The Best Chicken Marinades for Ontario BBQ Season — From Our Kitchen to Yours

Our family has been marinating chicken commercially for over thirty years. The products in our Glacial Treasure line — the souvlaki, the shawarma, the Shish Tawook — are the result of decades of refinement by a family that grew up eating this food in Greece and has been perfecting it in Toronto ever since. Behind every commercial product is a home kitchen version. Here are five marinades worth having in your BBQ season rotation.

1. Classic Greek Souvlaki Marinade

Olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, dried oregano, salt and pepper. The ratio that works: 60ml olive oil, juice of one lemon, two cloves of garlic finely minced, a generous tablespoon of dried oregano. Marinate chicken breast cut into cubes for a minimum of four hours, overnight for best results. This is the foundation of what we produce commercially — simple, clean, and deeply flavourful when properly rested.

2. Shawarma Blend

Ground cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, cinnamon, cardamom, garlic, and lemon. Mix spices into a paste with olive oil and yogurt for a marinade that tenderizes while it seasons. Minimum four hours, overnight is better. The yogurt component keeps the breast moist through high-heat cooking.

3. Shish Tawook

Full-fat yogurt, ginger, garlic, garam masala, turmeric, cayenne, lemon juice, and a touch of tomato paste for colour. This marinade needs time — overnight minimum, twenty-four hours for the flavour to fully penetrate. Cook over direct heat and let it char slightly at the edges.

4. Simple Lemon Herb for Wings

Fresh lemon zest and juice, fresh thyme and rosemary, garlic, olive oil, salt. Toss wings in the marinade for at least two hours. Grill over medium heat, turning frequently, until the skin crisps. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon right before serving.

5. Sweet chilli Thai

Sweet chilli sauce, lime juice, fish sauce (or soy sauce for a halal version), garlic, and fresh ginger. Quick marinade — even two hours gives full penetration because the sugar in the sweet chilli sauce accelerates flavour absorption. Watch carefully on the grill as the sugar content means it chars quickly.

If you want the authentic marinated versions without the prep, our full range is at the Cash & Carry at 300 Milliken Blvd — Chicken, Pork, and Lamb Souvlaki, Tandoori Chicken Skewers, Chicken Satays, Shawarma, Shish Tawook, Kafta, Mediterranean Chicken Breast, and more — all marinated in-house and ready to grill. Open Monday to Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday 9am–3pm.

Stock up on chicken for BBQ season at our Cash & Carry — ddpoultry.ca/cash-and-carry/

416-609-9300