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Home » Recipes » Marinade Recipes

Cajun Chicken Marinade (smoky and spicy)

Published: Apr 26, 2021 · Modified: Dec 30, 2022 by Nicole B.

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1 hour 15 minutes

This spicy Cajun chicken marinade takes only a few minutes to make and works magic on boneless, skinless chicken breasts. It’s got great spiciness and flavor from both smoked paprika and Hungarian paprika, black pepper, dried oregano and more.

Cajun chicken marinade being whisked in a bowl.
Spice up your chicken with this incredibly delicious, spicy and smoky Cajun chicken marinade.
Jump to:
  • What’s in the marinade?
  • Spices and herbs:
  • How to make it:
  • How to serve it:
  • How to store leftovers:
  • More delicious chicken marinade recipes:
  • Full Printable Recipe

What’s in the marinade?

This marinade is made with all the spices and dried herbs you typically find in Cajun seasoning, plus fresh garlic and olive oil. The mix adds incredible flavor and a good spice kick to a chicken breast. And because it has olive oil right in it, you can throw the chicken directly from the marinade onto the grill for maximum convenience.

Cajun marinade ingredients on a kitchen counter.
You need garlic, smoked hot paprika, pepper, salt, Hungarian paprika, oregano, onion powder and olive oil to make the marinade.

Spices and herbs:

The spices and herbs that give this Cajun chicken marinade its flavor are:

  • smoked hot paprika powder
  • dried oregano
  • onion powder
  • garlic
  • black pepper
  • Hungarian paprika*

*Instead of the more traditional cayenne pepper, I added Hungarian paprika here. The flavor of Hungarian paprika is not as harsh as that of cayenne but still packs a nice amount of heat.

INGREDIENT NOTE: As always, I recommend to get the spices from a dedicated spice shop to ensure quality and freshness.

How to make it:

Prepare the chicken:

If your chicken breast is thicker on one end and thinner on the other, it’s best to even it out so the thin end doesn’t get overcooked. Cover the chicken breast with plastic wrap and lightly pound the thick end with a meat mallet until you get an even thickness. (If you don’t have a meat mallet you can use a rolling pin instead.)

A raw chicken breast on a silicone mat with a meat mallet.

Marinate the chicken:

Whisk all marinade ingredients together in a bowl, then transfer the mix into a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken to the bag and move around to fully coat. Transfer to the fridge and marinate for 1 hour.

Raw chicken breast with marinade in a plastic bag.

Should I rinse the marinade off before cooking?

No, don’t rinse the marinade off before cooking. Take the chicken breast out of the plastic bag (leaving excess marinade in the bag) and toss the chicken on the grill just like that.

Grill the chicken:

Grill the chicken until its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. (That will be about 5 minutes per side.)

Grilled chicken breast on a stone surface.

How to serve it:

My recommendation is to serve the grilled chicken with these roasted lemon basil potatoes. The combination of the spices with the lemon and basil flavors is fantastic.

How to store leftovers:

If you have any grilled chicken leftover, you can transfer it to an airtight container and store in the fridge.

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Full Printable Recipe

Cajun chicken marinade being whisked in a bowl.

Cajun Chicken Marinade

The Spice Train
Spicy and smoky, this Cajun chicken marinade is full of delicious flavor. It will become one of your favorite chicken breast recipes!
4.67 from 18 votes
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Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Marinating Time: 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
Course Main
Cuisine American, Cajun
Servings 2
Calories (estimated) 232 kcal

Equipment:

  • measuring spoons
  • knife and cutting board
  • garlic press (optional)
  • cutting board or cutting mat
  • plastic wrap
  • meat mallet or rolling pin
  • mixing bowl
  • whisk
  • resealable plastic bag
  • plastic spatula
  • meat thermometer (recommended)

Ingredients:
  

For the marinade:

  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 small garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press
  • ½ tablespoon smoked hot paprika*
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon Hungarian paprika*
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the chicken:

  • 8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, pounded into even thickness

Instructions:
 

For the marinade:

  • Whisk all marinade ingredients together in a bowl, then pour into a resealable plastic bag.

For the chicken:

  • Add the chicken to the bag with the marinade and turn around to coat. Marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.
  • Take the chicken out of the marinade and grill until its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. (about 5 minutes per side).

Notes:

*As always, I recommend to get the spices from a dedicated spice shop rather than the grocery store to ensure high quality and freshness.

Nutrition Information (Estimated):

Calories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 2.6gProtein: 24.6gFat: 13.6gSaturated Fat: 1.6gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 207mgPotassium: 485mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.3gCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition values provided on this website are generated from a nutrition database and are estimates only. The accuracy of the nutrition information for any recipe on this website is not guaranteed. Nutrition values can vary quite a lot depending on which brands are used.

Keywords: cajun chicken marinade, chicken breast recipes, spicy chicken marinade

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