Easy marinade ideas to make weeknight dinners a breeze.
Marinades are an easy way to transform a basic piece of meat into something special that makes dinner more interesting.
I don’t know about you, but I’m always exhausted when I get home from work on Monday night. That’s why I love to plan ahead and mix up one of these easy marinade ideas on Sunday night. Then all I need to do when I get home from work is throw the meat onto a hot grill or into the oven and call it dinner!
It’s a great way to get a tasty dinner on the table when you don’t have the energy to cook.
We’ve all heard about “Taco Tuesday” but I’m all about “Marinade Monday.” Let’s make it a thing!
Making a homemade marinade is as easy as combining a fat (like oil or dairy), and acid (like vinegar or citrus juice), a little salt, something sweet, and your favorite seasonings. Then let your imagination go wild!
You can marinade anything from chicken and steak to seafood, like salmon or shimp. Homemade marinade is also a great way to add flavor to tofu or tempeh–or try drizzling it over vegetables.
I have a great guide to making your own DIY marinade (along with tips on how to use them!) But if coming up with your own marinade recipe is too adventurious, here are some recipes to get you started.
Guava BBQ Sauce
This tangy fruit-based barbecue sauce is great for summer grilling, or as a dip any time of year. Serve it at your next cookout and I guarantee your guests will be begging for the recipe.
This Homemade Jerk Marinade is so simple and flavorful, full of Jamaican spices. Comes together in minutes and is great with chicken, steak, or shrimp!
The wonderful thing about this marinade is that you’re likely to have most of the ingredients on hand. This marinade is especially good for steak or pork.
Lemon pepper marinade is a simple but flavorful marinade for chicken or shrimp. This easy marinade recipe can also be used to make a delicious salad dressing!
This recipe comes together in minutes with basic ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar. Use it as a dipping sauce, marinade, or glaze.
A brightly flavored, mojito-inspired marinade that works well with any light meat or seafood. Use on extra-firm tofu, shrimp, scallops, mahi-mahi, or chicken.
I love to cook -- but even more importantly, I really like to eat! I have a demanding day job that keeps me busy, so time is precious. I'm a culinary school graduate and five time cookbook author who's all about finding ways to make delicious, restaurant-quality meals at home on a tight schedule. Read more...
Marinades FTW!