This may be the easiest, tastiest, and most versatile marinade you’ve ever tried, and all you need is equal parts of three basic ingredients. (Video included!)
This is perhaps the easiest marinade ever. Even better, this recipe demonstrates how three basic ingredients can be the foundation for a multitude of meals that are doable enough for weeknight dinners yet entirely worthy of company.
After enjoying the most delicious grilled chicken at our friend Dorothy’s house years ago, I asked her what she put in the marinade that made the chicken taste so good.
I was expecting a long list of hard-to-find ingredients.
Her reply? “It’s easy. Just remember ‘a third, a third, a third.'”
There was no need to write anything down.
The recipe, which tasted like a complex combination of Asian ingredients, was simply equal parts lemon juice, olive oil, and soy sauce.
Over the years, this marinade has proven to be as versatile as it is easy. I have used it innumerable times for grilled vegetables, seafood, and pork as well as the chicken that initially wowed us. (For those who are interested, Donovan and I made a quick video.↓↓)
Over the years, I have also passed along Dorothy’s culinary masterpiece to countless new fans who are consistently delighted by its flavor and amazed by its simplicity. (Full disclosure, Dorothy recently told me that her sister, Martha, was the original source of the recipe all those years ago.)
Most recently, my father, who dare I say never mixed up a marinade before, started preparing this recipe.
And prior to a family dinner where I planned to serve “a third-a third-a third” salmon, my sister-in-law, Melissa, suggested a subtle sesame flavor might compliment the fish. Indeed, a small addition of sesame oil enhances the Asian flavor, and this variation has become a regular in the rotation.⇩⇩
Sesame Soy Salmon adds one simple ingredient to the basic marinade for a little extra Asian flavor.
Adding vegetables to the mix creates a complete meal with ease. Scallions, as shown with the salmon, have been an unexpected hit over the years. Other favorites include zucchini, portobellos, onions, and eggplant. More recently, I’ve been buying mini bell peppers. The bite-size peppers can be grilled whole, need not be seeded, and are deliciously sweet.
How much marinade do I need?
As a general rule, plan on ½ cup liquid for every pound of meat. When I grill four chicken breasts, I often use ¼ cup of each, which is more than enough to marinate them in a bowl or zip-top bag.
How long should I marinate chicken?
I like to marinate chicken for at least a few hours and up to all day. I’ve also allowed chicken to steep in this mixture overnight many times with great results.
If you occasionally notice areas of the chicken that appear cooked after extended marinating, do not worry. Acidic ingredients, like lemon juice, can cause this, but you should still have very good results if you simply cook the chicken to temperature, as usual.
How long should I marinate seafood?
I generally marinate shrimp, salmon, tuna, and other fish for at least 30 minutes and up to two hours.
What about vegetables?
Vegetables should be allowed to steep for at least 30 minutes, if possible, and up to several hours.
Do I need to baste when grilling?
With this recipe, I usually don’t bother, but my husband does when he’s at the grill. If you do, you may notice the flavor of the finished chicken (or vegetables and other meats) is a touch bolder.
More ways to enjoy this easy marinade:
- Prepare a little extra marinade to steep onions, zucchini, peppers, eggplant, and/or mushrooms and grill them alongside the meat for a low-effort way to create a complete meal.
- For a hearty, super easy side dish, marinate and grill whole portobello mushrooms. Simply scrape out the gills with a spoon before placing in the marinade.
- For a mouthwateringly “meaty” veggie burger, serve the grilled portobellos in a bun and top with sliced avocado, tomato, lettuce, and slivered onion. I also make an Avocado Lime Sauce (or Sriracha Mayo; see recipe notes of linked post) that tops off this hearty sandwich beautifully.
- For another filling plant-based option and a great way to repurpose leftovers, grill extra of your favorite vegetables and create a Grilled “Veggiewich” with your favorite pesto and cheese. Tip: Cutting the zucchini, eggplant, etc., in thick strips instead of rounds makes them less likely to slip through the grill grates and creates perfect pieces for layering in a sandwich.
- My mother-in-law uses the leftover chicken to boost the flavor and make quick work of her standard chicken salad as well as this seasonal Summer Breeze Chicken Salad (one of my personal favorites).
If you happen to create your own spin-off recipe, I would love to hear about it!
Simply follow the basic formula: use equal parts of each of the three ingredients, adding one tablespoon of sesame oil per cup of marinade if choosing the sesame variation.
- ⅓ cup (80ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ⅓ cup (75ml) olive oil
- ⅓ cup (80ml) soy sauce (use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari, as needed)
- Optional: 1 tablespoon sesame oil (I use this when grilling salmon or tuna steaks)
Mix all ingredients together and use as a marinade for chicken, salmon, tuna, pork, flank steak, and/or your favorite vegetables for grilling. Simply make any quantity needed based on the amount of food to be grilled. As a general rule, plan on about ½ cup of marinade for every pound of meat.
Prior to grilling, allow chicken, pork, and steak to marinate in the refrigerator for at least several hours and up to all day. Seafood and vegetables are best soaked for at least 20-30 minutes but not more than two hours. Occasionally flipping the bag (or turning over the items in the bowl, if using) will redistribute the liquid throughout the items being marinated.
I have tried this recipe using lime juice instead of the lemon juice. Lemon juice is my preference, although lime could be substituted if that is what you have on hand.
Recipe first posted August 2013
Photos from meals gone by…
For an delicious and easy side, prepare extra marinade and marinate your favorite vegetables for 30 minutes to two hours prior to grilling. Though they aren’t pictured in this batch, portobello mushrooms and onions are my favorites.
Prepare extra veggies and then enjoy the leftovers in a satisfying Grilled “Veggiewich”!
Have leftover chicken? It’s delicious as is, and it also makes an extra flavorful chicken salad, like this Summer Breeze Chicken Salad.
What sort of emulsifier would you suggest to keep the marinade from separating? Mustard? Honey?
Hi Sam, You don’t actually need an emulsifier for this marinade. It does the job beautifully without. That said, if you’d prefer the thicker consistency, you could add just a bit of honey or Dijon–or a bit of both.
I grilled some chicken using this marinade yesterday and my whole family loved it. I added some minced garlic and even used bottled lemon juice instead of fresh. It was great. I will definitely use it again. Thanks.
So happy it’s a keeper, Becky!
I used this as a basis for grilled tuna steaks, but I added garlic and sriracha for a little kick. It was fantastic!! Even my picky teen aged boys loved it!
Great news, Pam. I’m so glad it was a hit and appreciate your feedback!
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Tried it the other night. Truly fabulous, Ann!
Yay! Thanks for letting me know, Ellen!
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These ingredients are staples at my house and would be so easy to make. Thanks for sharing it. Pinned.
Hope you enjoy as much as we do!
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I have used this marinade for thin slices of raw salmon, marinade 5 min. and eat it with avocado and some Wasabi. Delicious!
THAT sounds fabulous! Thanks for the suggestion, Christine!
I, too, love this ratio, though I almost always add a “pinch, dash or splash” of something extra like garlic powder, grated ginger, grated onion, worcester (beef), red wine (beef), Parmesan cheese (dressing). So versatile and wonderful!
I love your “pinch, dash, or splash” suggestions, Jennifer. I think next time I will add a little ginger when I make my salmon version with sesame oi!
Yesterday, I used this marinade for my Flat Iron Steak. It was awesome!
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Here’s another one…My no fail salad dressing is equal parts olive oil, balsamic vinegar and honey. It is great on greens with sliced pears, bleu cheese and candied nuts.
My tried and true “equal parts” recipe is for Pickled Beets. Drain the beet juice into a measuring cup and measure. Add the exact same amount of sugar and also apple cider vinegar. This gives you the exact tartness and sweetness you need. If the beet juice doesn’t fill to a measurable amount, I’ll add just a little water but not so much to water it down. I bring it to a boil until the sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool and then pour over beets. Refrigerate overnight. I also use the same formula to make Red Beet Eggs. Just add hard boiled eggs and sliced onions to the beets and juice.
Thank you for sharing your recipe, Molly. I know some people who would love this….will have to try!
I tried this marinade last night. It will be my new go to for marinade. I really liked it. Used it on boneless skinless breasts and it made a big difference on how they came out. They were juicy and delicious.
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My father has used a variation of this recipe for years and I don’t grill beef without it. For an Asian flair, I use the lime juice/oil/soy/ginger/garlic. For regular marinade, I use lemon/oil/worchestershire/garlic. A staple!!
Thanks for the suggestions, Megan. Your variations sound delicious!
Worcestershire Sauce. Brilliant.
Awesome! How much did you add?
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