Description
A flavorful and easy-to-make grilled chicken marinade recipe that perfectly balances savory, sweet, and smoky notes to enhance boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend barbecue.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Marinade
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a resealable bag or shallow dish, then pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure each piece is coated thoroughly.
- Refrigerate: Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to penetrate the chicken. For more intense flavor, marinate up to 8 hours.
- Preheat the Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat, preparing for cooking the chicken breasts.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the marinated chicken breasts on the grill and cook for 6 to 8 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C), ensuring they are safe to eat and juicy.
- Rest and Serve: Remove chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes to allow juices to redistribute before serving.
Notes
- Marinating for longer (up to 8 hours) will intensify the flavor and tenderness of the chicken.
- Ensure the grill is properly preheated to avoid sticking and to get nice grill marks.
- You can use a meat thermometer to check for doneness for perfect results.
- If you don’t have a grill, this recipe can be adapted for stovetop cooking using a grill pan or skillet.
- Adjust salt according to the salt content in the soy sauce used.
