Easy Chicken Thighs Marinade
Published 5/6/2022
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In less than 5 minutes you can whip up a delicious honey mustard chicken thighs marinade that will infuse your chicken thighs with mustard, honey and a hint of lemon!
Best Chicken Thighs Marinade
Say hello to the best chicken thighs marinade you’ll ever taste! It’s made with a few of our favorite things: 2 kinds of mustard, honey, lemon juice and soy sauce to name a few.
If you’re big into grilling like us, you know that having good marinades on hand is clutch because they infuse your meat with juicy flavors. Our steak marinade and pork tenderloin marinade are also great ones to keep in your back pocket!
why marinate chicken thighs
Super juicy: this chicken thighs marinade will leave your chicken extra juicy and tender!
Sweet and salty: if you love a sweet and salty combo, then this marinade is for you.
Bake or grill: this honey mustard chicken marinade is delicious cooked on the grill or in the oven. We’re giving instructions for each!
Featured Ingredients
Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade: this homemade marinade is so flavorful and will leave your boneless chicken thighs oh so juicy!
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Whole grain mustard
- Lemon juice
- Soy sauce
- Honey
- Veggies: garlic, white onion, and chives
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: we’re using 1.5 lbs. of boneless chicken thighs for this recipe because they cook quickly and are easy to find. They also come out super juicy!
Can I use another cut of chicken? Yes! This recipe will work with 1.5 lbs. of bone-in chicken thighs or chicken breasts.
try it!
Best Grilled Chicken Thighs
These seriously delicious grilled boneless chicken thighs are marinated in a homemade honey mustard chicken marinade and grilled to perfection.
Why marinate your chicken?
If you’re wondering why you should marinate your chicken thighs in the first place, the answer is simple. FLAVOR. Marinating poultry is such an easy way to infuse your chicken with so much flavor.
How to Marinate Chicken Thighs (3 Steps!)
- Combine: simply combine all of the ingredients in a bowl or jar and mix to combine.
- Marinate: Place your chicken thighs into a dish or large gallon-size bag and pour in the marinade. Make sure that all sides are nice and coated.
- Let sit: Let chicken thighs marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
Check it out!
6 Chicken Breast Marinades
You are going to love these 6 Easy Chicken Marinades. They’ll infuse your chicken breast with flavor and they’re so easy to put together!
Marinating Tips
Feel free to use either a baking dish or gallon-size plastic bag to marinate your chicken in.
Make sure your chicken is fully submerged in the marinade. If you’re using a baking dish, flip your chicken halfway through.
Make sure to marinate your chicken in the fridge and not on the countertop to prevent food-borne illness.
Cooking Methods
On the grill
We love love love grilling these honey mustard boneless chicken thighs. Here’s how:
- Preheat the grill to 400ºF and carefully rub your grill grates with oil.
- Grill chicken thighs for 4-5 minutes over direct heat on each side or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160ºF.
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes so that the internal temperature can rise to 165ºF before serving.
In the Oven
Want to bake these boneless chicken thighs instead? Here’s how:
- Transfer the chicken thighs and the marinade into an oven-safe dish.
- Bake at 400ºF for around 18-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF.
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes so that the internal temperature can rise to 165ºF before serving.
chicken thighs internal temperature
For both cooking methods, make sure that the internal temperature of your chicken reaches 165ºF before safely consuming it.
Try it!
Thermoworks Thermapen
We swear by using a meat thermometer when cooking any cut of meat. The Thermapen is our go-to meat thermometer that works every time.
Freezing Instructions
Freezing marinated chicken is a secret meal prep tip that will change your life. Prep 1 meal, 2 meals, or 5 meals all at once to have easy access to Italian marinated chicken any day of the week.
- Place the honey mustard chicken thighs marinade along with 1.5 lb. of raw chicken into a freezer-safe gallon-size bag.
- Remove as much air as possible and then seal.
- Write “Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs” on the front of the bag along with the date. Freeze up to 3 months.
- When you’re ready to cook your chicken thighs, let them thaw completely and then use your favorite cook method.
How long does frozen chicken last? Your frozen honey mustard chicken thighs will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Easy Chicken Thighs Marinade
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs , (~6 thighs)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1.5 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- ¼ medium white onion, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons fresh chives, minced
Instructions
- Remove the chicken from the packaging and pat the chicken thighs with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Prepare the chicken marinade by adding the apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, lemon juice, soy sauce, and honey to a bowl and whisk to combine. Drizzle the olive oil into the bowl while whisking until well combined. Add the garlic, white onion, and chives to the marinade and mix.
- Set around 1/4 cup of marinade aside for glazing later. Then, place the chicken in a gallon sized bag or a deep dish and pour the marinade over the chicken thighs. Flip the chicken thighs over in the marinade so the chicken thighs are coated in the marinade.
- Let the chicken sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
- Remove the chicken thighs from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
- Cook using the method of your choice.
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes so that the internal temperature can rise to 165ºF before cutting into it.
Tips & Notes
- We prefer to use boneless chicken thighs in this marinade recipe, but you can use bone-in thighs if you’d like.
- We kept any onion that stuck to the chicken thighs on the thigh and it added a ton of flavor and texture.
- Baking instructions: transfer the chicken thighs and the marinade into an oven-safe dish. Bake at 400ºF for around 18-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF – 165ºF.
- Grilling instructions: preheat the grill to 400ºF and carefully rub your grill grates with oil. Grill chicken thighs for 4-5 minutes over direct heat on each side or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160ºF. About 1 minute before you take the thighs off the grill, brush them with the marinade you set aside. This will add so much flavor.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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