Name: 5 Asian Chicken Marinades (freezer-friendly!)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 450g or 1 lb. boneless chicken thighs; 2 tablespoons gochujang; 2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean hot pepper flakes); 1 tablespoon honey (or brown sugar/mirin/corn syrup); 1 teaspoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1 teaspoon vinegar; 1 green chili pepper, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 teaspoon grated ginger; 450g or 1 lb. boneless chicken thighs; 1 tablespoon light soy sauce; 1 tablespoon oyster sauce; 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 teaspoon vinegar; 2 cloves garlic, grated; 1-inch ginger, grated; 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder; 1/4 teaspoon white pepper; 1/2 teaspoon red food colouring (optional); 450g or 1 lb. boneless chicken thighs; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 tablespoon mirin; 1 teaspoon vinegar; 1 tbsp neutral-tasting oil; Salt and pepper; 450g or 1 lb. boneless chicken thighs

Discover Asian-inspired chicken marinades for flavourful meals. Elevate your dishes with these top 5 recipes!

I use a lot of chicken in my meals because it’s cheap, easily available and a great source of protein. But I have a confession: I don’t actually like chicken. Or at least, plain chicken. Whenever I make chicken, marinating is essential! Not only does it tenderise chicken, it’s going to infuse the chicken with a lot of delicious flavour. In this post, I’m sharing my top 5 Asian chicken marinades!

The recipes I have on this post are my go-tos, and they require just a minimum of 30 minutes to fully infuse. Overnight is always better and as a bonus, these are all freezer-friendly.

Why You’ll love These Asian Chicken Marinades

Variety and Adaptability: These Asian-inspired recipes offer diverse flavours and can be easily adjusted to suit personal taste preferences.
Time-Saving Meal Prep: By marinating chicken in advance, you streamline cooking during busy days, ensuring quick and delicious meals.
Freezer-Friendly: These recipes all freeze well. Make a big batch and store in the freezer for easy meals on busy days.

Why Marinate Chicken?

Marinating chicken isn’t just about adding flavour; it’s a transformative process. Here’s why it’s an essential step:

Enhanced Flavour: Marinating infuses the meat, ensuring each bite bursts with bold, savoury, sweet, or spicy flavours, transforming chicken into a taste sensation.
Tenderness and Moisture: The marinade’s acidity or enzymes break down proteins, tenderising the meat and locking in moisture, resulting in juicy, succulent chicken.

What Chicken to Use?

In this recipe, I used boneless chicken thighs for consistency.

450g or 1 lb. is used, this is 2 servings, or 4 servings, if served as a side dish alongside carbs like rice, and vegetables.

ANY chicken of your choice can be used! Be sure to adjust the measurements accordingly.

If using bone-in chicken, adjust the cook times as bone-in will take longer to cook through.

What to Marinade Chicken in?

Any airtight meal prep containers will work well, otherwise ziplock bags will work too. These are my top options:

Plastic Containers: Freezer-friendly, lightweight clear plastic containers that are stackable are my top option (I’ve been using my Tupperwares for the longest time for this)
Glass Containers: They are heavier and a little bit more fragile than plastic containers, but they clean out very easily. I use this especially when working with ingredients that stain easily, such as turmeric powder.
Casserole/Baking Dish: This is another favourite of mine; when it’s time to cook, I can just pop it straight in the oven.
Reusable ziplock bags: These are easy to use, flattens to stack and can save a lot of space in your fridge or freezer.

See my Amazon Storefront for a curated list of my recommendations!

Chicken Marinade Components

Marinades are a fusion of key components that create magic. Typically, they include:

Acid: Such as vinegar, citrus juices, or yogurt, to tenderise the chicken.
Oil: Like olive oil or sesame oil, to aid in flavour distribution and moisture retention.
Aromatics: Garlic, ginger, herbs, and spices to infuse depth and character into the marinade.

How to Cook Marinated Chicken

After marinating, it’s time to cook your chicken to perfection! These marinades can be cooked in a myriad of ways, just be sure to cook the chicken until its internal temperature is at least 74ºC/165ºF.

Pan Frying: Add neutral-tasting oil to a pan or skillet. Add chicken once hot. Pan fry on one side for 4-5 minutes, before flipping to the other side and cooking for another 4-5 minutes, or until cooked through.
Air Frying: Air Fry in a preheated air fryer at 180°C/350°F for 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through. Flip halfway for even cooking.
Baking: Place the marinated chicken in a preheated oven and bake 180°C/350°F for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.

If frozen, be sure to thaw chicken first before cooking.

The Top 5 Asian Chicken Marinades

1. Buldak Korean Fire Chicken

A fiery Korean delight, Buldak Chicken packs a spicy punch with gochugaru, gochujang, and a blend of bold flavours. Want a cheesy twist? Add cheese at the end for a delectable plate of Cheesy Buldak Chicken!

450g or 1 lb. boneless chicken thighs
2 tablespoons gochujang
1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean hot pepper flakes)
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey (or brown sugar/mirin/corn syrup)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 green chili pepper, chopped
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon grated ginger

2. Char Siu

My Char Siu recipe is one of the top hits on my blog to this day. This Chinese specialty offers savoury-sweet notes with honey, soy, and a blend of aromatic spices.

450g or 1 lb. boneless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 cloves garlic, grated
1-inch ginger, grated
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon red food colouring (optional)

3. Teriyaki Marinade

A classic Japanese marinade, Teriyaki infuses soy, mirin, and brown sugar, resulting in a delightful sweet and savoury profile.

450g or 1 lb. boneless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon mirin
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 tbsp neutral-tasting oil
Salt and pepper

4. Sweet and Sour

This marinade combines soy, vinegar, ketchup, and a touch of sweetness, creating a tangy and balanced flavour for your chicken.

450g or 1 lb. boneless chicken thighs
3 tablespoons tomato ketchup
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt

5. Honey Sesame

A fusion of honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, and aromatic garlic-ginger, Honey Sesame is addictive and a crowd pleaser.

450g or 1 lb. boneless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper