Name: Easy Chicken Thigh Marinade
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar; 1/4 cup soy sauce; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp minced garlic ((fresh is preferred)); 2 tbsp honey; 1 tsp dijon mustard; 1 tsp dried rosemary; 1 tsp worcestershire; 1 tbsp brown sugar

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This easy Chicken Thigh Marinade will become a regular on your table! Made with simple and fresh ingredients you most likely have in your pantry! Bake, Grill or Air Fry this recipe, it comes out perfect every time with so much flavor.

How Long to Marinate Chicken Thighs?

For the best flavor we recommend 2 hours minimum and up to 24 hours for max flavor. Generally, you don’t want to marinate chicken longer than 24 hours as it can impact the texture.

If you don’t have 2 hours to spare, you can marinate the chicken for 30 minutes, and continue to brush the marinate over the chicken while it cooks for some added flavor. If you have a vacuum sealer, you can use it to infuse more flavor directly, or consider a flavor injector.

We like the ease of a zip top type bag to marinade our chicken. You can also marinate it in a glass dish covered with plastic wrap.

Chicken Thigh Marinde Ingredients:

Soy Sauce– I use low sodium, Kikkoman brand.
Balsamic Vinegar- A little sour finish that really amps this up.
Garlic– Fresh (paste or chopped) works great but granulated will work in a pinch.
Olive Oil– This helps the marinade ‘stick’ to the chicken.
Rosemary – Dried or fresh. If you do not have rosemary you could use thyme.
Dijon Mustard- Regular works great but stone ground would work too.
Worcestershire Sauce- Just a little bit to add savory notes.
Honey – Agave would work as well.
Brown Sugar- I like my chicken thighs sweet. If you want a more savory flavor, just use honey listed above and skip the brown sugar.

How to Bake, Air Fry or Grill Marinated Chicken Thighs

The beauty of chicken thighs is how easy they are to cook. They

Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Spray basket with nonstick, and place chicken thighs in air fryer basket. Cook for 10 minutes, turn and continue to cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until chicken reaches 165 degrees fahrenheit at its thickest point.

Bake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. Line a sheet pan with foil, and spray with nonstick. Place chicken onto foil lined pan and bake for 120-25 minutes. Chicken is done once it reaches 165 degrees fahrenheit at its thickest point. *For a charred exterior, remove chicken once it is almost fully cooked, and turn broiler on. Place chicken back into oven for 2 minutes (keeping an eye on it as it can burn quickly).

Grill: Preheat grill to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Place chicken on grill, and flip over at the 10 minute mark. Continue to cook for additional 10-12 minutes. Chicken is fully cooked once it reaches 165 degrees internally.

If you are a fan of chicken recipes, here’s a few more of our favorites:

Happy marinating! – Kathi and Rachel

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