Flavor is what defines whatever you cook on the grill. The longer you marinate your meat, the more flavorful it will be. Keep in mind that chicken is ideally marinated for a minimum of 20 minutes and a maximum of 12 hours, beef, pork and lamb for a minimum of 3 hours and a maximum of 24 hours while fish and other seafood will be most flavorful if marinated for a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 20 minutes only.
So whether you're in the mood for just a classic steak or something more festive, here are 8 quick and easy meat marinades for grilling:
Classic Steak
Perfect for grilled beef, pork or chicken.
What you need:
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsps. brown sugar
2 tsps. balsamic vinegar
Ground black pepper to taste
Sweet and Spicy
Best for grilled chicken and pork and can be used as a glaze as well.
What you need:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup ketchup
1 cup hot sauce
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsps. fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp. or more brown sugar
Classic Grilled Seafood
Use for any kind of fish. Works great for shrimp, too.
What you need:
2 garlic cloves, minced
Rind of 1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsps. lemon juice
2 tbsps. chopped parsley
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Salt to taste
Mexican Style
Great for grilled beef or chicken.
What you need:
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. paprika
2 tsps. oregano
2 tsps. sugar
1 1/2 tsps. salt
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. ground black pepper
Chili powder to taste
Italian Style
Ideal for chicken, pork, fish and shrimp.
What you need:
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
2 tbsps. mustard
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. mixed dried herbs
Salt and pepper to taste
Korean Style
Perfect for beef, chicken or any kind of seafood.
What you need:
8 garlic cloves, crushed
1 red apple, grated
1 brown onion, finely sliced
3 tbsps. soy sauce
2 tbsps. brown sugar
1 tbsp. sesame oil
Japanese Style
Can be used for beef, chicken and seafood.
What you need:
3/4 cup mirin
1/4 cup soy sauce
Greek Style
Best for grilled chicken, lamb and seafood.
What you need:
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Zest of 1 lemon
1 tbsp. oregano leaves
2 tsps. thyme leaves
These recipes are for 1-1 1/2 kg. of meat. Enjoy these simple yet deliciously flavorful marinades for your meat the next time you grill!