This marinade is especially good on chicken pieces. The acid from the citrus plumps up and lightly tenderizes the protein fibers in the meat, leading to more succulent grilled chicken—and a bright and zippy flavor.
Zesty Citrusy Marinade
Ingredients
2 lbs chicken pieces
½ cup orange juice*
¼ cup lime juice*
1 tablespoon lemon juice*
2 tablespoons neutral high-head cooking oil, like avocado oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
4 cloves minced garlic
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
*½ tsp each of orange, lemon, and lime zest, if using fresh citruses
Instructions
Place all chicken pieces in a shallow baking dish or, preferably, a large, heavy weight zip top bag. Whisk together all marinade ingredients and pour over the chicken, making sure it’s submerged. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2-12 hours for bone-in chicken or 1–6 hours for boneless. Any longer and the acids will break down the protein structures too far and may lead to mushy meat. When it’s done marinating, cook to 165 degrees Fahrenheit via your preferred grilling (or smoking) method of choice.