I love a good marinade. They are pretty close to effortless: Just mix, refrigerate, and let it flavor and tenderize your meat of choice. Olive oil, lemon, and garlic are some of my favorite flavors, and I’m sure I use them in some combination weekly. This Lemon Garlic Marinade recipe was a must-try since I had everything in my pantry and refrigerator.
This post was originally published on July 24, 2017. The text and photos were updated on August 31, 2021. The review and rating have not been changed.
The best marinade ever!!
The Ingredients
As I mentioned, I had everything on hand except the chicken. I love it when that happens! I mixed the ingredients in a glass bowl, but a plastic bag or container would also work. Just be sure whatever you marinate in isn’t a reactive metal. There’s lemon juice in the marinade, and some metals react with the acid causing a funny taste.
The Process
I do love quick and easy recipes, and this marinade is exactly that. It only took 8 minutes to prep, including pounding the chicken with a meat mallet.
I let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Tip: When I was ready to make it, I set it out on the counter to allow it to warm up to room temperature for 30 minutes. This trick helps prevent cold, raw centers and works well with any cut of meat.
I opted to grill the chicken, but that’s just a personal preference. Cooking on the stovetop or in the oven would work just as well. I love using my grill pan when I decide to cook indoors. It really gets close to that outdoor grilling flavor.
