This spicy chicken marinade has the best smoky heat, and the spiciness can be customized to your liking. Make the spicy chipotle marinade in just minutes, then use it to flavor your favorite cut of chicken.
This spicy chicken marinade is for anyone who loves a little heat—or a lot. I make it with an adjustable spice level, so you can keep things gently tingly or turn it up to a full-on burn. Either way, the smoky flavor is the real star and will keep you coming back for more.
The base of this marinade is a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, which brings both heat and deep, smoky flavor. I blend it with a few favorite spices, oil, and a splash of vinegar to balance everything out. The result is a bold, flavorful marinade that’s incredibly easy to make and transforms even the simplest chicken into something special.
Ingredient notes
- Oil – choose an oil with very little flavor like avocado, canola, or grapeseed.
- Chipotle peppers – look for the jar in the Latin/Mexican area of your grocery store. They will come packed in adobo sauce.
- Apple cider vinegar – you can use wine vinegar instead. Or substitute 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
- Onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano – onion and garlic granules can be used instead. We like to use dried oregano leaves, but powdered works, too.
What cut of chicken works best
This spicy chicken marinade can be used to marinate your favorite cut of chicken.
Chicken thighs – this recipe makes enough to marinate 16 chicken thighs. Skinless works best as the skin won’t get crispy with the wet marinade.
Chicken breast – You can marinate 8 chicken breasts with this recipe. Rather than cooking all the chicken, freeze some of the uncooked marinated chicken to enjoy later!
Chicken wings – This is a great spicy chicken wing recipe and makes enough for at least 4 lb of wings.
What to serve with spicy chicken
We like to tame the heat by serving this with our creamy cucumber salad , corn salsa , and garlic butter rice . A few other sides that go well with spicy chicken are:
- Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
- Parmesan Corn on the Cob
- Easy Asian Coleslaw
- Best Greek Salad
Can I freeze this recipe? Yes! Simply put the raw chicken and marinade into freezer bags in portions that you’ll use, then freeze the chicken for up to six months. The marinating process will stop once the chicken is frozen, but start again when you take the chicken out of the freezer. I love these reusable Stasher freezer bags for freezing all sorts of things, including this chicken.
Spicy Chicken Marinade with Chipotle Peppers
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Ingredients
- ▢ ¼ cup neutral-flavored oil (like avocado or canola)
- ▢ 12 ounce can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (see notes)
- ▢ 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ▢ 1 tablespoon EACH: onion powder and garlic powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH: oregano, sea salt, and pepper
- ▢ 2 lb chicken (see notes)
Instructions
- Add the oil, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper to your food processor and blend for 1 minute. It’s ok if the marinade is still a little chunky. ¼ cup neutral-flavored oil, 12 ounce can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon EACH: onion powder and garlic powder, 1 teaspoon EACH: oregano, sea salt, and pepper
- Pour the marinade over the chicken and let it marinate in your fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. Choose one of the methods below for cooking the chicken. 2 lb chicken
Bake
- This is the simplest method. Put the marinade-covered chicken into a pan and pop it into your oven at 420 degrees Fahrenheit. Boneless thighs – 12-15 minutes. Boneless breast – 20-30 minutes. Bone-in thighs and wings – 35-40 minutes. All cuts should be cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stovetop
- Chicken breasts or boneless thighs work best for this method. Put the chicken, marinade, and ¼ cup of water into the pan, cover it and let it simmer gently for 8-10 minutes for thighs and 15-20 minutes for breasts. Add more water, if needed.
Grilled
- If you want to grill your spicy chicken, a grill mat will help keep your bbq clean. Boneless chicken thighs are your best option as they cook quickly so you won’t risk burning the marinade.
Slow cooker
- Skinless chicken breast or thighs work best for a crockpot. Add the chicken, marinade, and ¼ cup of water and set the timer to cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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More chicken marinade recipes
For more inspiration, check out all of our chicken recipes !
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Mexican Chicken Marinade with Cilantro and Lime
Spicy Chicken Marinade with Chipotle Peppers
Ingredients
- ¼ cup neutral-flavored oil , like avocado or canola
- 12 ounce can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce , see notes
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon EACH: onion powder and garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon EACH: oregano, sea salt, and pepper
- 2 lb chicken , see notes
Instructions
- Add the oil, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper to your food processor and blend for 1 minute. It’s ok if the marinade is still a little chunky. ¼ cup neutral-flavored oil, 12 ounce can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon EACH: onion powder and garlic powder, 1 teaspoon EACH: oregano, sea salt, and pepper
- Pour the marinade over the chicken and let it marinate in your fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. Choose one of the methods below for cooking the chicken. 2 lb chicken
Bake
- This is the simplest method. Put the marinade-covered chicken into a pan and pop it into your oven at 420 degrees Fahrenheit. Boneless thighs - 12-15 minutes. Boneless breast - 20-30 minutes. Bone-in thighs and wings - 35-40 minutes. All cuts should be cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stovetop
- Chicken breasts or boneless thighs work best for this method. Put the chicken, marinade, and ¼ cup of water into the pan, cover it and let it simmer gently for 8-10 minutes for thighs and 15-20 minutes for breasts. Add more water, if needed.
Grilled
- If you want to grill your spicy chicken, a grill mat will help keep your bbq clean. Boneless chicken thighs are your best option as they cook quickly so you won’t risk burning the marinade.
Slow cooker
- Skinless chicken breast or thighs work best for a crockpot. Add the chicken, marinade, and ¼ cup of water and set the timer to cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low.
