Try one of these homemade marinade recipes to turn your budget-friendly protein into a five-star dinner. It may seem like marinating isn’t worth the time and extra step, and a little seasoning will do. But with a little bit of prep, a marinade helps to produce a juicy and flavorful protein. Beef can marinate for 24 hours, but proteins like chicken breasts, pork loins, and fish are better with a shorter marinating time. These easy marinades will help you transform your grilled meal.
Marinade for Smoked Sausage Kabobs
“This marinade is great for any kind of kabob. I use sausage with onion, pineapple, green/red peppers, etc.” – Gretchen
Ginger-Citrus Chicken Thighs off the Grill
“I used a basic marinade of ginger, garlic, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a few more ingredients. I left the skin on because my kids love the crispy skin. Cooked indirectly over medium coals, they filled the bill. A green salad and cheddar biscuits set it off. Good eating.” – Iris
Steak Marinade
“My husband won’t eat a steak unless I have marinated it with this marinade I came up with. It will take even a very cheap cut of steak and make it mouth-watering.” – Ginger
Basic Brine for Chicken, Turkey, Pork
“Brining meat makes it very juicy and tender every time. I always brine my chicken, ribs, and turkey. It’s full of flavor because, with brining, you can add different herbs and spices for more flavor.” – Josephine
Ciao Bella Balsamic Grilled Chicken
“Something a little different than BBQ sauce for your chicken. I came up with this recipe because I wanted something I could marinate the day before or the morning of the day I would be grilling. All the work is done ahead of time. All that’s left is the grilling.” – Anna
Tequila Lime Sauce
“This is great on chicken or ribs. I decided to play around because I didn’t care for the tequila lime recipe my husband was using. It just tasted like way too much tequila to me.” – Sandy
Grilled Mexican Citrus Chicken
“My nephew CJ and I made this moist and delicious chicken for Dinner and Dominos night. It was a big hit!” – Kathy
Hot Honey Vinaigrette
“Fresh shallots and garlic add robust flavor to this sweet and tangy hot honey vinaigrette. Hot honey not only adds sweetness but a subtle spice to the vinaigrette. And, it’s good for much more than salad dressing! Try it on chicken, fish, or shrimp or use it as a marinade.” – Kitchen Crew
Grilled Chicken With Cilantro Marinade
“These wonderfully grilled chicken legs get their flavor from the sweetness of brown sugar and spice from the jalapeno and cilantro. If you do not like cilantro you can substitute the cilantro with coriander. You still achieve a great flavor for a deliciously wonderful meal.” – Sheila
Honey Mustard Dressing
“A quick and easy homemade honey mustard vinaigrette!” – Kevin