Our simple Balsamic Chicken Marinade is the best way to cook the most amazing juicy chicken thighs that are packed with flavor! This balsamic marinade for chicken is made with simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. The whole family is going to love it on those busy weeknights!
The Best Balsamic Chicken Marinade
We highly recommend this easy balsamic chicken marinade for grilling chicken thighs outside on a hot summer day (they are perfect in these Balsamic Chicken Rice Bowls)! Using only about 7 basic ingredients, you can whip up this flavor packed balsamic vinegar chicken marinade in a matter of minutes. This quick and easy balsamic chicken recipe can be used before you cook chicken any way you want!
Looking for More Marinade Recipes?
If you love homemade marinades as much as we do, you definitely need to try our Chicken Fajita Marinade!
What You Will Need
- balsamic vinegar – just pick-up your favorite balsamic vinegar from your local grocery store to make flavorful chicken.
- olive oil – an essential ingredient when making any homemade marinade recipe.
- dijon mustard – just a little bit for that depth of amazing flavor.
- rice vinegar – a mild vinegar that always brings the best flavor to this recipe card.
- fresh garlic – everything is always better with some garlic in the mix.
- lemon zest – this touch of acidity helps to amplify all the other flavors going on.
- soy sauce – another one of our favorite ingredients to add to a chicken marinade to make the most tender chicken.
- salt and pepper – simple seasonings that always hit the spot!
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs – love this piece of chicken, but bone-in chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts would be great too.
How To Make A Balsamic Chicken Marinade
The first steps to making this easy recipe are to gather all of the marinade ingredients.
Put all of these ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine this easy marinade.
Pour this healthy balsamic chicken marinade over your favorite cut of chicken in a shallow baking dish, airtight container, or ziplock bag. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours. To make your favorite easy chicken recipe, remove the chicken from the excess marinade and cook any way you want!
Recipe FAQs
- What does balsamic vinegar do to meat? The protein and fat in the meat are broken down by the acidity of the vinegar. This makes the meat softer and more tender. Plus, this vinegar also has a sweetness to it which is a great way to add that flavor without using sugar or brown sugar.
- How long should you marinate chicken? Typically it is best to let meat marinate for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This chicken marinade could be on the chicken for up to 3 hours, after that the vinegar will start to breakdown the meat fibers a little too much.
- What are the best ways to cook this balsamic chicken recipe? We highly recommend making grilled chicken thighs, but cast iron chicken thighs or air fryer chicken thighs would be delicious too. Just make sure you use your instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is cooked through.
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Other Marinade Recipes You Might Like
Balsamic Chicken Marinade Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Marinate Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 batch marinade 1x
- Category: Marinade
- Method: Counter Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
An easy, delicious and flavorful Balsamic Chicken Marinade recipe that is perfect for stove top or grilling!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1–2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (sub Tamari for gluten-free)
- pinch of kosher salt + ground black pepper
- 8 skinless boneless chicken thighs*
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard, rice vinegar, lemon zest, garlic, soy sauce and pinch of salt and pepper.
- Place chicken in a glass container or resealable silicone bag.
- Pour marinade over the chicken and ensure it is fully coated.
- Place in refrigerator and let marinate a minimum of 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.
- Cook however you like – we love making grilled chicken thighs!
Notes
- Chicken Thighs*: You can definitely use bone-in chicken thighs or chicken breasts – whichever you prefer. This is enough for approx. 4-6 boneless chicken breasts.
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