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    Home » Condiments and Sauces » Whole Chicken Marinade recipe

    Published: Oct 28, 2022 by Ajoke · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Whole Chicken Marinade recipe

    Skip to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This delicious, easy-to-make herby whole chicken marinade will turn an ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal that is sure to impress your dinner guests or family.

    Whether you want to marinate your chicken for an hour, a few hours, or overnight, this chicken marinade will not let you down. It is a versatile marinade that can be used for any cut of chicken

    a whole uncooked marinated chicken on a plate with fresh roasemary spring.

    This marinade is absolutely packed with deliciousness, it is literally the best! I used fresh herbs, sage, thyme, rosemary, and parsley, that said, you can substitute with dried herbs. Using these herbs alongside smoked paprika, lemon zest and juice, and olive oil ensures that your chicken will be infused with amazing flavor. Which makes the whole chicken really moist and juicy when roasted, grilled or deep fried, or air fried. The longer you let the chicken marinade the more flavorful it will be.

    While this recipe is developed for poultry, it can also be used to marinade pork, beef steak and fish (salmon, trout, and the like).

    Related recipes: pork steak marinade, jerk seasoning paste, and 4-ingredient chicken marinade

    marinade in a small bowl with a spoon.

    Why you will love this simple herb marinated chicken

    • Quick and easy to make
    • Less than 10 ingredients
    • Wholesome ingredients
    • Dairy-free, gluten-free and healthy

    What is in this whole chicken marinade

    You will need the following ingredients for your whole chicken marinade

    Fresh herbs: sage, thyme, rosemary, and parsley

    Smoked paprika

    Fresh garlic

    Lemon zest

    Olive oil

    Salt and black pepper to taste

    ingredients to make chicken marinade.

    How to make whole chicken marinade

    This marinade recipe is as simple as it can get, all you need is a blender or a sharp knife

    Add sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley, garlic, and olive oil to a small food processor or blender and pulse until finely chopped.

    Transfer to a bowl, next, add lemon zest, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.

    If you don't have a food processor or a blender, simply chop the herbs as finely as possible and mix everything together in a bowl.

    Place the chicken on a large plate and pat it dry with a kitchen paper towel. Carefully loosen the chicken skin on the breast (without tearing it) by sliding your fingers underneath or using the back of a spoon (preferred method). Once that is complete, season both the exterior and cavity of the chicken with salt and black pepper.

    Rub the marinade on the chicken, under the skin of the chicken breast, and in the cavity, making sure to evenly coat the chicken.

    Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to 24 hours for maximum flavor. Bring it out of the fridge 30 minutes before you bake so that it comes to room temperature.

    the process of making marinade in a food processor.

    How to cook marinated chicken

    There are 3 ways you can cook your chicken, it can be grilled, baked, or roasted.

    The best temperature to cook chicken in the oven is between 180C-365F and 200C/400F. The internal temperature of cooked chicken is 165 F/74C.

    How long to marinate a whole chicken

    The length of time you marinate your food depends on personal circumstances, though for optimal results it is recommended that you marinate for 3 hours minimum or up to 24 hours. If time is an issue, 1 hour will suffice.

    marinated whole chicken on a plate.

    Can I inject this marinade into the chicken

    Yes, you can use a marinade injector to get the flavor into the meat. In this case, I would probably add melted butter to the marinade so that you have more to inject. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use the marinade injector.

    Can I use this on spatchcock chicken

    Yes, you can spatchcock the chicken, in fact, this is best if you are short on time. it cooks faster than a whole chicken.

    More condiments recipes you should try next

    Peri peri seasoning

    Pesto butter

    Tartar sauce

    Basil sauce

    Cowboy butter dipping sauce

    More whole chicken recipe

    Air fryer whole chicken

    Instant pot whole chicken

    Simple chicken roast

    Dutch oven roast chicken and vegetables

    Christmas Chicken

    Easy chicken brine recipe

    roast chicken in baking sheet with lemon slices.
    herb roasted chicken in a baking sheet with lemon slices.

    Whole Chicken Marinade

    Are you looking for an easy and delicious marinade for a whole chicken? Well, look no further as this recipe is the best whole chicken marinade you will ever need. It is packed with flavor and super easy to make. Made with simple and fresh ingredients, this marinade is perfect whether you are grilling, baking, or roasting your bird.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Course Chicken, Christmas, Thanksgiving
    Cuisine American, British
    Calories 407 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 spring sage about 8 large leaves
    • 2 Springs thyme
    • 2 springs rosemary
    • 2 Tablespoons parsley
    • ½ Tablespoon smoked paprika
    • 4 large garlic cloves
    • Zest of 1 lemon a little less that 1 Tablespoon
    • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
    • Salt and black pepper to taste
    • Whole chicken 3-4lb

    Instructions
     

    • Add fresh sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley, garlic, and olive oil to a small food processor or blender and pulse until finely chopped.
      If you don't have a food processor or a blender, simply chop the herbs as finely as possible and mix everything together in a bowl.
    • Transfer to a bowl, next, add lemon zest, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to taste, and stir to combine.
    • Place the chicken on a large plate and pat it dry with a kitchen paper towel. Carefully loosen the chicken skin on the breast (without tearing it) by sliding your fingers underneath or using the back of a spoon (preferred method).
    • Season both the exterior and cavity of the chicken with salt and black pepper.
    • Rub the marinade on the chicken, under the skin of the chicken breast, and in the cavity, making sure to evenly coat the chicken.
    • Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours for maximum flavor. Bring it out of the fridge 30 minutes before you bake so that it comes to room temperature.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 407kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 2gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 31gSodium: 10mgPotassium: 198mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 2552IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 2mg

    Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

    Keyword how long to marinate chicken, whole chicken marinade, whole marinated chicken
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thedinnerbite or tag #thedinnerbite!
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    And there you have it, a simple and easy simple whole chicken marinade recipe that you can make at home under 10 minutes. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox. Until next time, happy cooking!!!

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    Filed Under: Condiments and Sauces, Holiday Recipes, How To's

    About Ajoke

    Hello, Nice to meet you! Welcome and thanks for visiting my food blog "The Dinner Bite". Feel free to browse through, you are guaranteed nothing here but a yummy experience

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