Description

Equal parts zesty, sweet and spicy, this All-Purpose Marinade recipe hits all of the right notes! Pantry spices like chili powder and smoked paprika add just the right amount of kick to this homemade marinade, while brown sugar lends the perfect amount of sweetness, creating an absolutely crave-worthy caramelized crust on whatever you’re grilling.

This easy grill marinade is an all-purpose solution for grilling more flavorful chicken, steak, pork, seafood, veggies, and more!

Ingredients

Scale

2 pounds meat or veggies of choice
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup brown sugar, loosely packed
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (see Recipe Notes, below)
3 cloves garlic, smashed
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
optional: pinch cayenne pepper
kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season

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Instructions

Mix the all-purpose grill marinade: Add the olive oil, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, paprika, and a pinch of cayenne pepper, if using, to a bowl or jar. Season with 2 teaspoons kosher salt and ground black pepper as desired. Whisk or shake to combine.
Marinate: Pour the all-purpose marinade over your meat or veggies of choice. Marinate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
Grill as desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Make it vegan: Use your favorite vegan-friendly Worcestershire sauce (this is my go-to), or double up on soy sauce and omit Worcestershire sauce altogether.
Suggested marinade time: Marinating time will vary based on the type of protein you’d like to use. Having tested this All-Purpose Marinade recipe with a variety of different proteins and a variety of different marinating times, here’s what I suggest:
- Seafood – At least 20 minutes and no more than 1 hour.
- Chicken and pork – At least 6 hours and up to 3 days.
- Beef and lamb – At least 12 hours and up to 3 days.
- Veggies – At least 20 minutes or up to 5 days.
10-Minute Meal Prep: If you’d like to marinate something beyond the suggested marinade times above but would like to do some meal prep, I suggest prepping the marinade in advance. Store it in a jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days – the flavors meld together even more as the marinade sits. When you’re ready to start marinating (refer to the suggested marinating times above), simply give it the marinade a shake and pour it over whatever meat or veggies you’re using it on – easy!