A delicious year-round marinade, this Mexican Chicken Marinade is perfect for any cut of grilled or pan-fried chicken!

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A zesty and smoky marinade made with mainly pantry staples, this Mexican Chicken Marinade makes any cut of chicken ultra juicy! Whether you have 30 minutes or 8 hours to marinade, I give you tips for flavorful and succulent chicken every time!

Spice up your dinner routine with my new favorite chicken marinade: this Mexican Chicken Marinade!

This time of year is always the time of year that I go back to the drawing board, wondering what marinades to grill with. There's something about it being almost a whole year since I last fired up the grill that causes me to almost forget all of the grilling I did the previous year.

Am I the only one who does this?! Please tell me I'm not alone.

This year, to help save from this conundrum next year, I'm determined to record my recipes and file them here on the site so I can come back to them.

I'm also whipping up some new recipes to keep the rotation fresh. After all, I want to do everything I can to help us all make the very most out of my time outside this summer, given who cooped up we've been this spring!

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Some of my favorite flavors lately have been Mexican-inspired. I mean, don't even ask how many days in the last two weeks I've eaten breakfast tacos for brunch or lunch. 😬 Also, I've been pretty much living on Taco Tator Tot Casserole. There's something so lively and versatile about Mexican seasonings; comfort food that can still be on the healthier side.

I also love to make up a big batch of chicken fajitas or taco meat and serve them in various ways throughout the week. On said breakfast tacos, on rice bowls, in quesadillas, or burritos -- you name it.

These Mexican marinated chicken breasts (or thighs!) are just the same. I served them for dinner for the two of us with grilled corn and tortillas and enjoyed them the next day with a quinoa bowl. The following day, I made a quesadilla with the chicken. Can I tell you what a great week it's been?!

So, grill (outside or on the stovetop) this chicken up and enjoy it (and meal prep victory!) for a few days to come, Or, introduce it to your crew at your next barbecue or cookout and I have a good feeling you'll have a memorable chicken marinade for the years to come. 😍

This Mexican Chicken Marinade is...

• Zesty
• Herby
• Smoky
• Just slightly spicy
• Made with mainly pantry staples

... And makes chicken that is...

• Juicy
• Tender
• Succulent
• Perfect for tacos, quesadillas, burritos
• Delicious served on its own
• Great for barbecues and cookouts
• Crave-worthy on the stovetop
• Easily doubled or tripled
• Crowd-pleasing

Whether you're looking for a fourth of July grilling recipe, or just another chicken recipe to add to your family's weekly rotation, this versatile and delicious chicken marinade recipe is for you!

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Marinade ingredients:

For this marinade, we will need...

• Olive oil -- extra virgin olive oil will provide the best flavor
• Garlic -- minced fresh garlic is best, but canned minced garlic will also suffice
• Ground Cumin & Dried Oregano -- such delicious Mexican flavors!
• Lime juice -- fresh juice has great flavor, but you can also use bottled juice
• Canned chipotles in adobo sauce -- see my notes below on where to find this!
• Chicken
• Cilantro -- a classic Mexican herb; if you don't like cilantro you can omit this and the dish will still be delicious

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What type of oregano is best for this recipe?

You can use Mediterranean oregano -- the type of oregano that is most common here in the United States -- but dried Mexican oregano is best for this recipe. The flavor profile is more citrusy, making it perfect for this marinade.

You can find Mexican oregano in most bodega grocery stores and you can also find Mexican oregano online at Amazon.

Where do you find canned chipotles in adobo?

Canned chipotles in adobo can be found in most major grocery stores here in the United States. It's often sold in about 7 ounce containers. You can also find it at most bodega grocery stores and online on Amazon.

What do you do with leftover canned chipotles?

You can do so many things with canned chipotles. You can use the leftovers in another recipe like chili, stir some pureed chipotles into barbecue sauce to make it smokier, or even stir some into a bloody mary.

If you don't want to use your chipotles right away, you can put them in a freezer safe container or a freezer Ziploc bag and they will last in the fridge for up to 2 months.

A quick hack for chopping up the chipotles & cilantro:

This is one of my favorite kitchen tips! Easily chop up your chipotles and your cilantro by placing them in small dishes or cups and chopping them up with kitchen shears.

For the chipotles, it is a lot less messy way to chop them up; for the cilantro leaves, it is just a much easier way to mince the herbs.

Does this marinade work for chicken breasts and thighs?

Yes, you can marinate chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken tenders, or even chicken drumsticks in this marinade.

The smaller the cut of meat, the less time it will need to marinate (more on that below), so keep that in mind when choosing your meat.

You can also use bone-in chicken breasts and thighs (see my notes on that, too. 🙂

How long do you need to marinate the chicken?

You can marinate the chicken anywhere from 30 minutes - 8 hours. The longer you marinate the chicken, the better, though you can still get great flavor with 30 minutes.

For the best flavor with minimal marinating, use smaller cuts of chicken like chicken thighs, chicken tenders, or cut your chicken breasts into halves or thirds.

For bone-in breasts and thighs you will want to marinate them on the longer side -- around 6-8 hours.

How do you make this marinated chicken?

1. Whisk up all the marinade ingredients in a medium to large size mixing bowl until combined.
2. Add the chicken to the marinade (or, add the chicken to a large Ziploc bag and pour the marinade over) and turn the chicken in the marinade until covered.
3. Zip up the bag or cover the bowl and let the chicken marinade for 30 minutes - 8 hours.
4. Preheat the grill or a grill pan on a stove top to medium to medium-high heat. Spray the grill pan with non-stick spray if using.
5. Add the chicken to the grill or grill pan and cook for 10-12 minutes, turning every 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through to 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the juices run clear.
6. Remove the chicken from the heat and place on a plate. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil, let it rest for 3-5 minutes and serve warm!

What tools do you need to make this marinade?

• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Cutting board
• Chef knife
• Kitchen shears
• Lime juicer
• Grill or grill pan
• Grill turners or grill pan spatula
• Meat thermometer

Can you double or triple this recipe?

Yes, this recipe is very easily doubled or tripled (or multiplied by any factor!). Just multiply each ingredient by the multiple you'd like and follow the recipe as directed.

How do you serve this chicken?

There are so many great ways to serve this chicken. Here are some of my favorites I like to serve it:

• With grilled corn & a romaine salad
• In tacos: on toasted tortillas with salsa and sour cream
• In quesadillas: slice the chicken up and tuck it with a shredded Mexican cheese blend between two toasted tortillas before toasting it on a non-stick griddle
• In a burrito
• With a light Mexican lager beer like Pacifico, Modelo, Corona, or Dos Equis

How long does this chicken last?

Store leftovers of this chicken covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Can you freeze this chicken?

The chicken also freezes well. You can freeze the raw chicken in the marinade a freezer-safe container or freezer-safe Ziploc bag for up to 2 months.

You can also freeze already cooked chicken in an airtight container for 1-2 months.

Other grilling and Mexican-inspired recipes you might enjoy:

• Chicken Fajitas
• Healthier Taco Mac and Cheese
• Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
• Taco Tater Tot Casserole
• Spicy Honey Chicken Marinade
• Black Bean Breakfast Enchiladas
• Asian Sesame Chicken Thighs
• Tri-Tip Steak Marinade
• Grilled Cabbage and Cauliflower Salad
• Grilled Corn Salad with Chickpeas

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