Pickle Juice Chicken Marinade Recipe
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with that leftover pickle juice, I’ve got just the thing. This pickle juice chicken marinade takes something simple and turns it into an ordinary dinner. The chicken comes out juicy, tender, and bursting with a tangy kick, perfect for grilling, frying, or roasting.
The dill pickle juice adds a fresh taste, while the hot sauce and spices give it just enough of a spicy kick. So, if you want to spice up your chicken dishes, this recipe is worth trying. It’s an easy, budget-friendly recipe that’s sure to become a family favorite. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll never look at pickle juice the same way again!

Pickle Juice Chicken Marinade
Equipment
- Large bag or dish
Ingredients
- 2 cups dill pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (I used Franks Red Hot)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
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Instructions
- Make the marinade. Mix the dill pickle juice, light brown sugar, sea salt, black pepper, hot sauce, and cayenne pepper in a medium-sized mixing bowl until fully combined. Then, set the marinade aside.
- Soak the chicken. Place the chicken thighs in a 2-inch deep baking dish. Then, pour the prepared pickle juice marinade over the chicken, making sure it’s fully submerged. Cover the dish and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or up to 4 hours.
- Remove from fridge. Take the marinated chicken out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Cook. Preheat your grill or cast iron skillet to high heat. Lightly brush with olive oil to prevent sticking. Remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off any excess. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165℉ using an instant-read thermometer. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve. Serve the grilled chicken with rice and garnish with pickles, lemon slices, and fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
If you want to add a little zing to your chicken, this Pickle Juice Chicken Marinade is just the thing. It’s the kind of recipe that comes together in minutes but delivers big on flavor, thanks to the bold mix of dill pickle juice, a hint of spice, and a touch of sweetness. For a little extra zing, serve your chicken with a dollop of homemade Dill Pickle Relish on the side. It adds a burst of flavor that pairs perfectly with the tangy marinade.
Whether you’re planning a casual family dinner or firing up the grill for a weekend cookout, this marinade will take your chicken from ordinary to extraordinary. The best part? You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen.

I hope you’ll love this dish as much as I do!
Key Ingredients and Tools
To get your marinade just right, remember these basic items and tools – they’re really important for the recipe and will help you make it taste amazing.

- Dill Pickle Juice: This makes the chicken taste unique and tangy. You can get this juice from any dill pickles you buy at the store or from any you’ve made yourself. If unavailable, use juice from sweet pickles for a less tart taste, or mix apple cider vinegar with water (equal parts) for a similar zing.
- Hot sauce: A little bit of hot sauce can give the marinade a nice spicy kick. Frank’s Red Hot is a good option, but any vinegar-based hot sauce works, or try Sriracha for a different heat.
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: These are better than chicken breasts for this because they stay moist and juicy, even if you cook them a bit too long. They’re also great at soaking up all the flavors from the marinade. If unavailable, go for boneless, skinless chicken breast or drumsticks instead; just remember to adjust how long you cook them.
- Cast iron skillet: This is the best thing to use if you’re cooking the chicken on the stove because it keeps the heat consistent and gives the chicken a great crispy outside.
Make sure you have these things ready for the best taste. Don’t leave them out if you want your marinade to turn out great!
Troubleshooting and Help
You can use any pickle juice you like! Dill pickle juice is traditional and gives that classic tangy flavor, but if you rather have a sweeter taste, bread-and-butter pickle juice can be a fun twist. If you love the flavor of dill pickles and want to make your own at home, check out this Small Batch Refrigerator Dill Pickles recipe. It’s simple, quick, and perfect for having fresh pickles on hand for this marinade.
No grill? No problem! You can cook the chicken in a cast iron skillet or bake it in the oven. Just make sure to preheat the skillet or oven, and cook the chicken until it reaches 165°F inside.
Absolutely! This marinade works well with pork chops or even turkey. Just watch the marinating time—pork and turkey can handle a bit longer in the marinade.
The spice level is mild, but you can easily adjust it. If you like more heat, add extra hot sauce or cayenne pepper. If you like it milder, you can reduce or skip the cayenne.
If you’re out of brown sugar, you can substitute it with white sugar, though the flavor will be slightly different. Adding a teaspoon of molasses to the white sugar can mimic the taste of brown sugar if you have it on hand.
Why not? This marinade can add a fun, tangy flavor to sturdy vegetables like cauliflower, zucchini, or mushrooms. Just marinate for a shorter time—about 30 minutes should do the trick.
This Pickle Juice Chicken Marinade is a simple and great way to add a strong, tangy taste to your chicken, making it a good choice for any meal. It’s easy to make with just a few basic ingredients you probably already have, so it’s handy and tasty.
Whether you’re cooking for many people or just making a fast dinner during the week, this marinade will improve your food. Try it out and see how a straightforward marinade can improve your meals.


By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.