As someone who is gluten free, it is so important to me to be able to have a good chicken marinade that I can use for any easy dinner recipes that have chicken! A good chicken marinade will elevate any dish and I wanted to make sure my go-to chicken marinade was gluten free and made with gluten free soy sauce. So many out there are made with standard soy sauce and that is not gluten free.

This gluten free chicken marinade is the best chicken marinade recipe, even when you’re short on time! It is perfect to use for any easy weeknight dinner recipes that call for chicken! Even if you only have 30 minutes to marinate the chicken, this is a great way to achieve an elevated flavor. This gluten free chicken marinade recipe is dairy free and nut free. If you do not need to be dairy free, I also have a delicious yogurt marinated chicken recipe you would love too!

I love to use it on top of this gluten free chicken bruschetta pizza, this gluten free chicken and brussle sprout skillet, or even as a lean option instead of crispy chicken in this chicken caesar salad recipe.

why you’ll love this recipe

Minimal ingredients: The gluten free chicken marinade recipe uses common pantry staples like gluten free soy sauce, olive oil, and lemon juice, eliminating the need for a special shopping trip. I keep these items in my pantry at all times to make this easier when I want to make it!
Simple steps: I can whip this gluten free marinade up in 5 minutes or less.
Quick marinade: Even if you’re short on time, you can still marinate the protein for at least 30 minutes by simply throwing everything together in a bowl or zip-top bag.
1-pan cleanup: Marinate and cook the protein in the same pan or bag you used for marinating, minimizing the number of dishes you need to wash. I hate doing dishes so this is an easy hack to do less dishes!
Versatile protein options: This recipe isn’t limited to just easy chicken recipes. You can easily use this good marinade on cauliflower steaks or tofu, making it a great choice for vegetarians and vegans. I adjust the marinade time based on the protein I choose. I like to marinade my meat for about 2 hours if I have the time.
This recipe is perfect for any kind of gluten free marinated chicken from chicken thighs, an organic chicken breast, chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breasts. I have even rubbed this all over a whole chicken before roasting.
This flavorful marinade is the perfect easy chicken marinades used for any juicy chicken or flavorful chicken!

Check out 20 more recipes where you can use chicken made with this gluten free marinade!

ingredients & substitutions

Gluten free soy sauce, coconut aminos or tamari: Adds salty flavor. Substitute with low-sodium versions for an option with less salt.

Olive oil: Keeps chicken moist. I substitute with avocado oil or another cooking oi when I don’t have olive oill. Option to use low fat or fat free greek yogurt for a low fat greek yogurt marinade option.

Lemon juice: Adds acidity and brightness. Bottled is okay, but fresh lemon juice is tastier. Any citrus juice will also work like lime juice or orange juice. I like to use any extra lemon zest on top while marinating for extra flavor.

Honey or maple syrup: Makes the marinade a touch sweet to balance the lemon. You can skip this if you prefer. You can use a pinch of brown sugar if you do not have honey or maple syrup. For a less sweet option I use dijon mustard or balsamic vinegar.

garlic cloves: Adds savory flavor. Fresh is best, but garlic powder works for me when I am in a pinch.

Dried oregano and thyme: These herbs add complexity to the flavor. You can experiment with any dried herbs you like.

Fresh parsley (optional): For garnish and a pop of color. You can skip this or use any other fresh herbs.

taste & texture

This gluten free chicken marinade will give your chicken a burst of flavor with a balance of savory, sweet, and tangy notes. The lemon juice makes the chicken taste bright and fresh, while the honey or maple syrup adds a hint of sweetness. The herbs and spices give the chicken depth of flavor. The olive oil helps keep the chicken moist and juicy, resulting in a tender texture.

directions

Pound the chicken (optional). No need to let the chicken rest.
Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl or ziplock bag or other plastic bag: Place chicken in the bag or bowl and make sure it’s evenly coated with the marinade.
Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for maximum flavor: The longer you marinate, the more flavorful the chicken will be.
Cook the chicken according to your desired method. You can grill, bake on a sheet pan, pan-fry, or use an air fryer or grill rack to cook the chicken. You can also use a instant pot! Discard the gluten free chicken marinade before cooking, as it will not be safe to reuse due to raw chicken exposure. Cook time will vary.

expert tips & tricks

I like to add other fresh or dried herbs I have in the garden. I adjust the spices of the gluten free chicken marinade to customize the flavor. Some ideas include rosemary, paprika, chili powder, or cumin.
If you’re short on time, you can marinate the chicken for as little as 15 minutes. The flavor won’t be as strong but you’ll still get a delicious chicken.
Be sure to cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure it’s safe to eat. I highly recommend an instant-read thermometer for best results.
I add some chopped cilantro and sub lime juice instead of lemon juice when I want to make this a cilantro lime chicken marinade!
I increase the amounts of lemon and garlic in this recipe to create more lemon garlic gluten free chicken marinade recipes.
Add some paprika or greek seasoning for a greek chicken marinade.

how to make this a vegan recipe

These type of gluten free chicken marinades are also great to use on tofu or cauliflower steaks.

Tofu: Press the tofu. This removes excess moisture, allowing the marinade to penetrate better. I cube or slice the tofu, then marinate it for at least 30 minutes, or longer for deeper flavor. Then, I pan-fry, bake, or air fry the tofu until golden brown and crispy.

Cauliflower Steaks: Cut the cauliflower. I slice the cauliflower head into thick steaks. Then, I marinate the cauliflower steaks for at least 30 minutes, or longer for deeper flavor. I aim for a shorter marinating time (15-20 minutes) to prevent them from becoming mushy. Then, I grill, bake, or pan-fry the cauliflower steaks until tender and slightly charred.

how to serve, store and meal prep

Once cooked, I serve the chicken, tofu, or cauliflower steaks with my favorite sides like roasted vegetables, rice, or quinoa. I store leftover or excess marinade in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days only if it has not touched the meat. Discard marinade used with raw meat.

The Best Gluten Free Chicken Marinade Recipe

Kayla Cappiello

This gluten free chicken marinade is the best chicken marinade recipe, even when you're short on time! It is designed for busy weeknights. It is a perfect way to elevate boring chicken. This recipe uses simple ingredients like soy sauce, olive oil, and lemon juice. The entire process involves minimal effort but yeilds so much flavor. It requires just a few minutes to combine the ingredients, marinate the protein, and cook it. Even if you're short on time to marinade for 30 minutes, this is a great way to achieve a flavorful cut of chicken. This gluten free chicken marinade recipe is gluten free, dairy free and nut free

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 0

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice:
1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Fresh parsley optional, for garnish

Instructions

Pounding the chicken (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a bowl or zip-top bag: Add the chicken and make sure it’s evenly coated with the marinade.
Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours: The longer you marinate, the more flavorful the chicken will be.
Cook the chicken according to your desired method: You can grill, bake, pan-fry, or air fry the chicken. Discard the marinade before cooking, as it will not be safe to reuse due to raw chicken exposure.