Italian Chicken Marinade

4.58 from 7 votes

For juicy and flavorful grilled chicken, try marinating it in a zesty Italian chicken marinade. You'll be amazed at how tasty and easy this homemade marinade is.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Marinating Time1

Total Time1 30

Course: Sauces & Marinades

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Rachel Gurk

Equipment

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (see note)
¼ cup oil (olive, canola, or grapeseed oil)
¼ cup white wine vinegar (red wine vinegar works well, too)
2 teaspoons honey or granulated sugar (or granulated sugar)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (more if desired)

Instructions

Combine oil, vinegar, honey, and seasonings in small jar or bowl, shake or whisk to combine.
¼ cup oil, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey or granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Place chicken in a resealable bag and pour marinade over it, making sure the marinade covers all surfaces of the chicken. Seal the bag tightly, and place it in a dish to contain any possible leaks. (You can also marinate the chicken in a shallow covered dish.) Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight. The longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavorful it will be.
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
When ready to cook, remove chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Discard marinade. Let the chicken warm up slightly while you preheat the grill, oven, or air fryer. It will cook more evenly.
To grill: Preheat grill to medium heat. Grill chicken for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping once, until cooked through. Cooking time will vary depending on thickness of meat and exact grill temperature. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
To bake: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place chicken in greased baking dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Baking time depends on thickness of chicken pieces.
To air fry: Preheat air fryer at 375°F for five minutes. Place chicken in air fryer in a single layer and cook for 10 minutes. Flip, and continue to cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until chicken is done. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. TIP: I find that smaller pieces of chicken cook more evenly in the air fryer so I often cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Check frequently near the end of the cooking time so they don’t get overdone.
Cook chicken (all methods) until internal temperature reads 165°F on an instant read thermometer. Do not overcook.

Video

Notes

Serving suggestions: Italian chicken is delicious served as a main course but it can also be sliced or cubed, and used in pasta dishes, salads, meal bowls, or on sandwiches.
Marinate other meats: Italian marinade is also perfect for chicken thighs or drumsticks, pork, or steak. Use Italian marinade for veggies: You can marinate zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, mushrooms, or red onion, and grill the marinated veggies on skewers or in a grill basket.
Variations: For a lemony Italian marinade, substitute lemon juice for the vinegar. Add the zest of one lemon for even more lemon flavor. If you like zesty Italian, increase red pepper flakes to half a teaspoon.
Storage: Refrigerate cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can freeze it for up to 4 months. I usually slice the chicken before freezing it so it thaws very quickly. It's perfect for meal bowls or salads!

Nutrition

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