Craving the best Citrus Chicken Marinade Recipe? This easy marinade has zesty lemon, garlic, & herb flavors and makes every bite tender and juicy.
Struggling with weeknight dinner ideas? This Citrus Chicken Marinade is your answer! Its vibrant, zesty flavor elevates any meal, making it incredibly versatile.
Try it paired with our creamy Copycat Olive Garden Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo or a comforting side of Creamy Parmesan Risotto. It's also the perfect addition to fresh salads, pasta dishes, layering in sandwiches and wraps, or creating flavorful tacos and burritos. For an extra kick, drizzle it with our tangy Cowboy Butter Sauce.
If you're firing up the grill, don't miss our other popular grilling recipes! Dive into the juicy perfection of our Grilled Ribeye Steak, savor the tenderness of Grilled Lamb Chops, or enjoy the festive fun of our Grilled Beer Can Chicken.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Citrus Chicken Marinade is a game-changer! It's quick to make, infuses your chicken with bright, zesty flavors, and guarantees tender, delicious results every time. Plus, it's incredibly versatile!
Also known as Big Ed’s Marinade, this zesty recipe is a crowd favorite. It’s the best lemon citrus marinade for chicken, steak, shrimp, or pork!
Created by our friends Big Ed and Mary Jo, it’s been the go-to for summer BBQs and family gatherings. You gotta try it!
Here's What You Need
- corn oil – any neutral-flavored oil will work here, such as canola or light olive oil.
- lemon juice – freshly squeezed lemon juice gives a bright, tangy flavor. You can also substitute bottled lemon juice.
Citrus Substitutions: Orange juice is the most common citrus fruit used in citrus chicken marinade recipes. Lime and pineapple juice also work! - green onion – use both the green tops and the white parts for full flavor.
- garlic – fresh garlic is best for bold, aromatic flavor.
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts – Use this citrus marinade for any cut of chicken, steak, shrimp, or pork!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
A Guide to Marinades
Want to switch things up? It’s easy to create a variety of flavorful marinades with a few simple ingredients. Mix and match from these categories to make it your own:
dairy - A great alternative to oil-based marinades. Buttermilk or Greek yogurt work wonders for tenderizing—just 30 minutes is enough for juicy, flavorful results.
oil - Use any neutral-flavored oil like canola, vegetable, or corn oil. Olive oil or avocado oil work too, but keep in mind they’ll add a bit more flavor.
acid - Acidic ingredients help tenderize meat, but too much time can start to "cook" it—so keep marinating under 10 hours. Popular acids include lemon, lime, or orange juice, as well as vinegars like balsamic, white, champagne, or apple cider.
salt - Enhances flavor and tenderizes meat.
protease - These natural tenderizers help break down proteins in the meat. Try adding a splash of soy sauce, a bit of fresh ginger, or some pineapple juice.
fresh herbs - Fresh herbs deliver more vibrant flavor than dried. Toss in a few sprigs of rosemary, thyme, or oregano for a fragrant boost.
onions - Yellow or red onions, green onions, or shallots enhance flavor and tenderizes meat.
garlic - Provides a savory flavor to contrast the brightness of citrus.
Variations
Latin-Inspired - Lime, orange, cilantro, garlic, and some chili oil.
Mediterranean - Lemon, oregano, garlic, and olive oil.
Asian-Inspired - Soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil.
Tropical - Pineapple juice, lime, and garlic.
How to Make Citrus Chicken Marinade
STEP 1. Combine Ingredients. Add all ingredients to a gallon resealable bag, squeeze out the air, and seal the bag.
STEP 2. Marinate. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes up to 10 hours.
STEP 3. Grill. Grill over direct heat (medium-high heat) for 6 minutes on each side until internal temperature reaches 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.
We recommend using a fast and accurate, instant read thermometer like the Thermapen® ONE to check temps.
STEP 4. Rest 5 Minutes. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing into it so that the juices reabsorb into the meat. That way, the meat stays juicy instead of the juices running out onto the cutting board or plate.
STEP 5. Slice. Slice the meat against the grain. This will aid the tenderness of the meat.
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Recipe Tips
Meal Prep. Store prepped bags of marinated meat in the freezer to take out as needed for easy weeknight dinners. Thaw a bag in the refrigerator overnight, and it'll be ready to cook the next day.
Cooking for a Crowd. Use the Servings Slider in the recipe card below to scale the recipe.
Avoid Over-Marinating. Marinating chicken in citrus for more than 10 hours can result in a mushy texture and an overly acidic flavor.
Recipe FAQs
A marinade is a liquid mixture of ingredients in which fish, poultry, beef, or other meat is soaked for a period of time in order to infuse flavor and tenderize the protein.
The 3 main ingredients of a marinade are oil, acid, and salt and/or protease. Herbs are often added for flavor, as well.
Marinate chicken for 30 minutes up to 10 hours.
Serving Suggestions
We love using this Citrus Chicken Marinade for our Copycat Olive Garden Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo— a match made in heaven. The citrusy chicken pairs perfectly with our Zesty Cowboy Butter Sauce. It's also great in salads, pastas, sandwiches, chicken tacos, burritos, you name it!
Easy Weeknight Dinners
More Chicken Recipes
- Oven Baked Chicken Wings - Perfect easy party food recipe for the big game. People go wild for these tasty wings.
- Classic Chicken Salad - Delicious classic flavors.
- Instant Pot Chicken Soup - Same comforting soup made in a fraction of the time.
- Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Beer Can Chicken
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📖 Recipe
Citrus Chicken Marinade Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups corn oil
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon green onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients. Add all ingredients to a gallon resealable bag, squeeze out the air, and seal the bag.
- Marinate. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes up to 12 hours.
- Grill. Grill over direct heat for 6 minutes on each side until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Rest 5 Minutes. Let the grilled meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing into it so that the juices reabsorb into the meat. That way, the chicken stays juicy instead of the juices running out onto the cutting board or plate.
- Slice. Slice the meat against the grain. This will aid the tenderness of the meat.
Kathy says
I love the easy to follow directions, explanations, and flavorable results!
Seanna Borrows says
So happy to hear! 😊
Lisa Hatfield says
Seanna! This is the best marinade ever...thank you for sharing your family recipe with us. It's now my go-to favorite, and so easy. A total keeper!
Seanna says
Thanks so much Lisa! That means a lot coming from you!
Jessica Robinson says
We've been eating healthier and found this chicken marinade! It's absolutely amazing and so flavorful.
Seanna says
Oh thank you so much Jessica! I am so happy you like it! We're trying to eat healthier over here too!
Russ B says
Awesome flavor for chicken or flank steak!
Seanna says
Thank you!! I'm glad you like it. You've sure been eating it enough lately!