Buttermilk Chicken Marinade

Use this Buttermilk Chicken Marinade for your next grilled or baked chicken. It leaves your chicken tender, flavorful and juicy.

Easy Grilled Chicken Recipes are always on the menu. Being a mom of 8, we tend to cook a lot of chicken. Marinating your chicken changes the taste and flavor and this Buttermilk Marinade is one of our favorites.

If you are looking for another delicious marinade to try, make this Balsamic Chicken Marinade, Chicken Curry Marinade, Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade or Fajita Chicken Marinade.

Why We Love This Recipe

Buttermilk marinade is a simple marinade this is loaded with flavor. We love the way it tenderizes the chicken while keeping it juicy and flavorful.

The simple ingredients keeps it budget friendly and my go-to marinade recipe. We usually use chicken breast but you can use this marinade for chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, chicken tenders and more.

Ingredients 

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• Buttermilk 
• Onion Powder 
• Garlic Powder 
• Italian seasoning 
• Honey 
• Olive Oil 
• Cayenne Pepper 

Scroll to see the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

This marinade can be made in a variety of ways. Feel free to add in these variations. We like to start with about a teaspoon and then add more to taste.

• Lemon Juice
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Black Pepper
• Paprika
• Sea Salt

Step by Step Instructions 

• Step 1 – Stir together the buttermilk, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, honey, olive oil and cayenne pepper in a large bowl.  

• Step 2 – Place the buttermilk marinated chicken in a ziplock bag and pour the buttermilk mixture on top.  

• Step 3 – Allow the chicken pieces to marinade for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.  

• Step 4 – Preheat the grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the grill grates with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.
• Step 5 – Once the grill is hot, place the chicken on the grill, skin side down.

• Step 6 – Cook the chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Use a instant-read thermometer to ensure chicken is full cooked.

• Step 7 – Move the chicken from the grill to a separate plate, let the chicken sit for 5 minutes. Then it’s ready to slice and enjoy!

Recipe Tips 

• Cooking Time – The cook times will vary based on the size of the chicken. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken is cooked to the correct temperature.
• Heat Grill – If you are grilling the chicken, make sure to preheat the grill so your chicken is cooked with the perfect texture but still juicy on the inside.
• Marinade – After marinating chicken, make sure to discard any marinade that has come in contact with the chicken. Make sure to not to reuse any marinade.
• Chicken – When cooking chicken, pound chicken to about the same size so it grills evenly.
• Fried Chicken Recipe – This buttermilk marinade is even delicious when frying chicken or making a roast chicken.

How Long to Marinate Chicken

We recommend marinating chicken for at least an hour. But for the best flavor, you can marinate chicken up to 24 hours. Place the chicken in a zip lock bag or in a pan and place in the fridge to marinate.

Serving Suggestions

This chicken can be served with many easy side dish recipes. We love to make mashed potatoes with a side of air fryer broccoli. We have even served with mac and cheese which is my kids favorite sides.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Marinade Recipes

• Chicken Pickle Juice Marinade
• Greek Chicken Marinade Recipe
• The Best Chicken Marinade Recipe
• Grilled Pork Chop Marinade

We love to hear from you. If you make this Buttermilk Chicken Marinade Recipe, please leave us a comment.