Summer's Best Chicken Marinade

Summer and grilling are almost one in the same!  It's hard to imagine going through this hot season of outdoor activity and long days without eating a grilled hamburger, chicken or pork chops.  Here's my first marinade recipe on the blog, and I know y'all will love this one!

That tantalizing picture of hot and juicy grilled chicken should tell you just how delicious this marinade recipe is.  Gah.... I think I'm going to make some of this chicken over the weekend, in fact!  I have already been asked by a couple of friends for this recipe after we cooked up this grilled chicken for them, so I knew I had to share it with you all!

My husband actually discover the recipe on the web and ever since we've dubbed it most definitely one of the best things to marinade chicken in.  If you're wondering, my quick go-to marinade that I really like is zesty Italian dressing, but if you have the ingredients this one is worth the extra mile.  This marinade is so full of savory and fresh flavors!! From the lemon juice to the Worchestershire sauce and the herbs, it all really infuses flavor all the way through the meat.  It's a strong enough marinade to soak only 30 minutes or you can leave it overnight (especially for large pieces of meat) and it will tenderize and flavor immensely!!  The key is keeping some of it (that hasn't been used to marinate the raw meat) to baste the chicken a couple of times while on the grill.  It keeps the meat moist and uber flavorful!  This recipe makes a large enough batch to marinade several chicken breast.  I think we used it once for about 8 large ones, and we still had some left over.

I hope this amazing grilled chicken marinade is something you will try this summer since we're still in the peak of grilling season!  It doesn't matter if it's chicken, pork chops or anything else you're grilling, I promise you'll be sharing this delicious recipe soon, too!

Summer's Best Chicken Marinade

Originally from: Food.com

1 c. Oil (We use extra virgin olive oil.)

1/2 c. Vinegar (We used apple cider vinegar)

2 Tbsp. Miracle Whip Light (or mayo)

3 Tbsp. Worchestershire sauce

2 Tbsp. Lemon juice

1 Tbsp. Salt (to taste)

1 Tbsp. pepper

2 Tbsp. Dried Thyme

1 Tbsp. Garlic Powder

Approx 1/3 c. Fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped (I added this for freshness and color.)

Mix all together in a medium bowl.  Reserve about 1/4 c. in a bowl and cover in the fridge.  

Put your meat in gallon bags and divide the marinade up between however many bags you have.  Close up air tight and smoosh it a little bit.  Place the marinating meat in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

When about to put the meat on the grill, strain off the excess marinade like you would any other time you marinade chicken.  Once the chicken is cooking you can use the unused marinade you have setting aside in the fridge to baste the chicken regularly.  This part is essential.

Once cooked through, transfer meat to a plate or bowl and cover with aluminum foil to let the juices setting in.  Just before serving sprinkle extra parsley on top.

 Delicious!  

Props to Mr. Cozy for this beautiful grilled chicken!

I had to add this adorable Fourth of July snapshot at my parent's big family picnic!  Sweet memories made!

Juicy Jamaican Jerk Grilled Chicken with Grilled Vegetables

  

     Welcome to grilling season!  Who doesn't like to to grill the minute it gets warm enough to be outside without dressing in layers?  This weekend we got our little charcoal grill out and fired it up to make some grilled chicken.  I wanted to try my hand at a new and different marinade that would fully flavor the chicken in only about 4 hours.  Ideally, I like to marinate meats for about 24 hours, but I only had a few hours so I needed something intense and of course, delicious!  So, this is basically a marinade recipe. I can't take credit for the grilling, because my husband did all of the grilling here.  Didn't he do a great job?

     I wanted the base of this marinade to be what I always find to be a good combination: olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic.  I wanted to add more spice so I remembered that I had a jar of McCormick Jamaican Jerk seasoning I knew that would hit the spot.  This particular jerk seasoning isn't too spicy but very flavorful, which is perfect for something that needs a lot of help, like chicken!  With the addition of some fresh "lemon" thyme that one of my best friends -who also loves to cook- gave me and kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, this marinade was complete.  (I have to tell you that I didn't really measure anything out...so I'm "guesstimating" for the recipe below...please remember this while assembling!  You should use your best judgement for the garlic and seasoning to your own taste.)  Add some cayenne or hot sauce if you want a little more kick!

     I like to marinate my meats in a large freezer bag and just dump everything in the bag and smoosh it together.  (No bowls or clean-up required!)  That way it's easy to distribute everything by working the marinade ingredients all around to get it all incorporated together.  Turn it a couple of times while it sits in the fridge and get the bag back out about 15 minutes before putting it on the grill, so the meat won't be as cold when you start to cook it.  It cooks more evenly that way.  If you forget any of this, no big deal.  Grilling should be easy and fun!!  I served it up with delicious and healthy, grilled orange bell peppers and onions with delicious and not so healthy homemade macaroni and cheese....recipe for that soon!

     Please, try this marinade on your chicken or pork for a juicy and flavorful meal that everyone will love!  It's the perfect addition to your spring and summer menu...so get out your flip flops and fire up the grill!

Happy Grilling :)

                                                                      

Jamaican Jerk Grilled Chicken

(We had) 2 thin chicken breasts and 3 legs

1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil

1 large lemon, juiced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. McCormick Jamaican Jerk seasoning

2 tsp. fresh thyme

salt & freshly ground black pepper

Mix together with chicken in a freezer bag and marinade for at least 4 hours.
Take out of bag and grill.


Grilled Peppers and Onions

Brush olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper on sliced bell peppers and sweet onion.  Grill along side your meat.  Easy as that!