This Easy Thai Chicken Marinade brings all the bold, fragrant flavours of Thailand, without the heat. Quick to prepare and perfect for grilling, roasting or pan frying, it’s a family-friendly recipe that’s sure to become a weeknight favourite.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Thai Chicken Marinade
Marinating chicken is an amazing way to add flavour to your meal, as well as making the chicken more tender.
I particularly love this recipe because:
- It is versatile – it can be used on any cut of chicken and for grilling, sautéing, roasting or a tray bake (sheet pan meal).
- It is very easy to make – just mix the ingredients, add the chicken and leave to marinate!
- It uses only a few ingredients – coconut milk, fish sauce, garlic, lime and fresh coriander (cilantro) are all you need for this recipe.
- It is dairy free – perfect for those with special dietary needs.
Marinating Method
Marinating meat may sound difficult but it really is so simple! The marinade is created by mixing all of the different ingredients together in a large bowl. There is no cooking involved at this time, it is just a case of assembling your ingredients.
Then you place the meat in the bowl, making sure every piece of meat is coated with the marinade. Cover, and put it into the fridge until you are ready to use it.
Generally, meat should be marinated for at least 30 mins for it to start taking on the flavour of the marinade. However, you can marinate it for longer, even overnight if you wish.
You then cook your meat as desired: on the BBQ, in the oven or in a pan, it’s up to you!
As you can see, it is extremely simple to marinate meat. Honestly, the hardest part is just remembering to start early enough!
Ingredients Needed to Make this Easy Thai Chicken Marinade
for 1kg meat
- 1/2 can coconut milk
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- Juice of 1 lime
- A few sprigs of coriander (cilantro), chopped
Ingredients Tips and Substitutions
Coconut Milk
I love the gentle sweetness that the coconut milk brings to this recipe. I like to make sure I buy coconut milk that does not contain any additives.
Fish Sauce
This is what gives the marinade a distinctive Thai flavour, but if you don’t have any, you can substitute with soy sauce.
Garlic, Lime and Coriander (Cilantro)
These ingredients bring a lot of freshness to the recipe, and it is important to use fresh ingredients. Bottled lime juice does not have the same flavour and garlic powder or ground coriander will not work as well in this recipe.
You can, however, use lemon instead of lime if needed (or even kefir lime if you can get it!). Thai basil, lemongrass or even a bit of ginger would also be excellent additions to this recipe.
How to Make Easy Thai Chicken Marinade
This recipe is incredibly easy, simply mix together all the ingredients, add the chicken and leave to marinate for at least 30 mins and up to 6 hours or overnight in the fridge. Alternatively, you can freeze the chicken in the marinade for easy meal prep.
Serving Ideas for this Easy Thai Marinade
- Whole Chicken Thighs served on a sheet pan with your favourite seasonal veggies – cook in the oven for around 40 mins
- Chicken kebabs using skinless, boneless chicken thighs – cube the chicken into about 2–3 cm cubes and place on a skewer. Cook in the oven for about 30 mins 200°C. They would also be amazing on the grill. Serve with rice and steamed veggies for an easy meal.
- Chicken breasts – the marinade will make them more tender. Cook whole in the oven for about 30 mins or on the grill.
- Serve with a salad, such as this Summer Roast Vegetable Salad with Roquette.
FAQs
Can I use this Thai marinade for chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks?
Absolutely! This marinade is very versatile and works well with all cuts of chicken, whether boneless or bone-in. You will need to adjust the cooking time based on the cut and thickness – cuts of chicken with the bone in will take longer to cook.
How long should I marinate the chicken?
You can marinate the chicken for as little as 30 minutes, but for the best flavour and tenderness, marinate for 4–6 hours or overnight.
Can I freeze chicken in the marinade?
Yes, this is a very good idea for meal prep. Combine the chicken and marinade in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before cooking. Be sure to defrost the meat thoroughly before cooking, especially if you intend to slow cook the chicken.
Is this curry marinade spicy?
No, this marinade is gently spiced but not hot. If you prefer a bit more heat, you can add a pinch of chilli powder or cayenne pepper to taste.
Let me know in the comments below how you used this simple curry marinade. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on social media @candleinthekitchen, I love seeing your creations!
Easy Thai Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
For 1kg meat
- 1/2 can coconut milk
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- Juice of 1 lime
- A few sprigs of coriander cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Mix together all the marinade ingredients.
- Add the chicken and leave to marinate for at least 30 mins and up to 6 hours or overnight in the fridge.
- Alternatively, you can freeze the chicken in the marinade for easy meal prep.
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