Marinade – Recipe Professional https://recipeprofessional.com The Finest Recipe Resource Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:03:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://recipeprofessional.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/RC_favicon.webp Marinade – Recipe Professional https://recipeprofessional.com 32 32 Easy Salmon Marinade Recipe | The Recipe Critic https://recipeprofessional.com/easy-salmon-marinade-recipe-the-recipe-critic/ https://recipeprofessional.com/easy-salmon-marinade-recipe-the-recipe-critic/#respond Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:03:35 +0000 https://recipeprofessional.com/easy-salmon-marinade-recipe-the-recipe-critic/

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A great salmon marinade makes your fish flavorful, tender, and juicy! This recipe gives each filet the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors.

Most of my favorite meat recipes start with a good marinade. And I love experimenting with different ingredients to create new flavors, especially during grilling season! Here are some of our go-to marinades that you’ll definitely want to try: pork chop marinade, shrimp marinade, and chicken marinade!

Salmon filets in a ziplock bag with marinade. Salmon filets in a ziplock bag with marinade.

Reasons You’ll Love This Marinade Recipe

  • Easy to Prepare: Requires just a few simple ingredients.
  • Delicious: Delivers big flavor with minimal effort. Enjoy tender, juicy salmon that’s perfect every time.
  • Versatile: Ideal for salmon, chicken, or steak. While store-bought marinades are convenient, homemade always tastes better!

What Ingredients are in Salmon Marinade?

You’re going to love how easy this salmon marinade recipe is! It’s made with simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Just check the recipe card below for all the exact measurements.

  • Soy Sauce: Adds a savory and umami flavor to the marinade that enhances the taste of the salmon.
  • Lemon Juice: A little acidity is a must in marinades. It provides fresh flavor and also helps to tenderize the salmon. 
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Ensures the marinade coats the salmon completely while adding plenty of moisture.
  • Honey: The sweetness from the honey balances the savory flavor from the soy sauce.
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic infuses the salmon with an incredible savory taste!
  • Fresh Parsley: Love adding fresh herbs for depth of flavor.
  • Salmon: This marinade makes enough to fully coat 2-3 pounds of fresh salmon.
The top view of ingredients in glass bowls and individually labeled. The top view of ingredients in glass bowls and individually labeled.

How to Make Salmon Marinade and Cook Salmon

Homemade marinade is super simple to make! All you have to do is mix all of the ingredients, and then add everything to a large ziplock bag! Below, you’ll find instructions for making the marinade and also 4 different ways to cook your salmon:

  1. Make the Marinade: Combine all the ingredients in a large ziplock bag or a large bowl.
  2. Marinate the Fish: Add the salmon, ensuring the fish is completely covered with the marinade. Let it marinate for 30-60 minutes. Avoid letting it marinate for longer than an hour, as fish can start to break down and become mushy after too long. 

Choose Your Cooking Method

  1. Air Fryer: Spray the basket of the air fryer with pan spray and place the salmon skin side down. Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes, or until the fish reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  2. Oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick foil. Place the salmon skin side down on the baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the fish reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  3. Skillet: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat before adding the salmon skin-side up. Let the salmon sear for 4-5 minutes before flipping it skin side down. Cook for an additional 3 minutes. 
  4. Grill: Preheat the grill to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and either brush or spray with oil. Place the salmon skin side down for 6-8 minutes. When it is ready to flip, it should easily release with a fish spatula. Flip the fish and cook over indirect heat for 2-4 minutes, until the fish reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Variations and Substitutions

This sweet and savory salmon marinade is a game-changer, making your fish tender and juicy with incredible flavor. Here are some easy tweaks to tailor it to your taste:

  • Switch up the Citrus: For a fun twist, try swapping the lemon juice with lime or orange juice. Each one adds its own unique zing!
  • Change the Herbs: Feel free to mix in different herbs like rosemary, thyme, cilantro, or dill. Fresh herbs are great, but if you’re using dried, go with 1 teaspoon for every tablespoon of fresh.
  • Alternative for Soy Sauce: If you need to switch out the soy sauce, go for gluten-free or low-sodium soy sauce, or try liquid aminos for a similar taste.
  • Make it Spicy: Craving some heat? Add a pinch or two (or more, if you like it hot) of crushed red pepper to spice things up.
  • Sweetener: Honey does a great job balancing the saltiness of the soy sauce, but you can swap it with brown sugar or agave. If you need to skip the sweetener, that’s okay too—just know it adds a nice touch!

The top view of salmon filets in marinade in a ziplock bag. The top view of salmon filets in marinade in a ziplock bag.

How to Store Salmon Marinade

You can get a head start by whipping up your marinade a day in advance. Just remember, don’t add the fish to it until about an hour before you plan to cook. If you let the fish soak for more than 60 minutes, the marinade will start to break down the fillet’s structure, leaving you with mushy fish.

  • In the Refrigerator: Your homemade marinade will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks if you keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. But be careful! Once the marinade has been in contact with raw meat or fish, you’ll need to toss it out to avoid any food safety issues.
  • In the Freezer: For longer storage, you can freeze your marinade. Just pour it into a freezer-safe ziplock bag, and it will keep for 3-6 months. When you’re ready to use it, let it thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

Cooked salmon filets on a plate garnished with green onions. Cooked salmon filets on a plate garnished with green onions.

More Marinade Recipes

A tasty marinade can take your meal from ordinary to extraordinary! It infuses the protein with flavor, tenderizes it and makes the meat perfectly juicy and tender.

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The Best Steak Marinade Recipe https://recipeprofessional.com/the-best-steak-marinade-recipe/ https://recipeprofessional.com/the-best-steak-marinade-recipe/#respond Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:46:48 +0000 https://recipeprofessional.com/the-best-steak-marinade-recipe/

This is the best steak marinade you’ll ever use. It’s rich and savory, creating a thick coating that guarantees an intensely flavorful, juicy steak every time.

Cooked steak after using the Best Steak Marinade

This simple marinade for steak belongs to the “mud” marinades group, so it has a thick consistency that easily sticks to your steak. Every bite is well coated, which is why I’m convinced this is one of the best marinades out there.

Whether you’re cooking flank steak, sirloin steak, hanger steak, or even a New York strip, this marinade will take your steaks to a new level of deliciousness. I especially love it for grilled steak and steak salad.

Key Ingredients

  • Steak Seasoning: I use our homemade steak seasoning, but feel free to use your favorite brand.
  • Garlic: I love the fresh garlic in this marinade and prefer to finely grate it so it melts into the mixture. I use the same technique for our pork chop marinade.
  • Lemon: Adds some acidity and brightens the flavors.
  • Soy Sauce and Worcestershire sauce: These add umami, making the steak taste richer and more beefy.
  • Oil: Any neutral oil with a higher heat tolerance works nicely. I usually use avocado oil.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

My Tips for Using This Incredible Steak Marinade

Tip 1: Why you’ll love it. We recommend this mud-style marinade for steaks for two reasons: First, our umami-rich marinade enhances the natural beefy flavor of the steak, and second, since we spoon extra marinade over the steaks while they cook, it creates a caramelized crust and even juicier results.

Tip 2: How long to marinate steaks. We recommend marinating the steaks for 1 to 2 hours. This is because the lemon juice in the marinade can break down the steak’s exterior if left for too long. So, we keep the marinating time short to preserve the steak’s texture and flavor.

Marinating Steaks

Tip 3: Cooking marinated steak. This thicker, mud-style marinade works wonders on the grill or in a grill pan (see our tips on how to grill steak). If you don’t want to grill them, you can cook the marinated steaks in a stainless-steel or cast-iron skillet.

More Marinade Recipes

Steaks made with Steak Marinade

The Best Steak Marinade

  • PREP
  • COOK
  • TOTAL

This easy steak marinade is a surefire way to enhance the natural flavors of your steaks. We highly recommend our steak seasoning, but you can substitute your favorite store-bought seasoning blend. This marinade has a unique quality often referred to as “mud” due to its thicker consistency, which allows it to cling lovingly to your steaks.

Makes enough for two large or four small steaks

You Will Need

2 tablespoons steak seasoning, we love this homemade steak seasoning

2 tablespoons high-heat oil like avocado oil vegetable oil, or safflower oil

2 cloves garlic, grated or finely minced

2 teaspoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Directions

  • Marinating the Steak
  • 1Combine the marinade ingredients and generously rub the mixture all over the steak. Allow the steak to marinate for up to 1 hour. While marinating for a bit longer is acceptable, we advise against exceeding two hours to achieve the best flavor, color, and texture.

  • Grilling or Using a Grill Pan
  • 1Place the marinated steaks on the grill over medium-high heat and cook until golden brown and slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes.

    2Turn the steaks over and continue to grill until your desired doneness. Use the suggested internal temperature guide below. As the steaks cook, spoon the leftover marinade over them to enhance the flavors. If using an open flame, watch out for flare-ups.

    3After cooking, let the steak rest for 5 minutes before serving or slicing.

  • Pan-Seared Steaks
  • 1Preheat the skillet over medium-high heat (for 1 to 2 minutes), then add the marinated steaks to the pan. Cook the steaks, flipping them frequently, until they are well browned on all sides, including the edges. You can hold the steak sideways with tongs to sear any fat along the edges.

    2Use the suggested internal temperature guide below to determine your preferred doneness. After cooking, allow the steak to rest for 5 minutes before serving or slicing.

Adam and Joanne’s Tips

  • Internal temperatures and doneness: Keep in mind that steak continues to cook slightly after being removed from the heat.
  • Steak doneness: Rare: 120-130°F, Medium Rare: 130-140°F, Medium: 140-150°F, Medium-Well: 150-160°F, and Well-Done: 160°F+.
  • Gluten-free: Use certified GF soy sauce or tamari and Worcestershire sauce.
  • The nutrition facts provided below are estimates and are only for the marinade, not the steak. We have used the USDA database to calculate approximate values.

Nutrition Per Serving
Serving Size
1/4 of the recipe, enough for 1 small steak
/
Calories
84
/
Total Fat
7.3g
/
Saturated Fat
1g
/
Cholesterol
0mg
/
Sodium
785.9mg
/
Carbohydrate
5.2g
/
Dietary Fiber
1.5g
/
Total Sugars
0.5g
/
Protein
1g


AUTHOR:

Joanne Gallagher

Adam and Joanne of Inspired Taste

We are Adam and Joanne Gallagher, the creators of Inspired Taste. Established in 2009, Inspired Taste grew from a childhood dream into one of the internet’s most trusted recipe sites with hundreds of reliable recipes, step-by-step videos, and expert tips.More About Us

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Sesame Ginger Shrimp Marinade Recipe https://recipeprofessional.com/sesame-ginger-shrimp-marinade-recipe/ https://recipeprofessional.com/sesame-ginger-shrimp-marinade-recipe/#respond Sat, 07 Feb 2026 03:04:11 +0000 https://recipeprofessional.com/sesame-ginger-shrimp-marinade-recipe/

This shrimp marinade recipe is perfect for grilling or roasting! Ginger, garlic, fish sauce, sesame oil, and honey combine for a delicious, sweet, sticky glaze.

Marinated Shrimp made with our Asian Shrimp Marinade

Chef Richard created this easy shrimp marinade recipe. We wanted something bright, zesty, and a bit spicy, and he delivered! It features some of my favorite ingredients: ginger, fresh lime, fish sauce, and toasty sesame oil.

We let the shrimp marinate for 30 to 60 minutes. No longer, or the acidity will start “cooking” them. This marinade is great for shrimp, chicken, tofu, or beef. It’s quick, easy, and always makes me happy. I love serving this marinated shrimp with coconut rice or cilantro lime rice.

Key Ingredients

  • Shrimp: For the best results, I prefer large or jumbo shrimp. They are less likely to overcook and dry out. Look for fresh shrimp that is firm and has a slightly sweet smell. If you have frozen shrimp, thaw and drain them before marinating.
  • Fresh Ginger and Garlic: The ginger adds warmth and a subtle spiciness, and the garlic complements all the other Asian-inspired flavors. Fresh is best for these.
  • Cilantro and Green Onion: These will give you a pop of color and freshness. I like using the white and lighter green parts of the green onion for the marinade and saving the darker green tops for slicing and scattering over the cooked shrimp when serving.
  • Soy Sauce or Tamari: Use what you prefer. If gluten-free is a concern, I recommend using gluten-free certified tamari.
  • Lime: This will brighten everything up and add acidity, making everything taste better. I usually buy an extra lime and use it for serving.
  • Honey: After cooking, the honey turns the marinade into a slightly sticky glaze. You can substitute maple syrup.
  • Fish Sauce: This magical ingredient adds a savory, umami flavor to the marinade. I recommend Red Boat Fish Sauce. If it’s unavailable, look for fish sauce in glass jars, which tend to be higher quality.
  • Sesame Oil: The toasted sesame oil will provide a nutty richness and a wonderful aroma.
  • Gochujang: This Korean fermented chili paste adds mild to moderate heat. You can adjust the amount to your liking or substitute it with Sriracha. I also use it to make our homemade hoisin sauce.
  • Dijon Mustard: This adds a subtle tang and makes the marinade more interesting. I love Dijon mustard for marinades and also use it when making this chicken marinade and honey mustard chicken.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

Shrimp Marinade Ingredients -- Ginger, Lime, Garlic

How to Make the Best Shrimp Marinade

Tip 1: Perfect for weeknights. This marinade comes together in minutes. Combine all ingredients in a bowl or zip-top bag. Then, add shrimp and let it marinate for 30 minutes to an hour. This timeframe allows the shrimp to absorb the marinade flavors without becoming tough. This is especially important if the marinade has acidic ingredients, like the lime juice in this Asian marinade.

Marinating the shrimp longer than 60 minutes will begin to “cook” the shrimp which you don’t want in this recipe.

Marinating Shrimp

Tip 2: Cook with high heat. We love this marinade for grilled shrimp, which we cook on an outdoor grill or on the stove using a grill pan. You can also roast the marinated shrimp at high heat in the oven, which caramelizes the honey.

More Shrimp Recipes

Grilled Shrimp made with shrimp Marinade

Sesame Ginger Shrimp Marinade

  • PREP
  • COOK
  • TOTAL

We love this Asian-inspired shrimp marinade recipe. Quickly marinate your shrimp, 30 to 60 minutes is perfect. Any longer, and the shrimp will begin to “cook” in the lime juice. This marinade is perfect for grilled shrimp, but you can roast them in the oven or cook them in a skillet. Below, we provide tips for all three cooking methods.

Serves 4

You Will Need

1 pound (450g) large or jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger, ½-inch piece

1 tablespoon minced garlic, 3 cloves

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 teaspoon Gochujang, see notes

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions

  • Marinate Shrimp
  • 1Combine the shrimp marinade ingredients in a bowl or zip-top freezer bag. Let the shrimp marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

    2If using skewers, soak wooden skewers in water while the shrimp marinate so they do not burn on the grill or in the oven.

  • Cook Shrimp
  • 1Grill (Recommended): Preheat your grill or a grill pan to medium-high heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers in opposing directions (heads touching, tails outward) for flat skewers. See our photos for reference. Push the skewer through the head and tail of each shrimp. They will look like an interlocking circle, keeping the shrimp skewers flat.

    2Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side until opaque and cooked through.

    3Roast: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Spread shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 5 to 7 minutes or until opaque and cooked through.

    4Skillet: Heat skillet over medium heat. Cook shrimp for 5 to 7 minutes until opaque and cooked. Watch for the honey burning in the pan (keep the heat between medium and medium-high).

Adam and Joanne’s Tips

  • Frozen Shrimp: Thaw and drain frozen shrimp before marinating.
  • Gochujang: A Korean chili paste, we find Mother-in-law’s Gochujang in stores around us. It can also be found sold in Asian or Korean markets. While it does not taste the same, Sriracha is a good substitute in this marinade recipe. Or leave it out.
  • Best Cooking Method: This marinade works exceptionally well on an outdoor grill or in a grill pan. Roasting in the oven is our second-best method.
  • Gluten-free: Use GF Tamari and ensure all other ingredients (specifically the fish sauce and gochujang) are marked gluten-free.
  • Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA database to calculate approximate values.

Nutrition Per Serving
Serving Size
1/4 of the recipe
/
Calories
156
/
Total Fat
4g
/
Saturated Fat
0.6g
/
Cholesterol
182.5mg
/
Sodium
799.4mg
/
Carbohydrate
6.7g
/
Dietary Fiber
0.2g
/
Total Sugars
5g
/
Protein
23.6g


AUTHOR:

Joanne Gallagher

Adam and Joanne of Inspired Taste

We are Adam and Joanne Gallagher, the creators of Inspired Taste. Established in 2009, Inspired Taste grew from a childhood dream into one of the internet’s most trusted recipe sites with hundreds of reliable recipes, step-by-step videos, and expert tips.More About Us

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Easy Balsamic Chicken Marinade for Grilling or Baking https://recipeprofessional.com/easy-balsamic-chicken-marinade-for-grilling-or-baking/ https://recipeprofessional.com/easy-balsamic-chicken-marinade-for-grilling-or-baking/#respond Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:20:15 +0000 https://recipeprofessional.com/easy-balsamic-chicken-marinade-for-grilling-or-baking/

This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.

I’ve been on a balsamic kick lately. Drizzling it on salads, veggies, and even watermelon! But this Balsamic Chicken marinade is pure magic. It’s tangy, a little sweet, and makes everyday chicken taste incredible!

Overhead shot of grilled chicken that was cooked in balsamic chicken marinade.Overhead shot of grilled chicken that was cooked in balsamic chicken marinade.

Marinade Magic

  • Big Taste, Easy Prep: Balsamic chicken marinade packs bold, tangy flavor using just a few pantry staples.
  • Great for Meal Prep: Marinate ahead of time and then cook when you want. Perfect for quick weeknight meals or weekend grilling.
  • Cook Your Way: Grill it, pan-sear it, or roast it, this marinade performs like a champ no matter how you cook it up.
  • Pairs with Everything: Serve your balsamic chicken on salads, with veggies, rice, or pasta. It’s a tasty go-to for any meal!

Balsamic Chicken Marinade Ingredients

Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.
  • For sweetness: If you prefer brown sugar, it swaps in easily for the honey. Want it sweeter? Then add a tablespoon or two more of honey.
  • Add fresh herbs: Not into Italian seasoning? Skip it and toss in some chopped fresh herbs instead, about a teaspoon each. Rosemary, thyme, and oregano all play really well with balsamic.
  • Balsamic vinegar: No need to splurge here, affordable balsamic works perfectly since it gets mixed in. Save the fancy stuff for a drizzle on top when serving.

How to Make Balsamic Chicken Marinade

This easy balsamic chicken marinade takes 5 minutes to prepare! Just whisk the ingredients together and pour them into a large zip-top bag with your chicken!

  1. Combine: Add the chicken breasts to a gallon ziplock bag, then set aside. Add the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, garlic, mustard, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl, mix until fully combined.
  2. Marinate: Pour the marinade over the chicken in the bag and close it. Be sure to press out all the air from the bag. Squish the chicken around to ensure all of it is covered with the marinade. Set it aside to marinate at room temperature for 1-1 ½ hours, or in the fridge for up to 8 hours. *Tip: Don’t marinate too long. If you do it over 8 hours (or 2 at room temp), the vinegar can make it mushy.
  3. Cook: Once finished marinating, discard the sauce and cook the chicken using your preferred cooking method. *Cooking instructions in recipe card below.

Alyssa’s Pro Tip

Doubling Up? If you’re marinating more than 2 pounds of chicken, go ahead and double the recipe. Every piece of chicken deserves its fair share of balsamic chicken marinade flavor.

Freezing and Storing Cooked Chicken

  • Freezing: If you’re freezing the chicken in the balsamic chicken marinade, it’ll keep for up to 3 months. Just thaw it overnight in the fridge before cooking.
  • Storing Cooked Chicken: Once cooked, you can then store the chicken in the fridge for up to 7 days, or freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. 

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Bag of raw chicken in the balsamic chicken marinade. Bag of raw chicken in the balsamic chicken marinade.

More Marinade Recipes

A good marinade can turn a simple meal into something amazing! It adds flavor, softens the meat, and makes it juicy and delicious. Here are some other tried and true favorites!

Salmon Marinade

32 minutes

Skirt Steak Marinade

2 hours 10 minutes

The Best Shrimp Marinade

1 hour 5 minutes

Pork Chop Marinade

5 minutes



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