Chicken plus soda equals some seriously juicy and tender meat and takes very little prep work. A combination of sweet and tangy grapefruit or lemon-lime soda infuses the chicken with flavor. Throw your marinade and chicken in the refrigerator first thing in the morning or even the day before! Whether you prefer the extra juiciness of boneless, skinless cuts or bone-in, skin-on pieces, this marinade has you covered for sure juicy and flavorful chicken. This is what chickens should be all the time.
Marinade is not just a chicken thang – try ours Juicy Pork Tenderloin Marinade or Best Salmon Marinade For more juicy flavor bursts.
Why our recipe?
- Let the not-so-secret ingredient (soda) do all the tenderizing for you!
- Unbeatable flavor with citrus, garlic, horseradish, ginger and more!
- Prepare in minutes and marinate your chicken for up to 24 hours.
Not all marinades are created equal, and it blows our minds how good this recipe is. Use this marinade to bring out the best flavor in meat. And whether you let the meat absorb the marinade in a large bowl, an airtight container, or a resealable plastic bag, you can't go wrong when you use our Always Juicy Chicken Marinade. When you have a killer marinade you can expect delicious flavors in every caramelized juice. Don't forget to cook a few extra slices because you'll want to eat these leftovers all week!
Material notes
- Chicken: Use with any type of chicken cut, whether it's breast, thigh, wing, or drumstick. It will work with both bone-in, skin-on chicken and boneless skinless options.
- Soda: A key ingredient in this marinade, sugar and carbonation make the chicken perfectly tender. We like a grapefruit soda best (hello squirt!), but you can use Sprite or 7UP for a lemon-lime alternative.
- I willow: If you're watching your sodium intake, choose a low-sodium option.
- Sesame Oil: Located in the Asian food aisle of the grocery store.
- Ginger: Finely grate the ginger root for fresh flavor, but feel free to substitute 1 teaspoon ginger for fresh ginger.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic has the best flavor. You can also substitute 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
Soda science
The magic behind using soda in a marinade lies in its carbonation and sugar content. The bubbles of carbonation help to gently break down the muscle fibers of the chicken, making it more tender. The sugar in full-sugar soda is key to achieving that nice caramelization on the outside when cooking the meat. Although a diet soda doesn't provide the same caramelization, it can still help tenderize your chicken. Just make sure to stick to citrus-based sodas Sprite, 7 UPor Squirt—for that bright, fresh flavor that complements the sweetness of the savory soy sauce, almond sesame oil, and brown sugar.
How long to marinate
If you don't have 24 hours to let your chicken soak in all that deliciousness, plan to let it sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours. But the longer you let the chicken and marinade marinate together, the deeper the flavor. For the juiciest, most tender results, let the chicken marinate for a full 24 hours.
Storage and reheating instructions
Keep in fridge Leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
to freeze Store leftovers in an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat Grill or cook in a grill pan on the stovetop over medium heat until hot.
Make a meal with it…
Watch the video below Where Caytlin walks you through each step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we've always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes YouTube, Facebook Watch, or us Facebook pageOr here on our website with their respective recipes.
