Imagine for a moment that the grill is sizzling. Air fills with smoky aroma and your mouth starts to water. That’s the power of a great marinade. The right blend of spices, acids, and herbs can always turn a simple meal into a legendary experience. These are the 10 marinades you need to level up your grill game in the best way possible.
10. Pineapple BBQ Marinade
This juicy and tropical marinade pairs pineapple juice with BBQ sauce, soy sauce, and garlic. If you love the classic BBQ flavor, think of this one as a sweet-savory leveled up version. The pineapple BBQ marinade is great on pork ribs, chicken thighs, and shrimp skewers. Prepare to be in awe with that gorgeous charred finish, thanks to the sugars in pineapple.
9. Cola and Garlic Marinade
This one sounds odd, but bear with us. Cola is actually a good marinade base because the sugar caramelizes beautifully and the acid tenderizes the meat. When you mix in some garlic, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, you’ll get a rich, slightly sweet blend that’s perfect for ribs and steaks. Let them marinate for at least four hours for best results.
8. Zesty Italian Marinade
Bring the Italian flavors to your summer cookout with this zesty marinade. Italian dressing-inspired marinade blends garlic, oregano, olive oil, and red wine vinegar for a tangy zip. This marinade is ideal for chicken, bell peppers, or zucchini, or any time you need something quick. You can achieve flavorful results just by using the marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
7. Brown Sugar Maple Glaze
This one’s warm, sweet, savory, and totally family-friendly. The marinade is made with a blend of brown sugar, soy sauce, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and a hint of garlic. Those who have used it loves how the maple and sugar form a beautiful crust on grilled ribs, pork chops, and even thick-cut peaches. It’s best to marinate overnight to let all the sweet-savory flavors soak in.
6. Ranch Buttermilk Marinade
Inspired by America’s favorite dressing, how can we not include this marinade? This tangy option is made with buttermilk, dill, garlic, and onion powder. It’s creamy, tangy, and makes chicken ridiculously tender. How, you ask? It’s the buttermilk. It has the power to soften and infuse rich flavor to the chicken. This flavor is always a hit with kids and adults alike because it’s classic and familiar.
5. Sweet and Smoky Chipotle Adobo
If you’re looking for something bolder, this could be it. This marinade is smoky, spicy, and just a little sweet, made with chipotle peppers in adobo, garlic, lime juice, and brown sugar. The result? Layers of craveable flavors! A 2-hour soak is great but overnight takes your feast to the next level. The marinade is best for flank steak, chicken, and portobello mushrooms. As your food grills, chipotle adds that slow-building heat and the sugars caramelize.
4. Honey Mustard Backyard Blend
Get ready for a crowd-pleaser that’s tangy and sweet. This marinade is bold but approachable, consisting of ingredients like Dijon mustard, garlic, honey, and apple cider vinegar. The overall flavor profile hits those familiar and comforting flavors Americans love. Just marinate for 2-4 hours, and save some for glaze.
3. Lemon Herb Griller’s Favorite
Fresh lemon juice, rosemary, garlic, and olive oil make this marinade an instant classic. It’s light, bright, versatile, and hits all the right notes. You can use this for grilled chicken, veggies, and shrimp, and the result is a mix of natural flavors and a zesty punch. The herbs are quite a star for bringing that fresh, summery aroma!
2. Classic Southern BBQ Marinade
Of course, the holy grail of comfort marinades is here. Made with apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, cayenne, and brown sugar, this marinade offers a balance of sweet heat and vinegary zip. When grilled, the marinade also turns into a sticky, delicious glaze. This is the right pick if you want a backyard BBQ aroma that turns heads!
1. Maple Dijon Griller’s Glaze
As we transition to fall season, there’s no better time to use the Maple Dijon Griller’s Glaze. Think combination of Dijon mustard, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and thyme. It’s cozy, sweet-savory, and totally unexpected at a summer BBQ. Just make sure to grill low and slow to keep the maple sugars from burning.