Chicken is fast and easy to grill, making it perfect for weeknights. This quick and easy Southwest Chicken Marinade is one we turn to for fajitas or serving over rice.
Originally published in May 2021, updated in June 2025.
Ready to use in about 5 minutes, this marinade is perfect for adding to the chicken before leaving for work so the chicken is ready to grill for dinner when you get home.
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Ingredients For Southwest Chicken Marinade
This marinade is made with the following ingredients:
- Chilli powder.
- Ground cumin.
- Coriander.
- Oregano.
- Cayenne pepper.
- Sea salt.
- Avocado oil.
- Lime juice.
- Chicken broth.
Easily order all the ingredients you need for this recipe online using Instacart in both Canada and The U.S.A.
How Long To leave Southwest Chicken Marinade?
Chicken should marinate for at least 4 hours. We prefer to allow it to marinate overnight.
A 12 to 15-hour marinate allows the chicken to absorb all the flavours. The longer the chicken marinates, the more flavour, but longer than 15 hours and, the chicken starts to break down and the chicken will become mushy.
What Chicken Works Best?
We like to use boneless, skinless chicken for this recipe. Breasts or thighs, or a combination of the two. But bone-in chicken can also be used.
The marinade is thick so it sticks to the meat. Because of its thickness, it can also be used as a rub for a whole chicken. For a thicker rub, omit the chicken stock.
If you like this recipe, you may also like our Sticky BBQ Drumsticks.
Uses for Southwest Chicken Marinade
We like to grill the chicken and use it in fajitas or serve it over Mexican or Spanish rice with a side salad. The grilled chicken is also excellent on top of a salad or added to a lettuce wrap.
Larger batches of chicken can be grilled and used for meal prep as well. It can be kept in the fridge once cooked for up to 3 or 4 days, making it a great meat for meal prepping.
One other way to serve marinated grilled chicken is on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and chipotle sauce. This way makes a great lunch or quick dinner when you have leftovers.
Instead of grilling, chicken can also be marinated and then cooked in a 350°F oven, covered for 45 to 60 minutes, then shredded for carnitas or tacos. Shredded chicken also tastes great in a burrito.
There are so many ways to use this marinated chicken. It can also be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge in a mason jar for up to a week before use.
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Southwestern Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp chili powder
- 1½ Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 Tbsp coriander
- 1 Tbsp oregano
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tbsp avocado oil
- 2 Tbsp Lime juice
- 2 Tbsp chicken broth
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium sized bowl.
- Mix well. Marinade will be thick.
- Pour over chicken and allow to marinade for 4 hours to overnight.
