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Want to know the secret to making chicken taste amazing? A really good marinade. That’s right. Seasoned chicken is good, but marinated chicken is even better, and this spicy chicken marinade is one for the books. It’s not just good; it’s EPIC.

What is In Spicy Chicken Marinade
While there are many variations to spicy chicken marinades, some are smoky, and others are fire hot; the simplicity of this recipe makes it both doable and tastes amazing. The amounts are at the end of the post, but first, check what this marinade includes:
- Red chili paste: or Sriracha. Here’s where the heat is!
- Honey: makes the flavors “stick” to the meat -pun intended- while adding a touch of sweetness.
- Garlic: add it grated for extra flavor.
- Fresh ginger: adds more depth of flavor.
- Lime juice: its acidity balances out the marinade and also helps tenderize the meat.

How to Make Spicy Marinade for Chicken
Making this marinade couldn’t be any easier! Check out these quick instructions for the easiest and most flavorful spicy chicken marinade ever:
- Combine
You can combine the marinade ingredients in a large bowl or directly inside a zip bag for less clean-up. - Marinade
Combine the chicken with the marinade and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
They say the best way to learn how to do something is to see it made, so I’ve made you a quick video.
What Cut of Chicken is Best for Marinating?
The best cut of chicken to marinade is the chicken you enjoy eating! That said, most people look for marinade recipes for chicken breasts because they tend to be the least flavorful part of the chicken.
While I personally like my Quick Lemon Chicken Marinade for my chicken breasts, I enjoy this recipe for dark cuts of chicken like bone-in and skin-on thighs as well as chicken wings. More marinades and epic chicken recipes in my ebook, Chicken. It’s What’s for Dinner. Get your copy here.
How to Bake Marinated Spicy Chicken
Baking your marinated spicy chicken is as simple as lining your baking sheet with parchment paper, placing the chicken on it, and placing it in the oven.
Technically, all chicken cooked in the oven is roasted, and baking is for foods that change from liquid to solid (think batters).
Regardless, most chicken recipes are baked/roasted anywhere between 375F (190C) and 400F (200C).
Most importantly, ALL chicken should be cooked and checked for doneness according to the meat’s internal temperature.
Meat | Internal Temperature |
---|---|
Breast | 165F (75C) |
Wings | 175F (80C) |
Thighs | 175F (80C) |
For this reason, I recommend using a kitchen thermometer to check the meat’s internal temperature.
Grilling Spicy Chicken
This spicy chicken marinade is perfect for grilling too! There’s no better way to enjoy chicken with friends and family than gathering outside, grilling chicken on one side of the bbq and some grilled vegetable skewers on the other.
One important part of cooking chicken on the grill (or bbq) is to not move or “disturb” the chicken once you place it on the grill for about 5-7 minutes. This allows that side of the chicken to sear and seal at the same time as it cooks.
Lifting your chicken off the grill too soon will make your meat stick to the hot grill and break off some pieces. Always wait at least 5 minutes before turning the meat over and finish cooking the chicken according to the internal temperature chart above.

Can You Marinate Chicken Too Long?
Yes. You can over-marinate chicken in marinades that are high in acids, and it will dry out the chicken. This often happens when marinating chicken breasts since they are already denser and not as juicy.
Thankfully, this recipe isn’t one of them, so you can keep the chicken in the marinade all day or overnight.
I typically prep the marinade the night before in a zip bag. In the morning, I place the chicken in the bag and let it soak up all the flavors until I’m ready to cook it at dinner time.
What to Serve with Spicy Chicken
The possibilities are endless, but I always enjoy this recipe with spicy roasted cauliflower, shaved Brussels sprouts salad, or simple sautéed cabbage.
Spicy Chicken Marinade

Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- ¼ cup red chili paste, or Sriracha
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
- In a large bowl or directly inside a zip bag, whisk together the chili paste, honey, garlic, ginger, and lime juice.
- Add the chicken and toss to combine with the marinade. Seal and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Rachel says
Absolutely delicious chicken marinade!
Kim says
This was delicious and I wasn’t able to do it exactly as stated cause I didn’t have everything. I used Sriracha, substituted maple syrup for the honey, ground ginger for fresh, and pre-minced garlic and it was still fantastic. Can’t wait to try it as written and put one on a bun with chunky blue cheese.
Dayna says
Fantastic chicken marinade recipe.
Carla says
So tasty!
Jackie says
This marinade was incredible!
Allie says
This chicken was so tasty!
Sol says
This chicken marinade had the right amount of spice.
Faye says
The ultimate spicy chicken. Loved it!
Sar says
Delish!!!
Jenny says
We are a spice loving family so this marinade was absolutely perfect for us!
Shayla says
This spicy chicken was incredible. Served it with rice and your spicy green beans.
Jan says
This spicy marinade made the most incredible chicken thighs. Yum!
Shelly says
My fam is in LOVE with the spicy sriracha in this marinade!
Joe says
I used this spicy chicken marinade today to give plain o’le chicken breasts some flavor. They turned out really good. Will be using again.
Ella says
My husband and I love anything spicy! Gave this spicy chicken marinade a try on a whim and I am so glad I did!! Absolutely delish!
Brittany says
Was looking for something with a little bit of a kick and this spicy chicken marinade hit the spot!
Radha says
This is a flavor packed meal that would be loved by everyone in the family. Thanks for sharing.
Liz says
Love how easy this recipe is but it still has tons of flavor! We love spice at our house so this is a great one!
Mel says
This made the chicken so tender and juicy. The flavor was amazing.
Tayler says
This is one of my favorite marinades! We used it when we grilled chicken the other night and it was so flavorful!
Melissa says
This marinade has upped my chicken game! It adds so much flavor and I can make it ahead of time which I love.
Petra says
My favorite chicken marinade recipe! This was perfect spicy marinade!
Heather says
This Spicy Chicken Marinade is fantastic! It adds just the right amount of heat and flavor to the chicken. Easy to make and perfect for grilling. Thank you for the great recipe!
kushi says
Drooling over this chicken recipe. Looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Harriet says
A great marinade with that fresh garlic and ginger flavour. Loved it, thanks!
Gabby says
I generally find even mild spice hot, but this was perfection! Just the right amount of heat/warmth for us. Loved it.
Gianne says
The perfect blend of heat and flavor made our grilled chicken incredibly succulent and mouth-watering. I can’t wait to make it again and share it with friends at our next BBQ!
Jess says
Can you freeze this marinade with the chicken?
Laura Fuentes says
Absolutely! I have this post that shares how I freeze chicken and marinade together.
Smokedhoney says
Has anyone tried putting it in the air fryer? If so, how long did it put it for, and at what Fahrenheit?
Laura Fuentes says
Are you looking for chicken thighs or breasts?
Toni Dash says
This was a huge hit at my house! Everyone at my family loved it! I like the spiciness and sweetness!
Kim says
I loved the combination of flavors in this chicken. I served it with rice and a little more sriracha.
dana says
Sriracha and lime are a match made in heaven! This is such a great marinade. Thanks for sharing! We will be using it a lot 🙂
Chenee says
I make a sauce to go over chicken that is very similar to this, but I’ve never considered marinating it in it. Can’t wait to try this!
Ned says
Oh my this marinade is the best! I love the kick of heat with the chili paste! Thank you for this yumminess!
MR NIGEL SILCOCK says
Was really good chicken.
Yaseen says
Hi I tried your spicy chicken really superb thank you very much
Me yaseen
Sid Olivarez says
I don’t believe you listed how much chicken to use in this recipe.
Laura Fuentes says
Hi Sid, this marinade is good for up to 2lbs of chicken. Enjoy!
Kim says
Love this spicy chicken! Such an easy marinade to pull together too.