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Home » Recipes » Chicken

Asian Chicken Marinade

Published: Jun 25, 2022 · Modified: May 2, 2024 by Sarah Baumeister · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This asian chicken marinade is full of flavor and spice. Use it for chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts before cooking for perfectly seasoned meat full of flavors like cilantro, lime, and spiciness from sambal oelek.

chicken kabobs marinated and grilled.
Jump to:
  • Components of a good marinade
  • Ingredients in this asian chicken marinade
  • How to Make (2 ways)
  • Recipe Tips:
  • How to marinate chicken
  • more chicken marinades
  • Asian Chicken Marinade

Marinades are a great way to add flavor and juiciness to any cut of meat. This asian chicken marinade recipe can easily be used for steak or pork as well!

It has all of the components of a great marinade with an asian twist, acid from rice wine vinegar and lime juice, oil for moisture, sambal oelek for heat, and soy sauce for salt and flavor.

After the chicken marinades, you can simmer the remaining liquid in a small saucepan to use as a delicious marinade sauce. 

Cook up on the grill or a cast iron skillet for juicy chicken that is brimming with asian flavors. 

For another recipe with a delicious marinade for chicken, check out Crispy Teriyaki Chicken Bites.

Components of a good marinade

overhead shot of marinade with cilantro in the background.
  • Something Acidic: An acidic component helps to break down the muscle fibers in the meat, making it more tender. Common acidic ingredients include citrus juices (such as lemon, lime, or orange), vinegar, or yogurt.
  • Oil: Oil helps to carry the flavors of the marinade and keeps the meat moist during the cooking process. It also aids in preventing sticking and helps with caramelization.
  • Flavorings and aromatics: This is where you can get creative! These ingredients provide the distinctive taste to marinade. Some examples include herbs, spices, minced garlic, minced ginger, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, or brown sugar.
  • Salt: Salt not only enhances the overall flavor but also helps with the tenderizing process. It helps to break down proteins, allowing the marinade to penetrate the meat more effectively. 

Ingredients in this asian chicken marinade

ingredients for asian chicken marinade on a white background.
  • cilantro
  • garlic
  • lime Use both the juice and zest.
  • sambal oelek chili paste Red pepper flakes can be used as a substitute, but you will want to add way less. Around 1 tsp. to start, and adjust as necessary. 
  • soy sauce Liquid aminos work as well.
  • honey
  • rice vinegar
  • oil You can sub in part of the more neutral oil with sesame oil, but avoid adding any more than a tablespoon of season oil, as it is very pungent. 

How to Make (2 ways)

liquids for marinade added to a jar.
all ingredients added to a mason jar.
side shot of finished marinade in a mason jar on a wooden cutting board.

By Chopping

  • Chop up fresh cilantro (pretty fine), and mince 4 cloves of garlic.
  • In a small mixing bowl, add cilantro, garlic, lime juice and zest, chili paste, soy sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar, and oil. 
  • Whisk to combine. 

By Using a blender/immersion blender/food processor

Add all ingredients to the blender or bowl a glass measuring cup (if using an immersion blender).

Pulse for 4-5 seconds. Do not overblend. 

side shot of finished marinade on a wooden cutting board.

Recipe Tips:

  • Experiment with different cuts of chicken such as boneless chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.
  • If you prefer a milder marinade, reduce the amount of sambal oelek or omit it altogether.
  • Feel free to substitute the honey with maple syrup or brown sugar for a slight variation in sweetness.
  • To infuse the flavors more deeply into the meat, you can pierce the chicken pieces with a fork before marinating.
chicken and zucchini kabobs on a plate.

How to marinate chicken

To make sure it is completely coated in marinade, place chicken either in a glass bowl covered with plastic wrap or in a freezer bag with all the air pushed out. You want all of the meat to come into contact with the delicious marinade. 

Marinate chicken for 3-4 hours to allow the flavors to really penetrate the meat.

Store unused marinade that hasn't come in contact with raw meat, in the fridge for up to 4 days before using.

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asian chicken marinade and kabobs that have been made with that marinade on a plate.

Asian Chicken Marinade

Sarah Baumeister
This asian chicken marinade is full of rich flavor from rice vinegar, soy sauce, sambal oelek, and cilantro, and is perfect for tenderizing and flavoring your meat.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Homemade Sauces, Sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 1 marinade
Calories 719 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tbsp. cilantro chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • zest of one lime
  • ¼ cup lime juice 2-3 limes
  • 2 tbsp. chili paste
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp. honey
  • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup oil olive oil, avocado oil, or safflower oil

Instructions
 

  • Chop up fresh cilantro (pretty fine), and mince 4 cloves of garlic.
  • In a small mixing bowl, add cilantro, garlic, lime juice and zest, chili paste, soy sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar, and oil. 
  • Whisk to combine. 

Nutrition

Calories: 719kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 6gFat: 55gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 40gSodium: 1692mgPotassium: 624mgFiber: 3gSugar: 41gVitamin A: 4080IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Becky

    June 27, 2022 at 1:38 pm

    Hi! Last time I came to this link, it was for a spicy cilantro lime marinade. I really liked it and wanted to make it again, but now I can't find it on your website. Could you repost it, or e-mail it to me? Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Sarah

      June 27, 2022 at 7:00 pm

      Becky,

      I'm sorry about that! I am reorganizing a few posts and that one is getting updated photos. I am going to email you the recipe now so you can have it in the meantime.

      -Sarah

      Reply
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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Hi, I'm Sarah!

I am a wife, mother, and believer. I have been cooking since I can remember and love sharing recipes with all of you. You will find a variety of recipes here from healthy family dinners, to ways to prepare venison, to soups, to baked goods, anything and everything delicious.

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