I love how a marinade can take a blah dish to absolutely amazing in just 1 hour. This balsamic chicken marinade is bright, spicy, tangy, and sweet. It’s such a simple and delicious way to marinate chicken so that it turns out insanely juicy and flavorful. I love to use this marinade on grilled or baked chicken– it’s so good with both.
Balsamic Chicken Marinade Recipe
With the tangy balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon juice, lemon-pepper seasoning, and subtly sweet honey, I can’t stop drooling over this easy balsamic chicken marinade. It smells amazing, and it tastes even better! This is a simple recipe that makes any chicken dish just that much tastier.
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How to Store
If you want to make the balsamic chicken marinade ahead of time, store it in a plastic bag, jar, or another airtight container, in the fridge (without the chicken) for 3-4 days.
How to Freeze
I do not recommend freezing the marinade on its own, but if you want to freeze the chicken in the marinade, simply add the chicken to the bag of marinade — making sure to squeeze out any air before closing. Then freeze it for up to 3 months. When ready to use, let it thaw in the fridge. The chicken will marinate as it thaws.
Notes and Tips
- Marinating chicken infuses it with flavor all the way through and helps keep it moist as it cooks.
- This lemon pepper balsamic chicken marinade works great for any cuts of chicken, whether that’s boneless/bone-in chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks.
- If you marinate the chicken for more than 4 hours, the texture of your chicken will become undesirable. Any longer, and the acid will start “cooking” the chicken instead of flavoring it.
- It’s important to note that you should not save any leftover marinade that’s already been used. The raw chicken has contaminated the mixture, and you will need to throw it away.
Top Reader Review
“This is so good. Perfect balance of flavors!” -Terry
Balsamic Chicken Marinade Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
Instructions
- Stir together all the ingredients in a medium bowl.¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
- Pour marinade into a bag and add chicken. Close bag and make sure the chicken is fully coated.
- Marinate chicken for 30-60 minutes in the fridge and then cook as desired.
Notes
- This works great as a marinade for Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken!
How to Make Balsamic Chicken Marinade Step by Step
Mix the Marinade: Stir together ¼ cup of balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of honey, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon of lemon-pepper seasoning in a medium bowl.
Marinate the Chicken: Pour the marinade into a bag and add chicken. Close the bag and make sure the chicken is fully coated. Marinate chicken for 30-60 minutes in the fridge and then cook as desired.
What can I use in place of the balsamic vinegar?
You can use a different kind of vinegar (like apple cider or red wine), but it won’t taste quite the same!