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Flavorful golden chicken is a healthy dinner with just 10 minutes of hands-on prep time. The simple marinade includes olive oil, honey, Dijon, lemon, garlic, and turmeric, creating tender and juicy meat for the grill, skillet, or oven!
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If you’re looking for even more chicken marinade recipes, be sure to try this chicken thigh marinade, this Tuscan chicken marinade, a pan of buttermilk marinated chicken, and a batch of marinated Italian chicken, too!
How to Make Golden Chicken | 1-Minute Video
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Easy. This simple, family-friendly dinner calls for basic ingredients and just 10 minutes of prep time. It’s also convenient! You can marinate the meat the night before, prep it in the morning before you leave the house, or throw it together in the late afternoon. It’s delicious on the grill (our preference), but it also works well in a cast iron skillet or roasted in the oven.
- Healthy. Not only do you get the health benefits of turmeric, olive oil, and lemon juice in the marinade, but the grilled chicken is a delicious source of lean protein and essential nutrients such as vitamins B6 and B12. It may promote muscle growth and repair, while supporting overall health. Best of all, it tastes delicious!
- Versatile. There are so many different ways to serve golden chicken, making it a nourishing way to keep everyone at the table happy. It’s great sliced on top of salad, added to wraps or sandwiches, or offered alongside classic cookout fare such as corn on the cob, calico beans, and Southern potato salad.
What is Golden Chicken?
In some cases, golden chicken refers to classic fried chicken with a crispy, golden brown skin. Here, however, golden chicken is used to describe marinated boneless, skinless chicken thighs or boneless, skinless chicken breasts that get their vibrant yellow hue from the addition of turmeric in the marinade.
Turmeric is a spice derived from the Curcuma longa plant, known for its earthy flavor with subtle hints of bitterness and warmth. Its taste is often described as peppery and slightly pungent, adding a distinctive depth to dishes while also offering numerous health benefits. The turmeric in this recipe is very subtle and mild, while still providing a beautiful tint!
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for our favorite golden chicken recipe. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Extra virgin olive oil: fat that helps transfer the flavor from the marinade into the meat.
- Lemon juice: a bright, acidic tenderizing component. Sub with vinegar if you prefer.
- Dijon mustard: helps to emulsify the marinade and adds a zesty kick.
- Honey: provides a hint of sweetness, while the sugars also help to create a nice char on the outside of the meat.
- Turmeric: gives the chicken its golden hue, while also providing a number of health benefits and a subtle, earthy flavor.
- Garlic: for savory flavor. If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves, use ¾ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper: enhance the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Chicken: we prefer dark meat boneless skinless chicken thighs, which stay tender and juicy and have a richer flavor. You can sub with white meat boneless skinless chicken breasts if you like.
Directions
We love grilled golden chicken thighs (shown here), but I’ve also provided instructions for the skillet and oven roasted methods. You’ll find detailed directions for cooking golden chicken in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version:
- Whisk together the marinade.
- Add the chicken, coat in the marinade, and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade.
- Cook the chicken.
- Let the meat rest for a few minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Golden chicken pairs well with a variety of sides, including fresh vegetables such as sauteed asparagus, roasted yellow squash, sauteed zucchini, cucumber tomato onion salad, and garlic roasted broccoli. Pair it with a fresh garden salad tossed with balsamic vinaigrette, or serve it alongside rice pilaf, classic pasta salad, fries or baked potato wedges, pita bread and hummus or tzatziki sauce, or a Southern macaroni salad. It’s the perfect addition to cookouts and other summer celebrations, including graduations, birthdays, and 4th of July gatherings.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Prep Ahead: prep the chicken and marinade in advance. Let the chicken sit and marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hours, or freeze the uncooked meat in the marinade in a large Ziploc freezer bag for up to 3 months before thawing and cooking.
- How to Store: Wrapped tightly or packaged in an airtight container, cooked chicken will keep in the fridge for at least 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat: Place the golden chicken in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, or until warm.
Recipe Variations
- Use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs. The chicken breasts will require about 5 minutes per side for small, thin chicken breasts or up to 10-12 minutes per side for larger, thick chicken breasts. Again, you’re looking for an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- We prefer the smoky char of grilled golden chicken, but you can cook the meat in a cast iron skillet or in the oven if that’s more convenient. The alternate cooking directions are included in the recipe below.
- Add more flavor to the marinade with fresh herbs such as rosemary, chives, parsley, or thyme.
- Make the chicken spicy by including hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes in the marinade.
Expert Tips
- Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours for the best flavor and texture. It’s even better if you leave the chicken in the marinade overnight! I don’t recommend marinating the chicken for more than about 24 hours, or the meat may become mushy.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates lightly to prevent sticking.
- The total cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of your chicken thighs, and on the temperature of your grill. As a result, an instant read thermometer is the best way to know when your chicken is cooked to perfection. It’s done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Let the meat rest for about 5-10 minutes before serving. This gives the juices a chance to redistribute instead of running out onto the plate.
More Chicken Thigh Recipes to Try
Golden Chicken
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon total)
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or sub with boneless skinless chicken breasts)
- Vegetable oil or canola oil, for the grill or pan
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, turmeric, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken to the bowl, toss to coat in the marinade, and cover with plastic wrap. Place the chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 2-3 hours, or overnight.
- When ready to cook the chicken, remove the chicken from the marinade and allow the chicken to sit and come to room temperature for about 30 minutes. Discard the marinade.
To Grill the Chicken (Preferred Method)
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400-450°F). Brush the grill with a little bit of oil to prevent the meat from sticking. Place the chicken thighs directly on the grill grates and grill for approximately 6-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F.
To Bake the Chicken
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the chicken thighs on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil or in a greased baking dish. Bake until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F, about 20 minutes.
To Cook the Chicken in a Cast Iron Skillet
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add about 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet, or enough to coat the bottom of the skillet. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken and cook until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 6-7 minutes per side.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
- Use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs. The chicken breasts will require about 5 minutes per side for small, thin chicken breasts or up to 10-12 minutes per side for larger, thick chicken breasts. Again, you’re looking for an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves, use ¾ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Add more flavor to the marinade with fresh herbs such as rosemary, chives, parsley, or thyme.
- Make the chicken spicy by including hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes in the marinade.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in August, 2016. It was updated in May, 2024.
I love the color of this chicken, Blair! And the flavors, wow! Any dish that’s ready in just 20 minutes was made for me!
Exactly, Gayle! It’s hard to beat a 20-minute meal! 🙂
Much to my surprise, this marinade is absolutely delicious. I didn’t expect that a short list of simple ingredients would combine in such a savory and delicious way. YUM!! This is something I will make again and again.
Thank you! We’re so glad you enjoyed it.
I haven’t ventured into the idea of using turmeric yet, mainly because I feel like it’s supposed to be used in savory dishes, not sweet! Yes to this beautiful chicken (that sounds weird), I would totally use turmeric for this recipe!
Thanks, Bethany! I’m with you — savory all the way! I think this chicken is a great place to start!
Such a great marinade, Blair, and it looks fantastic on the chicken. Love that turmeric adds such interesting flavours along with it’s health benefits. You are so good at coming up with quick, easy and healthy dinners!
Thanks, Robyn! You’re right — healthy + extra flavor is a win-win! 🙂
Oooh, what a delicious combination of flavours! I really need to try this! Usually I can take or leave chicken, however, when it has a delicious marinade or coating I’m all for it!
Thanks, Kristy! No boring chicken here! 🙂
Hi Blair,
I absolutely love Golden Chicken recipe. I would also love to feature it in our website Greenthickies.com. Of course I will link back to your post here. Is it okay if I use one of your images for it? I will not post the actual recipe and its contents, only an image and the title and link directly back to your post.
Thanks a lot
Hi, Katherine! Yes, that’s fine! Feel free to use an image and link back here for the recipe. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Blair Great! Thanks for your reply 🙂
This looks so yummy! Thank you for the recipe<3 I included it in my anti-inflammatory turmeric recipes roundup post: https://kaijumaddy.com/2018/07/21/15-anti-inflammatory-turmeric-recipes/
Awesome! Thanks, MaDonna!
Can you substitute the turmeric for something else?
Hi, Carol! You can omit the turmeric. It will still be delicious; it just won’t have that golden hue. Hope you enjoy!