Beer and Garlic Grilled Chicken

This simple Beer and Garlic Chicken Marinade has become a staple in our house over the past few years.

Juicy, incredibly flavorful grilled chicken is easier than you might think; especially when it starts with a marinade loaded with flavor from beer, garlic, and a sprinkling of herbs.

Beer marinated chicken turns out absolutely perfect; tender and juicy every time.

Beer Marinated Chicken

I used beer in a marinade for the first time when I made the Smoky Chicken and Bacon Burgers almost five years ago. (And yes, those burgers are every single bit as amazing as they sound!)

We loved the beer marinated chicken so much, I immediately started playing with a larger batch marinade recipe for grilled chicken.

I’m not a fan of beer myself and I don’t much like the taste or smell of it at all. I do, however, LOVE this marinade. 

If you do not typically have beer in your house (and don’t want to buy a six-pack just to try a new recipe), I have a tip for you. If you’re lucky enough to live near a Trader Joe’s, they sell individual bottles of beer for less than $1. (You can thank my awesome little sister for that tip.)

Ways To Use Grilled Chicken

We like to make a good bit of extra chicken each time we are grilling chicken and then keep it in the fridge for easy lunches, like the Southwest Chicken Salad pictured below.

I usually double this marinade recipe and will grill a huge batch of chicken all at once. We’ll quite happily eat it all week by itself, over salads, and in sandwiches and wraps.

There’s nothing better than having pre-cooked chicken in the fridge ready to use through the week. Try grilled chicken in one of these recipes for a terrifically tasty and EASY weeknight meal.

• Baked Potato, Chicken, and Broccoli Casserole
• BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes
• 30 Minute Enchiladas
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Eggrolls
• BBQ Chicken Nachos
• 10 Minute Southwest Chicken Soup
• Cheesy Chicken Dip

Chicken Marinade Recipes

It’s amazing what a great marinade can do for a simple piece of chicken and this beer marinated chicken is evidence of that. However, I’m of the opinion that you can’t have too many awesome ways to marinate chicken.

This Very Green Grilled Chicken by Kalyn’s Kitchen and Honey Buttermilk Roast Chicken by The View From Great Island both sound delicious.

Chipotle Chicken Marinade and Mojo Marinade are a couple more go-to chicken marinade recipes that I reach for frequently.

Loaded with some of our favorite flavors, these chicken marinades make all the difference between just another chicken dinner and a meal that the whole family will love.

Beer Chicken Marinade Recipe

1. Place the chicken in a gallon-size zip-close bag or an airtight container. Stir together the marinade ingredients and pour over the chicken. Seal and turn the bag or container to coat the pieces evenly.
2. Let rest in the refrigerator for 12-36 hours. I try to marinate chicken for a minimum of 24 hours most of the time because the longer time makes a huge difference in the flavor.

Freezer Meal Instructions

Combine the marinade and chicken in a gallon-size zip-close bag and freeze them together. When you are ready to cook the chicken, thaw in the refrigerator, allowing the marinade to work its flavors throughout the meat. Once thawed, cook as directed.

Beer and Garlic Grilled Chicken

5 from 6 votes

Juicy, incredibly flavorful grilled chicken is easier than you might think; especially when it starts with a marinade loaded with flavor from beer, garlic, and a sprinkling of herbs.

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Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 5 mins

Servings: 8 servings

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Ingredients 

• ▢ 11 ounces dark Mexican beer
• ▢ 3 tablespoons sesame seed oil
• ▢ 5 large cloves of garlic minced, approximately 1 ½ tablespoons
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ▢ 3-4 pounds chicken I typically use 9-10 boneless skinless chicken thighs

Instructions

• Place the chicken in a gallon size zip-close bag or an airtight container. Stir together the marinade ingredients and pour over the chicken.
• Seal and turn the bag or container to coat the pieces evenly. Let rest in the refrigerator for 12-36 hours. I try to marinate chicken for a minimum of 24 hours most of the time, because the longer time makes a huge different in the flavor.
• When ready to cook the meat, let the chicken rest on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour prior to cooking.
• Preheat the grill to medium heat. For boneless skinless chicken thighs, cook the meat 6 minutes on each side. Then increase the heat closer to medium-high and cook an additional 4 minutes, as needed. Enjoy!

Notes

The nutritionals from the recipe card are calculated based on the full recipe of marinade. However, the chicken will only absorb a small percentage of the marinade.

Nutrition

Calories: 244kcal · Carbohydrates: 2g · Protein: 16g · Fat: 18g · Saturated Fat: 4g · Cholesterol: 61mg · Sodium: 495mg · Potassium: 177mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 1g · Vitamin A: 173IU · Vitamin C: 2mg · Calcium: 20mg · Iron: 1mg

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{originally published 1/9/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 8/24/21}