Ever since my days working as a server in a fine-dining Italian restaurant, I’ve been absolutely smitten with all things Italian. Something that many people don’t realize about Italy is the fact that it’s a hyper-regional country. Culture & traditions drastically vary from region to region, & cuisine follows suit.
Today we’re talking about Tuscany, one of the more well-known regions in central Italy. Other than its wine & its pasta, of course, Tuscany is pretty famous for being Italy’s grill-loving & meat-obsessed region.
This Tuscan-inspired lemon, garlic and herb marinade embodies just about everything I love about Italian cooking. It’s made with the simplest ingredients but delivers SO. MUCH. FLAVOR. You can use it on just about anything, & it’ll taste absolutely unreal.
Tuscan Marinade – Recipe Highlights
This Tuscan marinade is…
- BRIGHT & PUNCHY. Made with lemon zest & freshly squeezed lemon juice, this Tuscan marinade recipe tastes totally bright & happy, with a big ol’ punch of garlicky goodness.
- SIMPLE. This recipe calls for just 6 total ingredients & it can be mixed up in 10 minutes or less. It doesn’t get simpler than that!
- VERSATILE. The best part? You can use it on just about everything. Tuscan-style chicken. The BEST grilled steaks. Juicy & flavorful grilled pork. Lemony, garlicky grilled veggies.
One easy marinade recipe, endless opportunities for Tuscan-style deliciousness. ♡ Read on to learn more about this Tuscan marinade recipe, or jump straight to the recipe & get cookin’!
This Tuscan marinade is made with fresh, flavorful ingredients.
My absolute favorite thing about this Tuscan marinade recipe is the fact that it delivers a mega-punch of flavor despite having a pretty simple & straight-forward ingredients list. (Don’t you love when that happens??)
You’ll need just 6 ingredients…
- Lemon – Making use of both the zest & the freshly squeezed juice creates the intense lemony flavor we’re after here.
- Garlic – LOTS of it, at that! You’ll need 6 whole cloves.
- Herbs – Namely rosemary (fresh is best!) & oregano (dried works great!).
- Crushed red pepper flake – Which is also easily omitted if you don’t care for a kick of heat…I love the peppery bite that it adds.
- Olive oil – Since the ingredients list for this Tuscan marinade is so simple, you’ll want to be sure to use the good stuff here. You don’t need an extra-premium finishing oil, but the fruity-peppery flavor of a nice extra virgin olive oil makes a world of difference in the overall flavor of this garlic and herb marinade. This is my go-to EVOO.
How to make this lemony Tuscan garlic and herb marinade:
Building off the simplicity of its ingredients, this Tuscan-inspired lemon garlic marinade couldn’t be easier to throw together. It’s the simplest 10-minute operation.
Here’s how you do it: Simply combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl & whisk to combine. If you’re prepping for later use, you can combine all of the ingredients in a small jar & shake to combine.
That’s it! Seriously easy, right?
With the Tuscan garlic and herb marinade mixed & ready to go, you can use it immediately or pop it in the fridge for later use. (More on that in a sec!)
How long to marinate:
Marinating time will vary based on the type of protein you’d like to use. Because of the amount of lemon juice used in the marinade, it’s important not to marinate for too long, as it will really negatively affect the texture of meat. (Mushy, mealy meat = no good.)
Having tested this Tuscan lemon garlic marinade on a variety of different proteins with a variety of different marinating times, here’s what we suggest:
- Seafood – at least 20 minutes & no more than 1 hour.
- Chicken & pork – at least 4 hours & up to 6 hours for maximum flavor.
- Beef & lamb – at least 12 hours & up to 24 hours for maximum flavor.
- Veggies – at least 20 minutes & up to 24 hours.
Make-Ahead & Meal Prep:
Great news for meal preppers: despite the suggested marinating periods for this Tuscan marinade, you can still prep the marinade itself well in advance.
To make it ahead of time, simply prep the marinade & store it in a jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator. The marinade will keep for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to start marinating (based on the suggested marinating periods, above), simply pour the marinade over whatever meat or veggies you’re using it on – easy peasy!
& a little bonus for prepping in advance? The flavors of the Tuscan marinade meld together even more as the marinade sits.
How to use this Tuscan lemon garlic marinade recipe:
The beauty of this marinade is its versatility; consider it your go-to all-purpose lemon garlic marinade. You can use it on pretty much anything, & it’ll taste delicious no matter what.
A few of our favorite ways to put this Tuscan garlic & rosemary marinade to use:
- Boneless skinless chicken. Chicken breasts & thighs take to this lemony marinade really well. We love skewering them up into kebabs but you can, of course, grill ’em up whole.
- Whole chicken. One of my favorite things in the entire world is a grilled whole chicken, with crispy-charred skin & juicy meat. The lemon, garlic & rosemary in the marinade are perfect for whole chicken!
- Veggies! This lemony garlic and herb marinade works on pretty much every veggie imaginable – grilled potatoes are my personal favorite, & grilled Tuscan cauliflower steaks make for the heartiest vegan-friendly grilled dinner!
- Seafood. I suggest a sturdy white fish (like swordfish) or shellfish (such as shrimp or scallops).
- Pork. This lemon & rosemary marinade works beautifully on individual pork chops or whole pork tenderloin.
- Beef & Lamb. A lemon garlic marinade might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to red meat, but it’s a surprisingly delicious pair. Hellooo, garlicky rosemary lamb (grilled chops = love) & Grilled Tuscan Steak (ribeye, NY strip, flank steak are all fantastic!).
What to serve with your grilled Tuscan-style goodies:
- My #1 pick = grilled potatoes. This grilled fries recipe calls for many of the same ingredients you’ll already have on hand for the marinade!
- Make a simple salad. Toss your favorite greens in an easy vinaigrette (this All-Purpose Vinaigrette is my go-to!) with some tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, or whatever fresh veggies you love most.
- Or, make a slightly more special salad. You can never go wrong with a good Caprese salad (I like drizzling mine with pesto for extra umph!) or a satisfying Panzanella (I like to grill my bread for extra flavor).
- OR! Whip up quick Grated Zucchini Salad, one of my favorite no-cook summery dishes.
- This Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad is simple to make & is perfect for feeding a crowd! Always a hit at summer parties.
My ideal plate? Lemony Tuscan chicken skewers served with a simple arugula salad (dressed in a little olive oil, lemon juice, & tossed with shaved parm) & some grilled potatoes (tossed in olive oil & garlic powder, & finished with a little sprinkle of parm). Simple. Flavorful. Perfect.
I cannot wait for you to try this Tuscan Marinade! It’s lemony, garlicky, herbaceous goodness, & I’m 100% positive you’ll love it. If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations!
Want more grilling marinade ideas? We’ve got you covered! Check out our 15 Go-To Grilling Marinades next. Happy grilling! ♡
PrintTuscan Marinade with Lemon, Garlic and Herbs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 3/4 cup marinade 1x
- Category: Sauces & Condiments
- Method: No-Cook, Grilling & Smoking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
A bold & flavorful Tuscan marinade, inspired by my favorite flavors of Tuscany: lemon, garlic, & fresh rosemary. Calling for 6 simple ingredients & made in 10 minutes or less, this Tuscan-style lemon garlic marinade is the easiest way to add TONS of flavor to your grilled favorites.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds meat or veggies of choice
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 lemons, zested & juiced
- 6 cloves garlic, grated or crushed
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, broken in half or roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2–1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flake (depending how spicy you like it)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix the Tuscan garlic and herb marinade: Add the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, oregano, crushed red pepper flake, kosher salt & ground black pepper to a medium bowl or jar. Whisk or shake to combine. Set aside, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Marinate: Pour the Tuscan marinade over your meat or veggies of choice. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for the recommended marinating time (see Recipe Notes, below).
- Grill as desired. Enjoy!
Equipment

DeLallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Buy Now →Notes
- Suggested marinade time: Marinating time will vary based on the type of protein you’d like to use. Because of the amount of lemon juice used in the marinade, it’s important not to marinate for too long, as it will really negatively affect the texture of meat. Having tested this Tuscan lemon garlic marinade on a variety of different proteins with a variety of different marinating times, here’s what we suggest:
- Seafood – at least 20 minutes & no more than 1 hour.
- Chicken & pork – at least 4 hours & up to 6 hours for maximum flavor.
- Beef & lamb – at least 12 hours & up to 24 hours for maximum flavor.
- Veggies – at least 20 minutes & up to 24 hours.
- 10-Minute Meal Prep: If you’d like to marinate something later in the week, I suggest making the marinade in advance, whenever you’re meal prepping for the week. Store it in a jar or an airtight container for up to 5 days – the flavors meld together even more as the marinade sits. At least 4 hours before you’re ready to hit the grill, simply pour the marinade over whatever meat or veggies you’re using it on – easy peasy!
Keywords: Tuscan, lemon garlic marinade, garlic and herb marinade, marinade recipe, easy, no-cook, grilling & smoking, Italian, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan
Recipe by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography by Eat Love Eat
Ready to Hit the Grill?
If this all still feels new to you, I encourage you to head over to Grilling 101, a compilation of tips & tricks for all of the grilling basics – everything from how to light your grill to how to clean your grill.
All this talk about grilling have you feelin’ ready to hit the grill? Me too! Be sure to check out this post for my 15 go-to marinades you need this grilling season. At our house, a good marinade is at the heart of grilling season. I’m positive these marinades will be on repeat at your house this summer! For even more grilled goodness, be sure to check out all of our Grilling & Smoking recipes.
& lastly! Be sure to give @playswellwithbutter a follow on Instagram – I’ll be teaching you how to grill up some goodness all summer long, & we have so much fun on Instagram!
Want more grilling tips & recipes?
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This is an easy and very delicious recipe! I have regular pins and “Favourite” pins and this one has made it to the FAVS!! Thanks for sharing!
We’re so glad to hear that, Pamela! Thank you so much for your kind comment!
I made this last night with thin sliced chicken breasts and chicken thighs. I also marinated a mixture of vegetables as well and grilled everything. It was one of the best marinades! The left overs are also amazing. I actually did not have 4 hours to marinade the chicken so I did it for 2 hours and it still came out super flavorful and juicy!! I am sure if I did it for the full 4+ hours, it would be even better!!
★★★★★
So happy to hear you loved the marinade, Chanra!! It’s such a good one!! 🙂
Oh my goodness!! Made this tonight and it’s seriously one of the best marinades. So simple, yet so flavorful. Made with chicken breast and it was so tender. Definitely a keeper. Thank you for this awesome recipe!
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed, April! We love how simple it is & glad you agree!