This Italian chicken marinade is 100% homemade with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning, basil, and red pepper flakes! It's easy to make in 5 minutes and only requires a handful of basic ingredients! Get ready for some juicy, tender, and flavorful Italian chicken that your family will love!
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Instructions
Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, basil, Italian seasoning, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a small mixing bowl, then whisk them together.
Place the chicken and marinade to a ziploc plastic storage bag, then squeeze out the excess air while securely sealing the bag.
Massage the marinade into the chicken by squishing the marinade throughout the bag. Make sure that the chicken is evenly coated with marinade.
For best results, refrigerate for at least 4 hours before use. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
This marinade makes ⅜ cup or 6 tablespoons of marinade for each 1 pound of chicken.
Fresh lemon juice adds amazing flavor to this super easy marinade, add some zest for an even more delicious kick! Bottled lemon juice will work adequately for marinades, but I recommend fresh for the best flavors.
Fresh basil is always wonderful, but the tube of basil or freeze-dried basil that can be found in the produce aisle is also great! Sometimes you can find small packs of basil in the freezer as well. Or dried herbs work in a pinch.
If you don't have garlic on hand, use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
If you will be grilling boneless, skinless chicken breasts, it is best to flatten the chicken breasts for quick and even cooking. Place your chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic cling film and pound them with a meat mallet or tenderizer (the flat side).
Start at the center of the chicken breast and work your way toward the edges. Continue until the chicken is even in thickness.