My whole chicken marinade recipe is so good that once you try it, it will be your go-to marinade for chicken and poultry of all types. It tenderizes and flavors chicken making it juicy and delicious when roasted, air fried, or grilled. I use this on the whole chicken as well as the breasts, legs, and wings.
If you want to add flavor and moisture to chicken before cooking, marinating it is a great way to do it. But how long should you marinate a whole chicken for the best results? This guide has everything you need to know about how long to marinate a whole chicken.
Why Marinate a Whole Chicken?
Marinating a whole chicken has several advantages
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Adds flavor—The marinade gets into the meat and gives it a delicious flavor all over. A marinated chicken will taste much more vibrant and flavorful.
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Keeps it juicy – Marinades contain acids that tenderize and moisturize the chicken meat, keeping it succulent when cooked instead of dry and bland.
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Improves browning—Elements like sugar, salt, and oil help caramelize and brown food while it’s cooking, which makes it look and feel better.
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Easy dinner – Marinating a whole chicken makes weeknight dinners a breeze. Just pop it in the oven or on the grill for impressive results with little effort.
How Long to Marinate a Whole Chicken
Twelve to twenty-four hours is the best time to marinate a whole chicken. When you marinate meat for a whole day, the flavor gets into every part of it.
However, you can achieve good results with less time:
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2-4 hours – Enough to impart some flavor and moisture, especially for smaller chickens (3-4 lbs).
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6-12 hours – Ideal for larger chickens (5-6 lbs) to infuse flavor throughout the meat.
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Over 24 hours – Not recommended, as the acids can start to break down the meat too much.
The larger the chicken, the more time it needs in the marinade. Bone-in parts also require longer marinating than boneless pieces.
Tips for Marinating a Whole Chicken
Follow these tips for safely and effectively marinating a whole chicken:
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Marinate in the fridge – Always marinate at 40°F or below to prevent bacterial growth.
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Submerge completely – Ensure all surfaces of the chicken are immersed in the liquid marinade. Injecting or loosening the skin also helps the marinade penetrate.
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Use nonreactive containers – Glass, stainless steel, or plastic containers won’t react with acidic ingredients. Avoid reactive metals like aluminum.
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Discard used marinade – Never reuse marinade that touched raw chicken due to contamination risk.
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Pat chicken dry – Remove excess marinade from the chicken’s surface before cooking for optimal browning.
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Bring to room temperature – Let the chicken sit out for 30 minutes before cooking so it cooks evenly.
Marinade Ideas for Whole Chicken
You can marinate a whole chicken in almost any flavor profile. Trythese delicious marinade ideas:
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Mediterranean – Olive oil, lemon, garlic, oregano, rosemary
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Asian – Soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, chili pepper
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Jamaican Jerk – Spicy chilies, thyme, allspice, garlic, onion
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Italian – Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, basil, oregano
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Southwestern – Chili powder, cumin, garlic, lime juice, cilantro
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Herb – Olive oil, lemon, mixed fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, sage
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Yogurt – Plain yogurt, lemon, garlic, spices like cumin or curry
How to Cook a Marinated Whole Chicken
You can cook a marinated chicken in several ways:
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Baked – The simplest method. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place chicken in a roasting pan and cook until 165°F internal temperature.
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Grilled – Gets nice charring. Cook over direct medium heat for about 60-90 minutes, turning occasionally.
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Roasted – Goes well with roasted veggies. Roast at 400°F for 60-75 minutes until fully cooked through.
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Smoked – Infuses delicious smoky flavor. Smoke at 225-250°F for 2-3 hours until internal temp reaches 165°F.
The marinade provides great taste no matter which cooking method you choose! Just be sure the chicken is fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F as measured by a food thermometer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you marinate a chicken too long?
Yes, marinating longer than 24 hours can cause the acids to break down the meat too much, resulting in mushy texture.
Should you rinse off marinade before cooking?
Pat off excess marinade but don’t rinse it entirely, as you’ll lose flavor. The small amount left on the surface aids browning.
Can you reuse leftover marinade?
Never reuse marinade that touched raw chicken. Boil marinade reserved before marinating for use as a sauce.
What’s the best marinade recipe for whole chicken?
Simple oil, acid, and herb marinades work well. Balsamic, yogurt, jerk, or Italian seasoning marinades are also delicious options.
Can you marinate chicken in advance?
Yes, marinate the chicken in the fridge 1-5 days in advance. Freeze for longer storage up to 1 month. Thaw in fridge before cooking.
Conclusion
Marinating a whole chicken for 12-24 hours results in perfectly flavorful and juicy meat. But even just 2-6 hours can infuse great taste. Follow the tips here for best results. Then roast, grill, or smoke your marinated masterpiece for amazing homemade dinners the whole family will love.
Whole Chicken Marinade Recipe
It’s mostly dried herbs and spices that most people have in their kitchens, which is one thing I like about this whole chicken marinade recipe.
It is full of flavor and you can be sure you will not have a bland chicken if you use this recipe.
This marinade for whole chicken tenderizes the chicken and infuses flavor so you get juicy, flavorful, and tender chicken whether it is baked, grilled, or air-fried.
It doesn’t cost much to make this marinade because it only needs a few easy-to-find and inexpensive ingredients.
It is also easy and quick to make this marinade for roast chicken and can be put together in just 5 minutes.
This recipe makes enough for 2kg chicken. It can be doubled or tripled if needed.
Here are what you will need:
Parsley
Rosemary
Thyme
Garlic powder
Onion granules
Paprika
Black pepper
Salt
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Brown sugar – This can be omitted or substituted for soy sauce.
The dry ingredients are pictured below.
How To Make Whole Chicken Marinade
Add paprika, rosemary, parsley, thyme, black pepper, garlic, onion, olive oil, lemon juice, brown sugar, and salt to a bowl.
Mix all the ingredients in the bowl till they are well combined.
The marinade is ready to be used.