Today: Get My No Fail, Easy Cookbook Series for 60% OFF
Buy Now

Beer Marinated Chicken

Pin RecipeReview Recipe
a overhead shot of Beer Marinated Chicken garnished with cilantro in a baking dish
Our beer marinated chicken is a simple recipe that features a flavorful marinade and comes off the grill tender and juicy.
Jump to Recipe
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time14 minutes
Total Time1 hour 24 minutes
Servings6
Table of Contents
  1. Beer Marinated Chicken Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make This Beer Marinated Chicken Recipe
  4. How To Serve
  5. Storing This Chicken With Beer Marinade
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. More Recipes You’ll Love
  8. JUMP TO RECIPE
  9. Even More Recipes You’ll Love

This juicy, beer-marinated chicken is one of our go-to recipes that, thanks to the delicious marinade recipe, comes out perfectly moist and with so much flavor every time! The chicken is combined with a mix of seasonings, lime, and beer before being grilled to golden perfection.

close up shot of Beer Marinated Chicken garnish with cilantro

Beer Marinated Chicken Ingredients

Beer Marinated Chicken raw ingredients that are labeled
Don't want to lose this recipe? Get it emailed to you directly! Enter your email below. Plus you'll get a free e-cookbook and amazing recipes sent to you daily.

Beer marinated chicken is a game-changer when it comes to grilling season. There’s nothing quite like tender chicken infused with the bold flavors of your favorite brew.

The beauty of beer marinades is that they not only tenderize the meat but also add depth and complexity to the flavor profile. From light lagers to dark stouts, the possibilities are endless.

You’ll need:

  • 6 boneless chicken breasts
  • ¾ cup of honey
  • ¾ cup of soy sauce
  • ¼ cup of chopped cilantro
  • Juice of 3 limes
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • ½ cup of light-colored beer, room temperature

Substitutions And Additions

LIME: You could also use lemon juice if you’d like in this simple recipe.

BEER: You can experiment with the kind of beer you use in the marinade. Each brand and type of beer will give your chicken slightly different delicious flavors. We prefer using lighter beers, but you can pick any of your favorite flavors of beer and try them out. 

CHICKEN: Instead of boneless chicken breasts, you could also use this marinade with other cuts of chicken, such as chicken thighs, legs, or drumsticks.

How To Make This Beer Marinated Chicken Recipe

Make sure you give the chicken time to marinate in the fridge for a little bit to allow all the delicious flavors to infuse the meat with plenty of flavor. Let’s get started.

STEP ONE: Lay down a piece of parchment paper on your countertop. Place three pieces of chicken on the parchment paper. Cover with an additional piece of parchment paper and use a meat mallet, rolling pin, or can. Give the thickest part of the chicken 4 to 5 whacks to flatten it slightly. Repeat the steps with the remaining chicken  

chicken breast whacked flatten

STEP TWO: Warm the honey for 20 seconds to allow for easy pouring and stirring. 

STEP THREE: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk to combine the soy sauce, honey, chopped cilantro, lime juice, minced garlic, olive oil, and light-colored beer. 

soy sauce, honey, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, olive oil, and light colored beer combined in a bowl

STEP FOUR: Set aside ⅓ cup of marinade mixture to use for basting while the chicken is on the grill.

STEP FIVE: Add chicken breasts to a gallon-sized freezer Ziploc bag. Pour the remaining beer marinade over the top of the chicken. Fold the top to get as much of the air out of the bag as possible before sealing it shut.

chicken breast added to the ziploc bag and then pour marinade over the top of the chicken

STEP SIX: Let chicken marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The longer the better! I’ve actually left this overnight even, and the flavor is incredible.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Marinating the pieces of chicken overnight allows the flavor plenty of time to soak in.

STEP SEVEN: Halfway through the marinating process, pull the bag out of the refrigerator and shake the bag, making sure to redistribute the marinade in the bag.

STEP EIGHT: Preheat your grill to medium heat. 

STEP NINE: Place chicken breasts on the grill and let the chicken cook for 5 to 7 minutes covered, then use tongs to flip the breasts over. Grill for 5 to 7 minutes longer, or until a meat thermometer reads an internal temperature of 165°F.

PRO TIP:

Evenly space the chicken apart on the grill grates so that it has plenty of room to cook. 

chicken breast placed in the grill use tongs to flip over

STEP TEN: Brush on the remaining glaze during the last few minutes of cooking. 

glazed brushed on top of the chicken

STEP ELEVEN: Take the chicken off of the grill and place it on a plate. Cover with foil and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. This is necessary to keep the chicken tender and juicy!

How To Serve

Serve this tasty chicken with rice and veggies for a meal that will knock your socks off.

Not only is this grilled chicken breast yummy on its own, but it’s also a great addition to our chicken bacon ranch pasta salad or our creamy chicken salad sandwich, too. 

Our grilled chicken breast and bacon-wrapped chicken are two more ways to enjoy flavorful chicken as an entree.

Storing This Chicken With Beer Marinade

Here are some tips on how to store your grilled chicken to keep it fresh and tasty.

MAKE AHEAD: If you want to get a head start on your meal preparation, you can marinate the chicken ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will allow the flavors to develop and penetrate the meat, resulting in a more flavorful dish. However, it’s best to cook the chicken just before serving to ensure optimal taste and texture.

IN THE FRIDGE: If you have leftover grilled chicken breasts, you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap. If stored this way, your chicken will last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze these tender juicy chicken breasts for quick and easy meals later on. I recommend slicing the chicken into smaller pieces to freeze. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a Ziploc bag for up to a month.

close up overhead shot of Beer Marinated Chicken garnish with cilantro in a baking dish

Grilled to perfection and loaded with incredible flavor from a simple marinade, this beer marinated chicken recipe will surely become a go-to meal during grilling season. Add a couple of delicious sides, and you’re all set.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could I use chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, or chicken legs with this chicken marinade?

This easy recipe works not only for boneless skinless chicken breasts but also with any other type of chicken you’d like.

Can I cook this chicken on a charcoal grill, or is a propane or gas grill better?

This chicken will cook well on either type of BBQ that you have.

How long does it take to grill chicken breasts?

You’ll want to grill your chicken for about 5 to 7 minutes per side. Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

More Recipes You’ll Love

Get Recipes on Pinterest

get recipes on pinterest
get digital lazy cookbooks
Get a Free Cookbook
Subscribe now to receive our FREE Sweet & Treats digital cookbook with 15 amazing desserts inside!
a overhead shot of Beer Marinated Chicken garnished with cilantro in a baking dish

Beer Marinated Chicken

5 from 2 votes
Our beer marinated chicken is a simple recipe that features a flavorful marinade and comes off the grill tender and juicy.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 24 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 6 boneless chicken breasts
  • ¾ cup honey
  • ¾ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 3 lime juice
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup light-colored beer, room temperature

Instructions
 

  • Lay down a piece of parchment paper on your countertop. Place 3 pieces of chicken on the parchment paper. Cover with an additional piece of parchment paper and use a meat mallet, rolling pin, or can. Give the thickest part of the chicken 4 to 5 whacks to flatten it slightly. Repeat steps with the remaining chicken.
  • Warm the honey for 20 seconds to allow for easy pouring and stirring.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the soy sauce, honey, chopped cilantro, lime juice, minced garlic, olive oil, and light-colored beer.
  • Set aside ⅓ cup of sauce to use for basting while the chicken is on the grill.
  • Add chicken breasts to a gallon-sized freezer ziplock bag. Pour the remaining marinade over the top of the chicken. Fold the top to get as much of the air out of the bag as possible before sealing it shut.
  • Let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The longer the better.
  • Halfway through the marinating process, pull the bag out of the refrigerator and shake the bag, making sure to redistribute the marinade in the bag.
  • Preheat your grill to medium heat.
  • Add the chicken breasts to the grill and let the chicken cook for 5 to 7 minutes covered, then use tongs to flip the breasts over. Grill for 5 to 7 minutes longer, or until a thermometer reads 165°F.
  • Brush on the remaining glaze the last few minutes of cooking.
  • Take the chicken off of the grill and place on a plate. Cover with foil and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. This is necessary to keep the chicken tender and juicy!

Video

Notes

  • Marinating the pieces of chicken overnight allows the flavor plenty of time to soak in.
  • Evenly space the chicken apart on the grill grates so that it has plenty of room to cook. 

Nutrition

Calories: 413kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 1694mg | Potassium: 347mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 139IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2mg
Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb

Get Recipes on Facebook

get recipes on facebook

Even More Recipes You’ll Love

Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

You May Also Like

get digital lazy cookbooks

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

16108

Free Membership!

Get all our new recipes straight to

your inbox plus a BONUS

download in your first email! ❤