Beer Chicken Marinade (Grilling Recipe!)

This Beer Chicken Marinade creates the most tender and flavorful chicken ever! No chopping required — just toss everything in a food processor, then pour it into a container with the chicken. The meat is ready to cook in just a few hours, but you can marinate overnight for even bolder flavor. Easy peasy!

Beer Chicken Marinade

Can you believe it’s barbecue season already? Make juicy and flavorful marinated chicken with beer, fresh herbs, lemon juice, and plenty of garlic. All you need is a food processor!

This quick chicken marinade has become my go-to recipe when I grill chicken breasts. It’s got loads of flavor from the beer, garlic, and fresh herbs.

Plus, the meat ends up being so tender and juicy that I always get loads of compliments. It’s definitely a crowd-pleaser!

Try my Honey Balsamic Grilled Chicken next, or really impress your guests with any one of my sensational smoker recipes.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Beer – I used a dark ale for this beer chicken marinade, but you can use any type you’d like!
  
  Keep the overall taste in mind, pick something that goes well with the other ingredients, and avoid anything too hoppy.
  
• Olive Oil – A must in any marinade, this helps coat the meat and adds tons of moisture too. Olive oil has such a great flavor, but avocado oil would be my next choice.
  
• Lemon Juice – Bright and tangy, this works with the beer to break down the fibers in the chicken and make it super tender. Fresh squeezed has the best flavor!
  
• Fresh Herbs – Basil, oregano, and thyme are a delicious trio when making this marinade with beer for chicken.
  
  You don’t even need to pluck off the leaves if you don’t want — the stems are just as flavorful and will get ground up in the food processor.
  
  You can also use dried herbs if that’s all you have available. See the recipe card for measurements since you won’t need quite as much.
  
• Garlic – Fresh cloves make a big difference here, so avoid jarred stuff if possible.
  
  Give them a quick smash to make removing the peels easier and to make it easier to blend them.
  
• Salt & Pepper – Feel free to use these to taste! Either start with the amount listed and add more if needed, or wait to taste the marinade and add them then.

Tips and Tricks to Make a Perfect Marinade with Beer for Chicken

• Use the freshest ingredients for the best flavor.

That goes for the oil and garlic too! Oil does go rancid after a while, and garlic cloves may be slightly bitter if they’ve started to sprout.

Once you’ve blended your beer chicken marinade, give it a quick taste — I’ll usually just dip a clean finger into the bowl.

Everyone has different taste preferences, so you may want to toss in some extra garlic, herbs, or lemon juice. Maybe even some red pepper flakes for a little heat!

• Make sure the meat is completely covered in the marinade.

I like to massage the liquid into the meat at first, then flip the bag a few times while it sits in the fridge.

It’s a good idea to fold the bag over if it’s pretty large, just to keep the marinade from spreading out too far and only coating half of the chicken.

If you’d prefer not to use a disposable bag, you can always use a glass container with a tightly fitting lid.

Avoid anything metal — the lemon and beer will react with it, causing the meat to taste metallic.

• Decide how you want to cook it!

I love how marinated beer chicken tastes on the grill, but it’s just as scrumptious when baked in the oven.

Add the breast meat to a 9 x 13 baking dish — along with half of the marinade to keep it moist — and bake for 15-20 minutes at 450°F, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

No matter how you decide to cook it, be sure to let the chicken rest on the counter for 30-60 minutes first!

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Food Processor or high-powered Blender – The blades need to be strong enough to pulverize the fresh herbs and garlic.
• Citrus Juicer – This gets every last drop out, which makes juicing lemons so much easier.

Serving Suggestions

Toss some potatoes in foil or grill asparagus with the chicken for an easy and delicious meal.

My lemon roasted vegetables and pasta would be perfect for a heartier dinner, and the flavors would go really well together.

Sometimes I’ll even make this marinated chicken with beer, lemon, and herbs for meal prep.

Once it’s cooked, I just slice it up and toss it into containers with my favorite salad fixings.

Lunch is so much easier when you can grab it from the fridge and dig right in!

Marinated Beer Chicken FAQ

Storing and Reheating Chicken Marinated with Beer

Once cool, transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

It’s best to reheat whole chicken breasts in the oven so they warm slowly and evenly. If the meat is already chopped or shredded, you can microwave it instead.

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Originally published May 2012, updated and republished February 2025

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