Last updated on: May 22, 2025
First off, what is a bbq marinade?
Basically, it’s like a spa day for your meat. You soak your chicken, beef, fish or whatever you fancy in a flavour bomb made of herbs, oil, vinegar, and spice – and then boom: flavour fireworks on the grill.
Barbeque marinades can be wet and saucy, or dry and rub-a-dub style. Either way, they turn your average cookout into a full-blown feast.
Now, how long should you marinate the magic?
Anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight in the fridge. Trust the recipe (and your nose). Right – let’s get to the good stuff.
1. Badass Garlic Chicken
Badass Garlic Chicken Marinade
If you’re looking for a recipe for badass chicken then look no further. This is a mid-week winner that comes served with jerk spiced sweet potato wedges. Enjoy!
2. Mom’s Teriyaki Sauce
A family fave that doubles as a crowd-pleaser. This bbq marinade is perfect for chicken, giving it that glossy, caramelised finish we all secretly want on our aprons.
3. Cajun Grilled Fish Seasoning
Via: What to Cook Today
Light, spicy, and smoky, this Cajun bbq marinade brings the bayou to your back garden. Works on any fish – even the ones you forgot were in the freezer.
4. Best Steak Marinade
Via: Cooking Classy
This one claims it's the only steak marinade you'll ever need – and we’re not arguing. It's one of those barbeque marinades that turns "meh" into Michelin.
5. Chicken with Nectarine Fruit Salsa
Via: Food Faith Fitness
The fruity twist you didn’t know you needed. This bbq marinade makes your chicken sweet, savoury, and borderline seductive.
6. 5 Easy BBQ Marinade Recipes
Via: Gimme Some Oven
Can’t decide? Don’t. This collection of bbq marinades has something for every mood – spicy, smoky, herby or zesty. It’s the ultimate grilling buffet.
7. Garlic & Herb Chicken BBQ Marinade
Via: The Gunny Sack
Like a chicken spa day, but with garlic. This mild, classic barbeque marinade is perfect for pairing with pasta, salads or your favourite picnic wine.
8. Greek Chicken Marinade
Via: Foodie Crush
Minimal effort, max impact. This barbeque marinade is the lazy cook’s secret weapon – quick to mix, even quicker to disappear off plates.
9. 4-Ingredient Chicken Marinade
Via: No Biggie
No long introduction is needed for this one. Probably one of the easiest chicken marinade out there.
10. Just a Great Chicken BBQ Marinade
Via: Recipe Tin Eats
This one makes your chicken juicy on the inside and crispy outside. A true all-rounder bbq marinade for weeknights or wild weekend BBQs.
11. Easy Salt & Pepper Balsamic Steak Marinade
Sometimes simple wins. This three-ingredient bbq marinade hits harder than a summer hangover. Works on steak, mushrooms, and even tofu.
12. Easy Chipotle Chicken Marinade and Sauce
Looking for something a bit spicy? Check this easy chipotle marinade and sauce and you’ll never believe how good it is.
13. Shawarma BBQ Marinade
This shawarma marinade is another winner from Plays Well with Butter! A recipe that’s so simple yet so full of flavour from different herbs and spices.
14. Simple BBQ Marinated Grilled Pork Chop
Via: Taste of Home
A marinade that we think you can actually use for any types of meat. In just 10 minutes, you got yourself a perfectly flavoured BBQ.
15. Spicy BBQ Chicken Marinade
Personally, I love anything spicy and this is one recipe that will surely be on my list. You can easily adjust the level of spiciness depending on your taste!
16. Mexican Chicken BBQ Marinade
Via: Bake Eat Repeat
Another marinade that’s perfect for any poultry. Very easy but very flavourful – just perfect for simple family gatherings.
17. Sweet & Smoky Dry Rub for Ribs
Via: The Kitchen Magpie
Now, dry rubs are also a great way of adding flavor to your BBQ. This sweet & smoky dry rub can be your next go-to dry rub for your BBQ. It’s also just 105kcal per serving!
18. Dry Rub Chicken Wings on the Grill
Via: Grilling Companion
Ever wondered how they make those perfect chicken wings? This might be a good one to try so you’ll never have to ask anymore.
19. BBQ Spice Dry Rub
Via: No Spoon Necessary
A homemade spicy dry rub that you’ll probably use every summer from now on! This is very easy to make and just plain delicious.
20. Brisket Dry Rub
Via: Downshiftology
Another simple dry rub recipe for your brisket BBQ! Perfect combination of sweet and smoky and it’s good for grilling or even oven brisket!
21. Tri Tip Marinade
Via: A Sweet Pea Chef
Tri Tip is also a lean cut of beef that’s perfect for a healthy BBQ. You can try any of these three marinades that we think are all equally delicious!
22. Three Easy Asian BBQ Lamb Marinades
via: Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
If you’re looking for a lamb marinade, you should check this one out. Three Asian marinades for lamb BBQ that just so easy and delicious!
23. Best BBQ Marinade For Steak
Via: Lil Luna
There’s just so many steak marinades out there but this one from Lil Luna is just so easy and tasty! Comes with only 4 ingredients, perfect for those sudden urge to have a BBQ party!
24. Marinated Salmon with Garlic & Herbs
Via: Dinner at the Zoo
A hearty and healthy recipe for grilled salmon. You can never go wrong with this one! Try it also with other types of fish.
25. The Best Grilled Shrimp
Via: The Recipe Critic
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Fancy your next cookout to taste like heaven on a paper plate? These bbq marinade and barbeque marinades are your golden ticket.
Got a fridge and a flame? Then you’ve got no excuse.
Cheers to summer, meat sweats, and glorious marinades!
Scott is the owner and founder of Food For Fitness. He is a fat loss coach, speaker and fitness writer with a masters (MSc) degree in Applied Sports Nutrition.
