• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Cozy Fall Recipes
  • Start Here
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe

Season & Thyme logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Cozy Fall Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Social
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Chicken » Asian Chicken Marinade

    Published: Jun 25, 2022 · Modified: Jul 14, 2023 by Sarah Baumeister · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Asian Chicken Marinade

    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. 

    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 Check out this post for more information on What is Sambal Oelek? 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.

    more chicken marinades

    • chicken in yogurt marinade
      Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade
    • bourbon brown sugar marinade featured
      Bourbon Brown Sugar Marinade
    • img 1145
      Greek Marinade for Chicken
    • cuban mojo chicken thighs featured
      Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs
    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!

    More Flavorful Chicken Recipes

    • greek chicken meatballs on pasta topped with dill and feta.
      Greek Chicken Meatballs
    • finished tray bake dish.
      Greek Chicken Tray Bake
    • finished greek chicken thighs in slow cooker.
      Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Gyros
    • spicy chicken pasta dish with basil leaves on top.
      Spicy Chicken Pasta

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Becky says

      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 says

        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

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I am a wife, mother, and believer. I have been cooking since I could stand and am excited to share my love for being in the kitchen 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, we love it all!

    Learn more about me →

    Fall Favorites

    • bowl of mashed pumpkin next to pressure cooker.
      Instant Pot Pumpkin
    • overhead of pumpkin cheesecake cookies sprinkled with cinnamon.
      Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
    • Protein Pumpkin Muffins
    • one apple cider muffin on a wooden cutting board with apples in the background.
      Apple Cider Muffins
    • finished granola in a container on a wooden cutting board
      Brown Butter Cinnamon Granola
    • img 0899
      Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

    Popular Posts

    • Chicken Pastina with Egg
    • overhead of finished ranch dressing.
      Copycat Wingstop Ranch Recipe
    • thai eggplant curry featured
      Thai Eggplant Curry (and all about Thai eggplants)
    • featured image of fermented pickles without vinegar in a mason jar
      Fermented Pickles without Vinegar
    • bowl of mexican sopita with a spoon.
      Mexican Sopita (Sopa de Conchas)
    • finished burger on a plate
      Ninja Foodi Frozen Burgers (in Air Fryer)

    Season and Thyme has been featured in:

    image of brand logos of all the places Season and Thyme has been featured.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Copyright © 2023 Season and Thyme