Teriyaki Chicken Marinade (Just 4 Ingredients!)
This easy teriyaki chicken marinade needs just 4 ingredients and a few minutes to mix up! Perfect for summer grilling, freezer-friendly, and makes the most tender, flavorful BBQ chicken.
This teriyaki chicken marinade is one of the very first marinade recipes I started experimenting with, decades ago! Over the years, it’s become one of our absolute favorites for summer barbecues, and I have a feeling it’ll become one of yours too.
Why You’ll Love This Teriyaki Chicken Marinade
- Quick & easy — just mix up the four ingredients and you’re done!
- Flavorful & moist — this marinade makes the most tender, juicy chicken every time.
- Flexible timing — mix it up in the morning and let it marinate all day until dinnertime.
- Freezer-friendly — freeze the chicken right in the marinade for an easy meal prep win! It’ll thaw and marinate at the same time.
Ingredients You’ll Need for This Marinade
Refer to the printable recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Ginger
- Garlic powder (or fresh garlic)
- Chicken breasts
Teriyaki Chicken Marinade
This quick and easy teriyaki chicken marinade is one of our all-time favorites for summer barbecues! Just 4 ingredients, minimal prep, and the most tender, juicy chicken you'll ever grill.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp. ginger
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 3 large chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
Instructions
1.Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic in a container with a tight lid - or ziploc bag - and stir. If using a ziploc bag, seal the bag and shake it to combine the ingredients.
I add the chicken breasts, poke them with a knife a few times (to get the marinade to flow through them), and flip them over to coat both sides.
2.Place the lid on the container and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Throughout that time, occasionally flip over the container or bag to evenly coat the chicken.
3.To cook this marinaded chicken on a barbecue, follow these simple steps:
- 1.Oil the clean grates and preheat the grill to high heat.
- Place the marinaded chicken on the grill and brush with extra marinade.
- Cover the grill and cook for 3 minutes per side. (Cooking times will vary based on the thickness of the chicken.)
If the chicken is sticking to the grill, let it cook a bit more. It should release easily when it’s time to flip.
Chicken will be cooked when there is no pink when cut in half.
How to make Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Marinade (with pictures)
1.Stir together the marinade ingredients. 2.Place chicken breasts in the marinade and turn to coat and cover completely.
In your marinade container (or a ziplock bag!), stir together the soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic until well combined.
Add the chicken breasts, poking them a few times with a knife so the marinade really soaks in, then flip to coat both sides.
Pop the lid on (or seal the bag), and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, flipping occasionally so every bit gets coated in all that flavor.
Want to prep it ahead? Mix the marinade right in a ziplock bag with the chicken, label it with a sharpie, and pop it in the freezer! On the day you want to use it, just move the bag to the bottom shelf of your fridge and let it thaw and marinate all day long — talk about a win-win!
How to make this easy bbq chicken marinade as a freeze ahead meal recipe
One of the easiest freeze ahead meals is marinating meat in ziploc bags. Here are some tips to make it quick and easy:
- Purchase a large family pack of boneless, skinless chicken breasts – fresh or frozen.
- Place the 3 chicken breasts in a ziploc bag, pour over the marinade, label the bag with a sharpie marker, and pop into the freezer.
- On the day I want to use them (or the night before), place a bag in the fridge to unthaw. As it thaws out, it will be marinating in deliciousness!
How to grill marinaded chicken on a bbq
To cook this marinaded chicken on a barbecue, follow these simple steps:
- Oil the clean grates and preheat the grill to high heat.
- Place the marinaded chicken on the grill and brush with extra marinade.
- Cover the grill and cook for 3 minutes per side. (Cooking times will vary based on the thickness of the chicken.)
- If the chicken is sticking to the grill, let it cook a bit more. It should release easily when it’s time to flip.
- Chicken will be cooked when there is no pink when cut in half.
What to serve with this easy BBQ teriyaki chicken marinade recipe
Many side dishes are delicious with this bbq chicken. But one of our favorites is this classic potato salad. You can also turn the leftovers of this chicken marinade recipe into the most delicious grilled chicken salad with red chili peanut sauce.
Other Easy Dinner Recipes
- Honey Mustard Chicken Marinade is perfect for baking or grilling.
- BBQ turkey burgers
- Lasagne
- White Chicken Chili
- Freeze Ahead Meatballs
- Chicken and Cheese Chimicangas
The “How to Fill Your Freezer with Meals” plan is found here and here.
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Fantastic article.