Whether you’re flipping juicy chicken breasts, searing tender steak, or threading colorful kebabs, the secret to mouthwatering results starts long before you fire up the coals. Enter: the marinade—a flavorful concoction that does double duty by adding zing and tenderizing your protein of choice.
From herbaceous blends to savory soaks, we’ve rounded up 12 of the best marinade recipes to make everything you toss on the grill taste like a masterpiece. So grab your tongs, your favorite cuts of meat (and veggies), and get ready to marinate like a pro.
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Yummy Honey Chicken Kabobs
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“These chicken kabobs are marinated in a sweet and savory soy sauce and honey mixture that doubles as a basting sauce as the kabobs cook on the grill, adding delicious flavor to every bite of juicy chicken.” —recipe creator Anne Marie
World’s Best Honey Garlic Pork Chops
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
The four-ingredient marinade in this pork chop recipe is so simple, yet incredibly flavorful—which has made it a go-to for many Allrecipes community members. All you need is honey, ketchup, fresh garlic, and soy sauce.
Best Ever Beef Marinade
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
You can use any cut of meat with recipe creator Shelli Brawner Schlafhauser’s marinade, which gains depth from lemon juice, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and other flavor-packed kitchen staples.
Grilled Marinated Shrimp
France C
“Quite a few ingredients in the marinade, but the end result is well worth the effort!” says Allrecipes Allstar France C. “I only marinated for 30 minutes. Due to the lemon juice (acid), I didn’t want the shrimp to start “cooking”, which tends to happen with longer marinating times.”
Kabob Marinade
France C
Several reviewers had success omitting the meat tenderizer in the recipe, making the short ingredient list even more manageable. “Excellent!!! I also marinated shrimp for 20 minutes for the shrimp and beef kabobs. Only change I made was to add a tablespoon of brown sugar. My husband LOVED it!” —GLENAVEY
Grilled Chicken Marinade
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Acidic red wine vinegar and umami-rich soy sauce are the foundation for this top-rated chicken marinade. “This chicken marinade is the best marinade I know for grilled chicken!” says Allrecipes community member Jennifer. “It is so flavorful and easy to prep with three main ingredients and simple seasonings. Perfect for any summer occasion!”
Lisa’s Favorite Carne Asada Marinade
“This carne asada marinade is our family’s favorite — and I’ve tried many! A 24-hour soak in a spicy citrus and soy marinade ensures your flank steak will be perfectly tender when it comes off the grill.” —recipe creator Lisa Arlotti
Kalbi Marinade
Getty Images
Try this marinade for kalbi, a Korean dish often featuring grilled short ribs infused with a sweet-savory sauce, with other cuts of meat. “This very flavorful marinade can be used for chicken pieces, beef steaks, ribs, pork ribs, or chops. It works best when you can marinate overnight!” says recipe creator CLGOODRIDGE.
Best Steak Marinade in Existence
This marinade, which is excellent for budget-friendly cuts like flank steak, lives up to its name, thanks to bold additions such as dried basil, white pepper, and garlic powder. “This steak marinade is a family recipe that has been developed only over the last 5 years. In this short time, it’s made me famous in our close circle, but until now I’ve never shared it with anyone.
Cornell Chicken Marinade
Dan from Platter Talk
Grilled Cornell Chicken, developed by Cornell University professor Robert C. Baker in the 1950s, is still a popular dish in update New York. Replicate it at home with just a few ingredients you likely already have on hand: an egg, poultry seasoning, and cider vinegar. “Your chicken will love you for this basting sauce, and so will the family,” says Allrecipes community member Kathy.
Herb Garden Marinade for Lamb
“I love the taste of fresh herbs with lamb,” says recipe creator Bibi. “Use this marinade recipe as a guide, or adjust to your own tastes. Love mint? Add more. Hate oregano? Leave it out and add more of the other herbs. There is enough marinade for about 3 pounds of lamb chops. Double or triple it for a leg of lamb roast.”
Greek Chicken Marinade
“I tripled the recipe, hoping to have lots of leftovers. The leftovers were gone in two days. I made the recipe exactly as written. I cooked the chicken on a foil- lined baking sheet for 30 minutes at 350. Then put under the broiler for 8 minutes. I served with Spanikopita, hummus, and pita bread.” —RedPan8411
Unbelievable Chicken
lutzflcat
Everything on the ingredient list packs a punch—juices from two types of citrus, fresh garlic, coarse ground mustard, cider vinegar, and brown sugar—resulting in grilled chicken breasts with truly unbelievably delicious flavor.
Chef John’s Grilled Jerk Pork Tenderloin
“As I suspected, the spicy, aromatic flavors in this jerk pork tenderloin marinade worked wonderfully with the lean, mild pork. As long as you heed my warnings not to overcook the meat, you and your guests will be very happy with this. Serve with black beans, rice, and fried plantain chips.” —recipe creator John Mitzewich (AKA Chef John)
Lime-Marinated Grilled Salmon
“The fresh lime juice and mustard add a nice tang to this moist and flaky grilled salmon. I came up with this marinade after tasting something similar at a friend’s house, and it is now one of our favorite fish recipes. You may also use other firm fish steaks, like halibut, tuna, and swordfish, instead of salmon.” —whodunitrd
Marinated Veggies
A rainbow of veggies—from button mushrooms and squash to bell peppers and cherry tomatoes—are bathed in a garlic-and-lemon-kissed concoction before getting seared on the grill. “I’ve made this no less than 10 times and each time someone new eats it they rave about it,” says reviewer Hillary Roberts.
