We've all made at least one (or two!) of these marinating faux pas, so here's a guide to easy fixes.
6 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Marinating Meat
Updated May 16, 2023
It turns out marinating meat isn’t always as easy as you’d hope! Just throwing a “secret blend” of sauces, spreads and condiments on your chicken likely isn’t going to yield a great flavor, and more marinade doesn’t always equal a better outcome. (But hang on a sec—does marinating really work? This is our honest answer.)
Here are the simple mistakes people make when marinating and our best ideas to fix ’em.
1. You don’t have enough flavor
When you take 15 minutes to make a marinade and let your protein chill, you want the end result to be delicious and worth your while. But what if the flavor just isn’t there? To bring out a flavor that’s anything but boring, go ahead and toast spices, bruise your herbs and smash your garlic!
2. The flavors are too bold
You can definitely have too much of a good thing–or too much going on. You don’t need to do anything that’s mad-scientist crazy, like combine sriracha and horseradish! Be mindful of the flavors of your ingredients and how they’ll interact when you’re cooking.
We like this Teriyaki Beef Marinade.
3. You don’t wait long enough
Your protein needs more than 5 minutes to properly absorb all the flavors. There’s no need to wait 24 hours, but you’ll want to let things rest for at least 30 minutes. You might even let your chicken, pork or beef marinate in the fridge overnight before you plan to cook. (That means you won’t have to do a thing in the kitchen until company’s on the way. Score!)
4. It’s too salty
The salt in your marinade is important, but overly salty meat can lead to a dry and tough finished product. Keep this in mind when you’re preparing your marinade and don’t go crazy with the salt, because it pulls the moisture out of your ingredients. You can always add more salt when you’re cooking, and keep some out at the dinner table, too.
For the most tender and flavorful result, ask your butcher for the right cuts of meat.
5. Things aren’t food safe
Salmonella is a risk when handling raw meat, so make sure that you avoid any contamination by tossing out the marinade the meat was resting in. It doesn’t hurt to have a little extra left over, so next time you’re making a marinade, keep a small container on the side for basting during the cooking process.
6. There’s not enough marinade
Make sure to whip up more than enough marinade, because this definitely isn’t the time to skimp! The results will be far better if you give your protein ample marinade to soak in, making sure all pieces of chicken or beef are covered in the dish or bag.
The super-easy chicken recipes below show off our most flavor-packed marinades. They’ll keep you cooking all season long!
Easy, Flavorful Marinated Chicken Recipes
Grilled Glazed DrummiesThese chicken wings are more mild than traditional hot wings, but still bring layers of flavor with a sweet and sour ginger, honey and soy sauce blend. Give yourself at least four hours for the drumettes to marinate. If you enjoyed this recipe, then you must try sweet and sour chicken.
Sticky Chicken WingsSweet and sticky chicken wings are always a crowd-pleaser. The brown sugar marinade makes every bite worth the stack of napkins you'll need to get through them!
Sheet-Pan Lemon Garlic ChickenThis sheet-pan chicken with roasted potatoes and a bright pop of lemon is so easy to make. No need to plan too far ahead: You only need to marinate the chicken for 30 minutes.
Sheet-Pan Tandoori ChickenThis sheet-pan marinated chicken recipe is easy to put together but tastes like a special occasion dinner. The chicken marinates all day in an aromatic blend of spices and yogurt. You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to make it milder or hotter.
Tropical Island ChickenThis overnight marinated chicken is perfect for summer. The ginger, garlic and soy sauce aroma alone will have you drooling! Sesame seeds add a satisfying texture.
Grilled Basil Chicken and TomatoesTomato and basil is a classic combination for a reason. Serve this marinated chicken dish with pasta, potatoes or a green salad.
Filipino Chicken AdoboThe chicken only needs to sit for 20 to 30 minutes to soak up all the flavors of the mildly sweet and tangy sauce. The vinegar helps make this marinated chicken extra tender.
Slow-Cooked Mandarin ChickenThis orange and olive chicken requires planning ahead, but most of the work is hands-off. Let the chicken marinate overnight, then cook it on low in the slow cooker all day. The end result is saucy and moist. It's perfect over rice.
Caribbean ChickenYou won't find a marinade this flavorful at the grocery store. It requires little prep work and has a big payoff. Friends and family will request this sweet and spicy chicken all the time.
Flavorful Chicken FajitasNeed a meal in hurry? These one-hour marinated chicken fajitas are beautifully seasoned with just the right amount of zing. Serve them with a selection of toppings, like shredded cheese, sliced red onions and salsa.
Honey-Glazed Chicken KabobsThese sweet and savory kebabs are a whole meal. But if you're looking to serve a feast, some garlic bread on the side goes a long way. The six-hour marinade works with steaks as well.
Apple-Marinated Chicken & VegetablesApple juice and chicken? Sign us up! This marinade goes on both the chicken and the vegetables, so all you have to do is grill and enjoy.
Oven-Fried Chicken DrumsticksWith a Greek yogurt, mustard and garlic marinade, you won't even be able to tell the chicken isn't actually fried. You can make the marinade and coat the chicken the night before, so everything is ready when it's time to cook.
Originally Published: May 30, 2018
