Grilled Chicken Marinade

This Grilled Chicken Marinade is the perfect mix of sweet, savory and garlicky deliciousness. With a homemade marinade of pineapple juice, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar and garlic creates a meal that is sure to impress your family and friends.

Sometimes plain grilled chicken can be a little boring. That’s where this homemade marinade comes in. You can whip it up in minutes and enjoy a delicious grilled chicken dish perfect for a weeknight dinner or weekend family gathering.

Check out all the other Summer Grill Recipes for even more delicious ideas!

Making the marinade is simple and it only takes 15 minutes! The pineapple juice tenderizes the chicken while the brown sugar caramelizes on the grill, giving the chicken a beautiful color and flavor.

Once you marinate the chicken, simply grill it on high heat for 4-5 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Serve with a side of vegetables and rice for a complete meal that is both satisfying and nutritious.

Looking for more easy grilling recipes ? Try my chicken kabobs with pineapple, homemade barbecue sauce and my grilled barbecue chicken legs and thighs...yum!

Table of Contents

• 👩‍🍳Recipe Notes
• 🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
• 📋Ingredients
• 💡 Substitutions and Variations
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• 1️⃣Make the Marinade
• 2️⃣Grilling Instructions
• 3️⃣Prepare the Sauce
• 4️⃣Serving Tips
• 🍶Storage Tips
• ❄️Freezing Tips
• 🔁 Thaw and Reheat Tips
• ➡️Top Recipe Tip
• 💡Recipe FAQ
• 🌟Try these recipes next...
• 📇Recipe Card
• 💬 Comments

👩‍🍳Recipe Notes

Keep the following in mind when grilling chicken:

• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Make sure the grill grates are clean...you don't want last night's steak all over the chicken!
• You don't need to make the chicken breasts thin for this recipe, but do pound them to get them to the same thickness so they cook evenly.
• Try to marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes before grilling. If you can marinade it for longer, that's even better.
• Once the chicken is on the grill, don't move it too much.
• Try not to overcook the chicken. It should take about 5 to 7 minutes per side...depending on the thickness of the meat.
• Make sure you use a meat thermometer...don't guess. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
• Let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing or serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in juicier chicken.

🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools

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📋Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients and instructions. Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact quantities, detailed instructions and special notes.

• Pineapple juice
• Teriyaki sauce
• Red onion
• Olive oil
• Brown sugar
• Chopped cilantro
• Chopped garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Step-by-Step Instructions

1️⃣Make the Marinade

• Add all the ingredients for the marinade in a blender and pulse until combined.
• Place the chicken in a plastic bag or casserole dish and pour half of the marinade over your chicken.
• Place the remaining marinade in a storage container or mason jar.
• Place the chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for a few hours or overnight.

2️⃣Grilling Instructions

• Place the chicken on the hot grill and cook until the juices run clear and the internal temperature is 165°F.
• Remove the chicken from the grill and place on a clean platter.
• Cover the chicken with aluminum foil and let rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

3️⃣Prepare the Sauce

• While the chicken is resting, take the other half of the marinade and place it in a small saucepan.
• Bring it to a boil on top of the stove.
• Once the marinade has reduced and thickened, remove from the heat and set aside.

4️⃣Serving Tips

• Slice the chicken and drizzle the thickened marinade on top.
• This grilled chicken goes great with cilantro lime rice or maybe Coconut Rice.
• If your family enjoys potatoes, try my son's favorite Twice Baked Potatoes.
• You could keep it very healthy by serving it sliced thin over a tossed salad.
• Garlic Bread is always a great side dish for my family!

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🍶Storage Tips

• If you have any leftovers, you can make chicken quesadillas for dinner another night of the week.  
• Make sure you store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Chicken properly stored will last up to 5 days.

❄️Freezing Tips

• Allow the chicken to cool down to room temperature.
• Place the chicken in an airtight container or freezer bag. Make sure you label the container.
• Place the container in the freezer and allow it to freeze completely, which usually takes 2-3 hours.
• Frozen grilled chicken can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

🔁 Thaw and Reheat Tips

• When you're ready to enjoy the chicken again or reuse it for another recipe, simply thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat it in the oven.

➡️Top Recipe Tip

• Do not overcook the chicken. Use an internal thermometer to check the temperature reaches 165°F.
• Do not reuse any leftover marinade that has come in contact with the raw chicken!

🌟Try these recipes next...

• Try a few of my other chicken cutlet recipes to help you get dinner on the table fast this week!
• You might also enjoy this recipe for Grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs!

📇Recipe Card

This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2013 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!