Hot & Zingy Chicken Marinade (Sweet, Spicy & Citrus Fresh)

Name: Hot & Zingy Chicken Marinade (Sweet, Spicy & Citrus Fresh)
Prep time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: BBQ
Ingredients: 2 fresh chillies, deseeded and finely chopped; Zest and juice of 1 lime; 1 medium white onion, finely diced; 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 1 tsp cracked black pepper; 1 tsp fine sea salt; 50 ml extra virgin olive oil; 1 tbsp smoked paprika; 2 tbsp light brown sugar

This hot & zingy chicken marinade is the perfect way to bring bold flavour to your next BBQ cook. Fresh chillies, lime zest and juice, garlic, onion and smoked paprika combine to create a vibrant sweet-heat profile that works beautifully with chicken thighs, wings or whole spatchcock birds.

It’s simple, punchy and adaptable — ideal for gas BBQs, charcoal grills or electric smokers. The longer you marinate, the deeper the flavour.

If you’re new to smoking or outdoor cooking, read our Beginner’s Guide to BBQ & Smoking (UK) before starting.

For accurate cooking temperatures, use a digital probe thermometer and refer to our Smoker Time Calculator.

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time (hours)

Cook Time (minutes)

Servings

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Cuisine:

BBQ

Course:

Marinade

Difficulty:

Easy

Keyword:

spicy chicken marinade for BBQ UK

Author:

Kitchen Sizzlers

Cooking Temp

Ingredients

2 fresh chillies, deseeded and finely chopped
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 medium white onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp cracked black pepper
1 tsp fine sea salt
50 ml extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tbsp light brown sugar