As we plunge deeper into Summer, the itch to fire up the grill and get cooking has never been stronger. But before you throw your steaks or chicken breasts directly on the grill, consider a quick marinade to take your proteins to the next level. Marinades take minutes to prepare and ensure your seafood, meat and vegetables stay tender, juicy and packed with flavor. Forget the store-bought bottle of marinade aging in your fridge and check out these easy and delicious homemade marinade recipes instead.
From lemon and garlic to ginger and soy, the flavor combinations in these easy marinade recipes will take your meals to the next level. If you’re bored of eating the same old meals night after night, changing things up is as easy as setting aside about thirty minutes before you start cooking to let your protein sit in a flavor-packed marinade. Spices, herbs, citrus, garlic — these easy marinade recipes are the best route to flavor for all your summer meals.
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Cuban Mojo Marinade
Image Credit: Plays Well With Butter. Forget about bland. Anything marinated in this Cuban mojo sauce takes on a garlicky, citrusy flavor that’s irresistible. Try it with chicken, pork, or even tofu.
Get the recipe from Plays Well With Butter.
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Moroccan Spiced Marinade
Image Credit: Spice Up Bites. Warm spices, bright lemon juice, lots of garlic — this Moroccan-inspired marinade recipe will transform even bland chicken breasts into a rave-worthy dinner.
Get the recipe from Spice Up Bites.
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Honey Mustard Marinade
Image Credit: Plays Well With Butter. Your favorite dipping sauce and salad dressing makes for an amazing marinade, too. Sweet honey, tangy mustard, and plenty of seasonings will infuse your meals with flavor.
Get the recipe from Plays Well With Butter.
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Buffalo Chicken Marinade
Image Credit: Real Food Whole Life. Pack even more hot and tangy Buffalo flavor into your chicken by marinating it in this spicy mixture before cooking. Glaze with remaining marinade as the chicken cooks, and serve with a side of extra sauce for the biggest blast of flavor.
Get the recipe from Real Food Whole Life.
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Lemon Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Image Credit: Hungry Happens. Kids and adults alike will go wild for this lemon garlic parmesan marinade. It’s got a cheesy, punchy taste that pairs perfectly with pasta and salads.
Get the recipe from Hungry Happens.
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Easy Jerk Marinade
Image Credit: Baked Bree. The next best thing to escaping for a Jamaican vacation? Firing up the grill and cooking up some chicken that’s been marinated in this Jerk mixture, which gets a spicy kick from Scotch bonnet peppers.
Get the recipe from Baked Bree.
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Korean BBQ Marinade
Image Credit: Damn Delicious. This super simple marinade has all of the delicious flavors of Korean BBQ and works great on New York strip steaks.
Get the full recipe at Damn Delicious.
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Smoky Harissa Marinade
Image Credit: The Modern Proper. This smoky marinade is perfect for chicken thighs and packs a spicy, flavorful punch.
Get the full recipe at The Modern Proper.
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Piri Piri Marinade
Image Credit: Meal Plan Addict. Piri Piri is a Portugese sauce made with roasted red peppers, garlic and smoked paprika. It comes together quickly by combining all your ingredients in a blender or food processor.
Get the full recipe at Meal Plan Addict.
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Old Bay Marinade
Image Credit: Carlsbad Cravings. This easy marinade requires just 20 minutes of chill time. It’s made with plenty of garlic, Old Bay Seasoning and cocktail sauce.
Get the full recipe at Carlsbad Cravings.
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Cilantro Lime Marinade
Image Credit: Kalefornia Kravings. This mariande is perfect on chicken wings and made with fresh cilantro, lime juice, lots of garlic and Mexican spices.
Get the full recipe at Kalefornia Kravings.
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Lemon Basil Marinade
Image Credit: Hurried Health Nut. Perfect on chicken, seafood, or vegetables, this super easy marinade is a cinch to whip up and is made with mostly pantry staples.
Get the full recipe at Hurried Health Nut.
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Orange Herb Marinade
Image Credit: Foodness Gracious. This light, citrusy marinade is perfect on salmon kebabs which you can throw on the grill with your favorite veggies for a delightful summer dinner.
Get the full recipe at Foodness Gracious.
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Garlicky Yogurt Marinade
Image Credit: What's Gaby Cooking. This yogurt marinade is packed with crushed red pepper flakes, sweet paprika, red wine vinegar, tomato paste, garlic and lemon juice. Serve with grilled pita and tzaziki sauce for the perfect summer dinner.
Get the full recipe at What’s Gaby Cooking.
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Cilantro Chimichurri Marinade
Image Credit: A Shade of Teal. This colorful herbaceous sauce doubles as a marinade and a sauce and works great on chicken or beef.
Get the full recipe at A Shade of Teal.
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Soy Citrus Marinade
Image Credit: Alison Roman. While delicious on chicken, this citrus-soy marinade, made with fresh lemon, lime and orange juice, works great on veggies like scallions or fennel.
Get the full recipe from Alison Roman.
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Herby Steak Marinade
Image Credit: Jessica Gavin. This easy steak marinade recipe is perfectly balanced and made with worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, honey and plenty of fresh herbs.
Get the full recipe from Jessica Gavin.
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Beer & Honey BBQ Marinade
Image Credit: Jo Cooks. Crack open a beer and prep this easy marinade the night before for truly tender chicken skewers.
Get the full recipe at Jo Cooks.
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Lemony Greek Marinade
Image Credit: Eazy Peazy Mealz. Bright lemon, olive oil and dried herbs lend Mediterranean flavor to your chicken in this easy to throw together marinade.
Get the full recipe at Eazy Peazy Mealz.
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Turmeric Coconut Milk Marinade
Image Credit: Damn Delicious. This marinade takes chicken to the next level with the help of a simple coconut milk marinade and some pantry spices. The peanut dipping sauce is a must.
Get the full recipe at Damn Delicious.
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Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade
Image Credit: Garlic & Zest. It’s hard to go wrong with brown sugar, soy sauce, and whiskey. This easy marinade is dynamite on steak or chicken.
Get the full recipe at Garlic and Zest.
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21 DIY Marinades That Are Way Tastier Than Anything Store-Bought
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