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Square overhead shot of grilled marinated chicken thighs on a white table.
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5 from 4 votes

Chicken Thigh Marinade

A savory chicken thigh marinade with soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, garlic and herbs turns this affordable cut of meat into a tender, juicy and flavorful meal!
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword baked chicken thighs, best chicken thigh marinade, chicken thigh marinade, chicken thigh marinade grill, grilled chicken thighs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Marinating Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 17 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 283kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

CHICKEN THIGH MARINADE

CHICKEN

  • 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

MAKE THE CHICKEN THIGH MARINADE

  • In a large measuring cup or in a jar with a lid, whisk (or shake) together all of the marinade ingredients until completely combined.
    Overhead shot of chicken thigh marinade in a glass measuring cup.

MARINATE THE CHICKEN

  • Place chicken thighs in a large Ziploc bag or bowl. Pour the marinade in the bag with the chicken. Seal the top of the bag and place chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 2-3 hours (or overnight is even better). Remove chicken from the bag or bowl and discard the marinade.
    Boneless skinless chicken thighs in the best chicken thigh marinade in a Ziploc bag.

GRILL THE CHICKEN THIGHS

  • Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400-450°F). Place the chicken thighs directly on 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.
    Marinated chicken thighs on the grill.

ALTERNATE OVEN-ROASTED METHOD

  • 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.
    Horizontal side shot of grilled marinated chicken thighs on a white wooden table.

Video

Notes

  • To serve a smaller family, cut the ingredients in half and only bake about 1 pound of chicken thighs.
  • For the best results, marinate the chicken thighs overnight. This particular marinade doesn't have too much acid in it, so it won't turn the meat mushy. Instead, the longer marinating time will develop the most flavor and will yield the most tender, juicy meat. Since there are days when we just don't plan ahead enough for a long overnight marinade, it's fine to soak the chicken for about 2-3 hours. The meat will still be delicious!
  • If you don't have garlic salt, use garlic powder instead and add a dash of salt to taste. You can also feel free to switch up the herbs. For instance, add parsley instead of oregano, or use thyme instead of rosemary. Swap out the honey for brown sugar. Add a dollop of Dijon mustard to the marinade for a little bit of tangy, zesty kick. The seasoning options are endless!

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of the recipe | Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 914mg | Potassium: 426mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 108IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg