Simple Garlic Marinade (for any Protein) - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (2024)

Why We Love This Recipe For Garlic Marinade

Marinating is such a great way to add tons of flavor to grilled meat and even really lean cuts like chicken breast, pork tenderloin or even tofu. Whatever you add to this marinade– it will come out packing a garlic flavor punch! It’s one of my favorite marinades.

This technique is maybe not so unfamiliar if you’ve been around here for a while. This garlic herb grilled chicken is pretty similar. And so is the technique for the chicken on this Fajita Salad. But this recipe is like the master recipe for all garlic marinade because it works for all proteins. It is an equal opportunity marinade.

Recipe Highlights

• Good news–you can cook the meat inside too. It’s not just for grilling. Try it with a pork loin roast!
• Make a big batch of the marinade ahead. It’s such an easy way to add flavor to lot’s of proteins throughout the week.
• It requires very minimal ingredients.
• It only takes 5 minutes to make! Yet another reason why it’s the best garlic marinade ever.

Key Ingredients For This Recipe

• Garlic: You’ll only need 3 whole garlic cloves for this recipe. For the best results (in terms of garlic flavor) and most nutritious results, use fresh garlic instead of jarred garlic. Jarred garlic contains Phosphoric Acid which is a phosphate, and according to the Center For Science in the Public Interest, we should “cut back” phosphates in our diets. Also, just in case–stay away from garlic powder here.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: If you need to use another type of oil, use avocado oil.
• Red Wine Vinegar: Check out my guide to vinegar to see what to use if you don’t have red wine vinegar.
• Seasoning: Kosher salt (or sea salt), freshly ground black pepper, and Italian seasoning, Greek seasoning or herbs de Provence

Step-by-Step Instructions To Make This Garlic Herb Marinade

Step 1: Smash garlic & make marinate

Press the garlic cloves with the side of a chef’s knife to crush slightly. Remove the papery skin and transfer the garlic to a large re-sealable bag. Remove as much air from the bag as possible, then seal it closed and lay it on a work surface. Smash the garlic with the flat side of a meat mallet until completely pulverized (alternatively, use a rolling pin or the smooth bottom of a skillet). Open the bag and add oil, vinegar, herbs, salt and pepper. Then just sort of mix that altogether a bit by shaking the bag around.

This marinade is very potent stuff, so it goes a long way. One batch will marinate up to 1 1/2 pounds of meat.Add in chicken thighs, pork chops, tofu or desired protein, and seal bag shut.

Step 2: Marinate meat, seafood or tofu

Set the bag aside to let your choice of protein marinate. For poultry and meat, marinate for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours. For seafood, marinate for 10 to 30 minutes. Drain and discard the marinade. For tofu, marinate 30 minutes to 8 hours (here it is okay to use the marinade to brush over tofu while cooking). Then proceed to cook the protein over medium-high on a gas grill or in a grill pan. Alternatively, bake or saute if desired. Cook until desired degree of doneness and juicy perfection.

FAQs and Expert Tips

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