Simple Spiced Balsamic Chicken Marinade
This easy balsamic chicken marinade hits that sweet spot—tangy balsamic vinegar, a little brown sugar, and pantry staples like olive oil and soy sauce. Works on boneless chicken breasts, thighs, whatever you’ve got—just 10 minutes to mix, then let it sit and do the work.
- Total Time30 minutes (plus marinating time)
- Yield12 servings 1x
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil (½ cup | 120ml)
- Balsamic vinegar (⅓ cup | 80ml)
- Low-sodium soy sauce (3 tablespoons | 45ml)
- Worcestershire sauce (3 tablespoons | 45ml)
- Fresh lemon juice (2 tablespoons | 30ml)
- Brown sugar (½ cup | 100g)
- Dijon mustard (1 tablespoon | 15g)
- Dried rosemary (1 teaspoon)
- Smoked paprika (1 teaspoon)
- Garlic powder (1 teaspoon)
- Kosher salt (1 teaspoon)
- Ground black pepper (½ teaspoon)
- Boneless chicken breasts or thighs ( ~4-5 lbs.)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil (½ cup), balsamic vinegar (⅓ cup), low-sodium soy sauce (3 tablespoons), Worcestershire sauce (3 tablespoons), fresh lemon juice (2 tablespoons), brown sugar (½ cup), Dijon mustard (1 tablespoon), dried rosemary (1 teaspoon), smoked paprika (1 teaspoon), garlic powder (1 teaspoon), kosher salt (1 teaspoon), and ground black pepper (½ teaspoon) until well combined.
- Place boneless chicken breasts or thighs in a large resealable bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over top. Turn to coat evenly, then cover or seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours.
- Grill over medium-high heat, bake at 400°F, or air fry at 400°F until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Let rest before slicing and serving.
Notes
You can grill, bake, or air fry the chicken. For air frying, cook at 400°F for 8–10 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
Do not reuse marinade that has touched raw chicken unless you boil it for at least 5 minutes to make it safe for use as a sauce.
For the best flavor and even cooking, slice thick chicken breasts in half before marinating.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
The marinade can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Whisk again before using.
Nutrition info assumes about ¼ of the marinade is absorbed and is based on a 5–6 oz cooked chicken breast. Actual values will vary.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying, Baking, Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cooked chicken breast with marinade absorbed
- Calories: 234
- Sugar: 1.9 g
- Sodium: 165.1 mg
- Fat: 6.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.2 g
- Protein: 38.4 g
- Cholesterol: 124.1 mg
