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Grilled Tuscan chicken thighs shown on a white speckled plate atop a light blue surface. The chicken is garnished with lemon wedges, fresh rosemary, & crushed red pepper flake.

Tuscan Marinade with Lemon, Garlic and Herbs

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Jess Larson
  • 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

Scale
  • 2 pounds meat or veggies of choice
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • 2 lemons, zested and juiced
  • 6 cloves garlic, grated or crushed
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, broken in half or roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • ½1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flake (depending how spicy you like it)
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper Tuscan marinade ingredients arranged on a light blue surface: olive oil, lemon wedges, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flake, oregano, garlic, & fresh rosemary.

Instructions

  1. Mix the Tuscan garlic and herb marinade: Add the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, oregano, crushed red pepper flake, kosher salt and 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. Tuscan marinade shown in a small ball jar, sitting atop a light blue surface with a lemon wedge in the foreground & fresh rosemary sprigs in the background.
  2. 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). Chicken thighs in a large glass mixing bowl, marinating in Tuscan marinade. The bowl sits atop a light blue surface.
  3. Grill as desired. Enjoy!Grilled Tuscan chicken thighs shown on a white speckled plate atop a light blue surface. The chicken is garnished with lemon wedges, fresh rosemary, & crushed red pepper flake.


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 and no more than 1 hour.
    • Chicken and pork – at least 4 hours and up to 6 hours for maximum flavor.
    • Beef and lamb – at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours for maximum flavor.
    • Veggies – at least 20 minutes and 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!