The grilling season has finally arrived and there is no way better to start off the season with a backyard BBQ with all-time favorite marinated grilled chicken. The marinated grilled chicken is an easy yet impressive dish that brings joy to the dining experience. As we say Marinated Grilled Chicken, the fact that comes to mind is preparing the best marinate for the perfect dish.
Marinades are incomplete without our SoCal Hot Sauce as they are the base condiments that bring life to the grilled chicken. Our SoCal Hot Sauces offers a range of sauces that are packed with every kind of flavor, spicy, heaty, zingy, tangy, creamy, and more, and by incorporating these sauces each bite of a dish gives a savory and spicy experience.
In this detailed guide, we’ll unfold the recipes to craft the perfect marinade with the SoCal Hot Sauces, grilling techniques for a juicy and tender chicken, tips and tricks for flavor pairings, and more. This guide will help you in mastering the perfect marinated grilled chicken for impressing your loved ones.
Components of Marinated Grilled Chicken
The marinates are the basic condiments of preparing the grilled chicken, so it is quite important to understand the essentials of the marinates. The marinades serve as a bold flavor that infuses the chicken with every kind of deliciousness. As a powerful base, marinades carry three key components-
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Acid- The essential acids like vinegar, lime juice, wine, and more help to break down the proteins in the meat which makes it more tender. The acids are the reason to marinate the meat for an accurate amount of time. If the meat is marinated for too long then it may turn mushy and if for a very short amount of time then it won’t fully absorb the flavors.
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Fat- Fat is the component that keeps the chicken juicy and moist at the time of grilling. The juiciness in the chicken is prominently provided by olive oil, avocado oil, full-fat yogurt, and more. This factor helps the spices and herbs of the marinade adhere to the meat.
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Seasonings- It is the space to show some creativity. The basic seasonings like salt, pepper, onions, and hot sauce are the preferred condiments to season the marinade, but apart from that there are many more options like smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili flakes, and more for a more enhanced flavor.
How to use SoCal Hot Sauces as the Marinade?
The SoCal Hot Sauces offers a variety of sauces like Original Red SoCal Hot Sauce, Hot Red SoCal Hot Sauce, and Hot Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce. Original Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce, which carries a variety of heat levels and flavor profiles. The vibrant flavors of these sauces offer a range of possibilities to elevate the grilled chicken in this perfect BBQ season. Here’s about the flavor profile and how to marinate chicken for grilling with SoCal Hot Sauces-
Original Red SoCal Hot Sauce
It is an ideal all-purpose hot sauce for marinades. This sauce consists of essential condiments like vinegar, chili pepper, tomatoes, and more which makes it a fantastic base for the marinade. It offers a bold and zingy flavor with an apt amount of heat. With the help of this sauce you can try out the different marinade combinations as the versatility of the sauce allows it to customize the heat level without overshadowing the taste palate of the dish. Here’s a quick recipe to follow for a perfect marinate-
Ingredients-
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1 cup SoCal Original Red Hot Sauce
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¼ cup olive oil
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1 teaspoon smoked paprika
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1 teaspoon ground cumin
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3-4 minced garlic cloves
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2-3 tablespoons lime juice
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Salt and pepper as per the taste
Directions-
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Start by mixing the Original Red SoCal Hot Sauce, olive oil, smoked paprika, ground cumin, minced garlic, and lime juice in a bowl.
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Add salt and pepper as per the taste and mix the marinade well.
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Now, pour the prepared marinade over the chicken and dip every corner of the chicken in the marinade.
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Keep the marinated chicken in the refrigerator for around 2 hours or up to overnight for a great marination, and lastly, grill the chicken with perfect sear.
Hot Red SoCal Hot Sauce
If you are also looking for some extra element, then grab the bottle of our heaty and zingy Hot Red SoCal Hot Sauce. It is an ideal option for those who prefer a bold heat level and more intense flavor as it consists of a high level of spice. Incorporating this sauce in your grilled chicken marinade will make your zesty BBQ a thrilling experience. It satisfies the cravings of spicy food enthusiasts and delivers an unforgettable dining experience. Here’s a quick recipe for preparing an intense heaty marinade-
Ingredients-
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1 cup SoCal Hot Red SoCal Hot Sauce
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¼ cup olive oil
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1 teaspoon smoked paprika
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1 teaspoon chili powder
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1-2 tablespoon honey
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2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
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Salt and pepper as per the taste
Directions-
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Start with combining the Hot Red SoCal Hot Sauce, olive oil, smoked paprika, chili powder, honey, and apple cider vinegar in a bowl.
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Add salt and pepper as per the taste and mix the marinade well.
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Now, pour the prepared marinade over the chicken and dip every corner of the chicken in the marinade.
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Keep the marinated chicken in the refrigerator for around 1 hour or up to overnight for a great marination, and lastly, grill the chicken with perfect sear.
Hot Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce
The SoCal Hot Sauces provide every kind of flavor and here comes the subtle and creamy sauce which offers the richness of avocado with the heat of chili peppers. Incorporate the Hot Avocado Guac Sauce into the marinate for a creamy twist as it is perfect for milder heat. The creamy texture of this sauce will help in keeping the chicken moist at the time of the grilling which will make every bite more juicy and tender. Here’s a quick recipe for preparing the creamy and little Midler marinade for grilled chicken-
Ingredients-
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1 cup SoCal Hot Avocado Guac Sauce
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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¼ cup Greek yogurt
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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1 tablespoon fresh cilantro
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1 tablespoon lime juice
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Salt and pepper as per the taste
Directions-
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Start with mixing the Hot Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce, olive oil, greek yogurt, garlic powder, cilantro, and lime juice in a bowl.
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Add salt and pepper as per the taste and mix the marinade well.
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Now, pour the prepared marinade over the chicken and dip every corner of the chicken in the marinade.
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Keep the marinated chicken in the refrigerator for around 2 hours and grill the chicken with perfect sear.
Original Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce
Are you a person who likes subtle and milder flavors then the Original Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce is the perfect one. This sauce is a more light and milder version of the Hot Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce with less heat level. It delivers an enriched flavor of avocado which is apt for use as the grilled marinated chicken. It infuses the grilled chicken with the flavor of avocado and mild spice. Do try this unique combination for an impressive experience.
To prepare the zesty marinade, simply follow the same recipe and ingredients mentioned above, but substitute the sauce with Original Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce.
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Grilled Chicken
After the marinating process, the crucial step is to cook and grill the chicken. Here are the key tips and tricks to follow for juicy and tender grilled chicken-
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Preheat the Grill- If you are cooking chicken anytime, always remember to preheat the grill to medium-high heat before any other step. Keep the grill on moderate heat, as if the grill is too hot then the chicken might end up cooking from outside but not inside. And if the grill is too cold then the chicken might end up drying out before achieving the right temperature. So heat the grill on medium heat for a perfect char and sear.
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Use Direct and Indirect heat- It is also important to use direct and indirect heat as the thicker cuts of meats get more enhanced when cooked through different heat levels. For cuts like, bone-in thighs, full chicken, drumsticks, or more, always start by searing the chicken over direct heat for a few minutes. Then move the chicken to indirect heat to cook the chicken slowly and evenly without burning the outer layer.
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Check the Internal Temperature- Measuring the cooking temperature is an essential factor for a perfect result. To smoothen the work of checking the chicken temperature use a meat thermometer, as it ensures safety and juiciness. Place the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat to check the accurate internal temperature which should vary around 165°F.
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Basting the meat frequently- Basting the chicken is a great way to bring the perfect and juicy sear, so baste the chicken with leftover marinade or fresh sauce during the grilling process. Baste the chicken every 7-10 minutes intervals for enhanced impact, but do not baste in the last few minutes to let the chicken caramelize. This process keeps the chicken moist and enhances its flavors.
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Let the chicken rest after cooking- After grilling the chicken, leave the chicken to rest for around 10-12 minutes before cutting it into pieces. This step allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat which also ensures that each bite of the chicken is moist and flavorful.
Conclusion
The marinated grilled chicken is an ordinary dish that can be transformed into the best marinated grilled chicken with the right condiments and the right process. This BBQ season you can redefine your grilled chicken with our vibrant SoCal Hot Sauces as they bring a perfect mix of spiciness, tanginess, and twist into the marinade. Taking the different SoCal Hot Sauce as the base condiment can give a masterpiece.
In this article, we have discussed in detail the basic flavor profiles of SoCal Hot Sauce, recipes to incorporate Original Red SoCal Hot Sauce, Hot Red SoCal Hot Sauce, Hot Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce, and Original Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce for preparing the marinades, grilling techniques to master the grilled chicken and more.
Grab the bottle of your kind of SoCal Hot Sauce and craft a marinade of your choice for making a delicious and mouthwatering grilled chicken in the comfort of your home. Elevate your BBQ skills by following our marinated grilled chicken recipe and serve a delightful meal to your loved ones, and we assure you that this grilled chicken will surely satisfy your cravings.