Some cooks swear by marinades, claiming that they flavor any cut of meat inside and out. You might be surprised to know that science is not exactly on their side! It’s been proven over and over again that marinating meat does add flavor and tenderness, but only to a certain degree. Before you start working on Linda’s Best Marinated Chicken or that Grilled Asian Flank Steak, here’s what you need to know:
1. It’s Not More Than Skin-Deep
It’s a good idea to use marinades on meat, especially tough cuts like a flank steak, as they do add flavor and tenderness. But what many people don’t know is that this action only happens to the very outer edge of the meat! We’ve seen tests that show marinades only reach 1-3 millimeters beneath the meat’s surface. Don’t think about marinades as flavoring a chicken breast or pork chop all the way through; instead, keep in mind that a marinade should be the first thing that cooks when meat hits the heat.
Psst… To make sure you’re asking for the right cut of meat at your butcher, check out our guide.
2. Marinades Don’t Really Need Herbs
The best ingredients for your marinade are actually salt, sugar, oil and an acid like lemon or vinegar. Learn the secret to creating a great marinade using items in your pantry. The salt is important, as it can penetrate and season meat more deeply than other ingredients. Sugar is useful for helping achieve browning while cooking. You need oil to keep the meat from sticking to your grill or pan. And acid helps break down muscle fibers, leading to a perfectly tender meat. (This Teriyaki Beef Marinade is a perfect example of the right ingredients.)
3. You Can Marinate for Too Long!
Your best bet for achieving marination magic is to soak your chicken, pork chops or loins and steak at least 30 minutes, but never longer than overnight. The risk of a lengthy bath in the marinade comes back to acid. It tenderizes by breaking down the proteins in the meat, but since a marinade only seeps in so far, the acid can turn the outside layer mealy and mushy without softening the interior part of the meat at all.
Because marinades never really get to the center of thick cuts of meat, it can be very effective to marinate them for just half an hour. Your best bet for getting the flavors in the marinade all over is to reserve some before adding the raw meat. Just add it to the cooked meat as a sauce or glaze shortly before or after you take it off the grill. Another method is to pound the meat to a thinner starting point–the marinade won’t have to travel as far to penetrate the whole cut.
To really get your tough meat tender, one former restaurant chef has eight simple ideas.
The best case scenario is to have the outside of the meat properly flavored and tender without ever taking a not-so-appealing mushy bite!
Our Most Flavorful Marinated Chicken Recipes
Grilled Huli Huli Chicken
Looking for a marinated chicken recipe that's juicy and flavorful? Let a sweet and savory overnight marinade with brown sugar, ginger and soy sauce do all the work.
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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.
Roasted Honey Mustard ChickenYou can't go wrong with honey mustard. This roasted chicken only needs to marinate for three hours. Toss any leftovers into what'll easily become your new favorite chicken salad.
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.
Five-Spice Chicken WingsThe overnight marinade is the key to these crispy five-spice wings. We recommend making extra sauce for dipping.
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.
Roasted Lime ChickenThis roasted chicken is sub-lime! You'll impress your guests but more importantly your tastebuds with this herby marinade.
Orange-Spiced ChickenChinese five-spice powder is your grocery store's best kept secret. So orange you glad you came across this overnight marinade recipe?
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.
Ranch-Marinated Chicken BreastsRanch and chicken is one of our favorite combinations. Use the leftover sour cream marinade for a zesty wrap—it packs more of a punch than you'd expect.
Grilled Basil ChickenThis light summer meal is perfect with grilled romaine. Make it the night before so it's ready for dinner.
Next Up: Make the best
steak marinade.
