelf of your refrigerator to prevent what food safety experts call cross-contamination, or when bacteria travels from one food to another.

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