This essential recipe for balsamic chicken marinade is our go-to for quick and healthy dinners. Grill it, bake it, or freeze it for busy weeknights. With just a few ingredients, it's super flavorful chicken and is easy to make too!
Mix the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic in a small bowl.
½ cup balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper, 2 cloves garlic
Place the chicken in a shallow bowl or baking dish and pour the marinade over the top. Mix it around a little so that all the pieces are coated in the marinade. Cover the bowl then put it into your fridge to marinate for 30 minutes – 24 hours.
2 lb chicken thighs or breast
Cook the chicken
Bake: Put the chicken and all of the marinade into a shallow baking dish. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit, uncovered, for 15 minutes for boneless thighs, 20-25 minutes for breast, and 35-40 minutes for bone-in thighs.Grill: Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes for boneless thighs, 18-22 minutes for breast, and 30-35 minutes (over indirect heat) for bone-in thighs.
Optional: freeze the chicken
Put the raw chicken into freezer bags (we love these Stasher freezer bags!) then pour the marinade over the top. Squish the bag around a little so that the chicken is coated in the marinade then seal the bag and put it into your freezer.