The Best Marinated Grilled Chicken

This marinated grilled chicken is juicy, flavorful, perfectly charred, and one of my favorite chicken recipes to make for family dinners, summer cookouts, and meal prep. The marinade is made with mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, garlic, and black pepper, creating the perfect combination of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors.

The mayonnaise is my secret to this recipe! It helps the marinade coat the chicken beautifully and creates an incredibly juicy piece of chicken with those delicious charred edges once it hits the hot grill.

I first tried this chicken years ago after we moved into our neighborhood. We were invited to a friend’s backyard BBQ, and the grilled chicken was so good that I immediately asked how he marinated it. Thankfully, he shared the recipe with me, and I’ve been making my own version ever since!

I’m pretty picky about grilled chicken. I want it packed with flavor, juicy in the center, and really charred around the edges. This recipe checks every box, which is why it has become one of those recipes we make over and over again.

I recently made this grilled chicken again for my Girlies in the Garden dinner party, and it was the perfect protein to serve alongside all of the fresh summer sides. I also made another batch for dinner this week, which made dinner at the beach house so easy. Whether I’m serving it for a dinner party or making a batch for easy weeknight meals, it’s one of the grilled chicken recipes I come back to again and again.

Why You’ll Love This Marinated Grilled Chicken

• Incredibly juicy: The mayonnaise-based marinade coats the chicken and helps it stay moist while grilling.
• Perfectly charred: A hot grill gives the outside those flavorful, caramelized edges while the inside stays juicy.
• Simple ingredients: The basic marinade starts with mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper.
• Easy to customize: Add the honey mustard for a little extra sweetness and tang, or keep the marinade super simple.
• Great for meal prep: Make a big batch and use the leftovers for salads, wraps, sandwiches, pasta, or easy lunches throughout the week.
• Perfect for entertaining: It’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner but one of my favorite proteins to serve when we have people over.

Ingredients for the Best Grilled Chicken Marinade

The secret to this grilled chicken marinade is the combination of creamy mayonnaise and barbecue sauce. It might sound simple, but it creates incredibly flavorful chicken with the best char on the grill. You only need a handful of ingredients, and you probably already have most of them in your refrigerator or pantry.

• Chicken breasts: I prefer thinly sliced chicken breasts because they cook quickly and evenly on the grill.
• Mayonnaise: The base of the marinade and one of the secrets to keeping the chicken juicy and helping it develop those charred edges.
• Barbecue sauce: Adds smoky, sweet, and tangy flavor. Use your favorite variety.
• Honey mustard: Adds an extra layer of sweetness and tang. As you mentioned above, this is delicious but not essential.
• Garlic powder: Adds savory garlic flavor throughout the marinade.
• Black pepper: Gives the marinade a little extra bite.
• Water: Loosens the marinade enough to evenly coat the chicken.

How to Marinate and Grill Chicken

Make the marinade: Add the mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, and water to a large bowl or zip-top bag and mix until combined.

Add the chicken: Add the thinly sliced chicken breasts and toss until every piece is completely coated in the marinade.

Let it marinate: Cover and refrigerate the chicken. I love letting this marinate ahead of time so all of that flavor has time to soak in.

Preheat the grill: Heat your grill and make sure the grates are clean and well heated before adding the chicken. I like a nice hot grill because getting those charred edges is one of my favorite parts of this recipe.

Grill the chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting the excess drip off, and place it on the grill. Cook until nicely charred on both sides and the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F.

Let it rest: Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for about 5 minutes before slicing. This is especially helpful if you’re using it for salads, sandwiches, or meal prep.

Ways to Serve Marinated Grilled Chicken

One of my favorite things about this grilled chicken is how versatile it is. I almost always make extra because the leftovers are just as useful as the chicken straight off the grill.

• With pasta salad: Serve it alongside a cold Italian pasta salad for an easy summer dinner or cookout.
• On salads: Slice the chicken and add it to Caesar salads, chopped salads, or meal prep bowls.
• In sandwiches: Add sliced chicken to toasted ciabatta with cream cheese, greens, and your favorite toppings.
• With grilled vegetables: Keep dinner simple with corn, asparagus, zucchini, peppers, or whatever vegetables are in season.
• For a dinner party: I served this chicken at my Girlies in the Garden dinner party alongside pasta, roasted vegetables, salads, and other summer sides.
• For meal prep: Grill a batch at the beginning of the week and use it for lunches and quick dinners.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should you marinate chicken before grilling?
I like to prepare the chicken ahead of time and let it marinate in the refrigerator so it’s ready when it’s time to grill. Making it the day before works especially well for easy dinners and entertaining.

Can I make this grilled chicken marinade without honey mustard?
Yes! I always tell people that mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper are really all you need to make outstanding grilled chicken. The honey mustard adds extra sweetness and tang, but the marinade is still delicious without it.

Why use mayonnaise in a grilled chicken marinade?
Mayonnaise creates a creamy marinade that coats the chicken really well and helps the seasonings stay on the chicken as it grills. It also helps create those flavorful browned and charred edges that I love about this recipe.

How do you get a good char on grilled chicken?
Start with a fully preheated grill and avoid constantly moving the chicken around. Let it cook against the hot grates long enough to develop those caramelized, charred edges before flipping.

How do you know when grilled chicken is done?
Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the chicken. Chicken is safely cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

What can I serve with marinated grilled chicken?
This chicken goes with just about everything! I love it with pasta salad, grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, corn, or a big salad. You can also slice the leftovers for sandwiches, wraps, pasta, and meal prep lunches.

More Recipes You’ll Love

• High Protein Cottage Cheese Caesar Chicken Pasta Salad
• Chicken and Feta Couscous Pasta Salad
• Lemon Ricotta and Garlic Chicken Pasta Salad
• High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad
• Roasted Corn Jalapeño Queso Dip

I hope this marinated grilled chicken becomes one of those recipes you make over and over again! It’s been a favorite in our house for years, and I love that the marinade is simple enough for a weeknight dinner but flavorful enough to serve when we have friends over.

If you make this recipe, leave a star rating and comment below and let me know how you served it! And remember—if all you have is mayo, barbecue sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper, make the chicken anyway. Those simple ingredients make an incredible marinade!