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    Chipotle Chicken Marinade

    Feb 6, 2022 · 1 Comment

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    chipotle chicken marinade

    This chipotle chicken marinade is a quick and easy way to add a depth of flavor to any cut of poultry along with beef, pork, and vegetables. We love using marinades that are versatile so they can be used on any cut of meat really, and this chipotle marinade is no different.

    If you are looking for make-ahead dishes, you can also freeze it for later which makes dinner fairly easy. No matter which way you choose, pair your main course meal with our Cilantro Lime Rice for a simple weeknight meal.

    You can use this homemade marinade when you are grilling, baking in the oven, on the stove top, when making tacos or burritos, and even for Instant Pot and air fryer recipes. If you are tired of making boring salads, chipotle chicken is a fantastic addition.

    chipotle marinade blended in food processor

    CHIPOTLE CHICKEN MARINADE INGREDIENTS

    You may have all of these ingredients for this easy recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this delicious recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients. Exact ingredients are in the recipe card below.

    Jump to Recipe
    • Peppers: canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
    • Spices: garlic, cumin, coriander, chili powder, oregano, salt
    • Etc.: chicken, shallot, adobo sauce (comes in the can of peppers)
    ingredients labeled for chipotle chicken marinade

    7 WAYS TO USE THIS CHIPOTLE MARINADE

    We love to make this marinade then put in a ziploc bag with chicken breasts or chicken wings and marinate for 30 minutes or freeze for later. Here are 7 recipes that use this chipotle chicken marinade. Just make the marinade now, freeze it with the chicken and then defrost when you're ready to cook. It take a lot of time out of your nightly cooking!

    Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken Wings

    Air fryer chipotle chicken wings are crispy every time and pair well with our cilantro sour cream dipping sauce.

    chipotle chicken wings in air fryer basket

    Chipotle Chicken Stuffed Pasta Shells

    Stuffed pasta in the air fryer? Yes, please! You only need 3 simple ingredients to make this easy chipotle chicken stuffed pasta dinner or appetizer. This is great to make with leftover chipotle chicken from any of these recipes.

    tongs holding up chipotle chicken stuffed pasta

    Pan Seared Chicken Burrito Bowls

    Burrito bowls are packed with flavor, hearty, are super easy to make, and tastes phenomenal. Don't forget to pair it with our Cilantro Lime Butter.

    butter on chicken

    Chicken and Pineapple Kabobs

    If you love chipotle flavors, you have to try our juicy grilled chipotle chicken and pineapple skewers. Dice up the pre-marinated chicken and pop them on skewers for a great spring and summer meal.

    chipotle chicken and pineapple kabobs on white platter

    Chipotle Chicken Taco Soup

    Instant Pot tortilla soup feeds a crowd and is ready in about 30 minutes. I don't even defrost my marinated chicken before making this. You can't have an easier weeknight meal. It's also great to freeze for later and the perfect comfort food.

    chipotle chicken taco soup

    Sheet Pan Fajitas

    One-pan chicken fajitas will make you want to ditch the restaurant every single time! These are easy and there's virtually no cleanup. Just pull your marinated chicken out of the freezer the night before, grab some bell peppers, onions and tortillas and you've got a meal!

    chipotle chicken sheet pan fajitas with guacamole, salsa and tortillas
    Essential

    TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

    Prepare your work surface and gather these kitchen tools and supplies before you begin this delicious, easy-to-make recipe so you don't waste extra time trying to find things you need.

    • food processor or blender
    • resealable plastic bag (ziplock)

    INSTRUCTIONS

    Follow the full instructions and kitchen tips and quick tips for the best way to make this recipe. Don't forget to check the prep time and cook time in the recipe card below before you begin.

    MAKE MARINADE: Add all of the ingredients (minus the chicken) into a food processor or blender. Pulse until it's smooth.

    • chipotle chicken wings marinade ingredients in food processor
    • chipotle marinade blended in food processor

    ADD CHICKEN: Place the chicken breasts or chicken thighs into a bowl or plastic bags and divide the marinade evenly.

    KITCHEN TIP

    We recommend putting 2 pieces of chicken in each bag and freezing to prep for meals in the future. This is especially useful for our Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl, Sheet Pan Fajitas, Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup and Chipotle Chicken Kabobs recipes that require 2 chicken breasts.

    • chicken covered in marinade in a bowl
    • hands mixing marinade over chicken in ziplock

    COAT CHICKEN: Use your hands to coat the chicken on the inside of the bag.

    MARINATE: Place the marinaded chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes but no longer than 24 hours.

    KITCHEN TIP

    You can freeze the chicken in the marinade for later. Simply place the bag flat when freezing to save space.

    chipotle chicken marinating in a ziploc bag

    STORAGE TIPS

    Storing your food properly is important to prevent spoiling or food poisoning.

    Refrigerate: Store marinating raw chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Once the chicken has been cooked, store in an airtight container or ziploc bag and refrigerate for up to 3 days if you can't eat it the next day.

    Freeze: Store in an airtight, freezer safe, container. If you're storing in a zip top plastic bag, try to get as much air out as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months.

    Defrosting: Defrost a ziplock bag of marinated chicken in the refrigerator overnight.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Click the questions to see the answer.

    What is chipotle chicken made from?

    Chipotle chicken is a blend of smoky flavors and chipotle chile peppers and spices often used in Mexican dishes. Chipotle peppers can be found in the canned food section of the grocery store.

    Can chicken marinate in 2 hours?

    Yes. When you use a marinade for chicken the primary reason is to tenderize and lock in the flavors and juices. Depending on the marinade, usually, 24 hours is the longest you should let it sit due to increasing saltiness and texture issues start happening after that.

    What can you use chipotle marinade on?

    Chipotle chicken is the most common use but this also makes a great marinade for vegetables before grilling, steak, pork or even a white fish.

    chipotle, keto friendly, marinade, Mexican

    Chipotle Chicken Marinade

    Bold, flavorful chipotle marinade that's perfect for chicken, beef or vegetables. Make a double batch and freeze with your meat for an easy meal prep In the future.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Marinade Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: chipotle, marinade, spicy
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 433kcal
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    Equipment

    Food Processor

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 Canned Chipotle Peppers
    • 2 tablespoons Adobo sauce - This comes in the Chipotle Peppers can.
    • ¼ cup oil - Avocado oil or vegetable oil should be used if you'll be cooking at high heat. Olive oil can be used otherwise.
    • 1 shallot
    • 4 cloves garlic
    • 1 ½ tablespoons cumin
    • 1 tablespoon coriander
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 lbs chicken breasts - Use any meat or vegetables you prefer.

    Instructions
     

    • chipotle chicken wings marinade ingredients in food processor
      Combine ingredients In food processor. Blend.
    • two chicken breasts in ziplock with chipotle marinade
      Separate chicken breasts into freezer ziploc bags. We recommend putting 2 breasts In each bag and putting half the marinade with each bag.
    • hands mixing marinade over chicken in ziplock
      While chicken is in ziploc bag, use your hands to coat chicken thoroughly with the marinade.
    • Marinade for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day in the refrigerator. Lay flat in bag to freeze for up to 3 months.

    Notes

    1. Freeze in ziploc bags with 2 breasts. This will allow you to easily defrost just 2 breasts for recipes that call for 2 breasts instead of 4.
    2. Double or triple the recipe and marinade then freeze more chicken, beef or vegetables for future meals.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 2505mg | Potassium: 956mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 804IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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