We’ve been making this Turkish Chicken Marinade for years, and it never fails. It’s super simple, made with pantry staples, and gives you juicy, flavorful chicken every single time.
Tender and Juicy Chicken Every Time!
If you ever tried Turkish Chicken Kebabs, you know how tasty and juicy they are. It is thanks to this simple Turkish chicken marinade.
In Turkey, marinating chicken in a yogurt-based sauce is a common trick and it works so well. It’s quick, uses simple ingredients, and works with whatever chicken you have.
Yogurt helps tenderize the meat, and the spices, garlic, and tomato paste give it a tasty Turkish flavor.
It is not limited to chicken kebabs, you can use this marinade in various ways.
Turkish Chicken Marinade
Description
A simple and classic Turkish chicken marinade made with yogurt, tomato paste, garlic, and spices. It makes any cut of chicken tender, juicy, and full of flavor.
Ingredients
Instructions
-
-
In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients to make the marinade.
-
If using thick chicken pieces (like breasts), make 2–3 shallow cuts on each piece.
-
Add your chicken to the bowl and coat it well with the marinade.
-
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, ideally 4–5 hours or overnight.
-
Cook your chicken using your preferred method: bake, grill, or pan-fry.
-
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 83kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 7g11%
- Saturated Fat 1g5%
- Cholesterol 1mg1%
- Sodium 617mg26%
- Potassium 111mg4%
- Total Carbohydrate 3g1%
- Dietary Fiber 1g4%
- Sugars 1g
- Protein 2g4%
- Vitamin A 596 IU
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Calcium 36 mg
- Iron 1 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
This marinade is enough for 1 kilo (about 2 pounds) of chicken pieces.Here’s how long to cook different chicken parts using this marinade:In the oven (200°C / 400°F):
- Chicken wings: 20–25 minutes
- Chicken legs: 40–45 minutes
- Chicken thighs (boneless): 20–25 minutes
- Chicken thighs (bone-in skin-on): 45–50 minutes
- Chicken breast: 25–30 minutes
On the grill (medium-high heat):
- Chicken wings: 15–20 minutes
- Chicken legs: 25–30 minutes
- Chicken thighs (boneless): 8–10 minutes
- Chicken thighs (bone-in skin-on): 30–35 minutes
- Chicken breast: 10–12 minutes
Grilling times may vary depending on heat level and thickness. Flip often and keep an eye for even cooking.On the stovetop:
- Chicken breast or boneless thighs: 5–6 minutes per side over medium heat, then a few more minutes on low, flipping often
- Chicken wings: 5–6 minutes per side, then cook for a few more minutes on low heat
- Chicken legs or bone-in skin-on chicken thighs: Brown each side for 6–7 minutes, then cover and cook on low heat for another 10–15 minutes until fully cooked
- If the pan gets too dry while cooking, add a splash of water to keep the chicken moist.
No matter which method you use, the internal temperature of the chicken should be 74°C / 165°F for safe results.
