South West Marinade

Elevate your grilling game with this zesty and flavor-packed South West Marinade, a vibrant blend of bold spices and tangy citrus perfect for transforming any protein or vegetable. This versatile recipe combines the smoky richness of paprika, the earthy warmth of cumin, and the fiery kick of chili powder with the bright notes of lime juice and apple cider vinegar, creating a marinade that's equal parts savory and refreshing. A touch of honey balances the spice, while optional fresh cilantro adds an herbal finish. Ready in just 10 minutes, this easy marinade is ideal for chicken, steak, pork, or vegetables and provides deep, mouthwatering flavor after just a few hours of marinating. Perfect for grilling, roasting, or pan-searing, this Southwest-inspired marinade is sure to add bold, crowd-pleasing flavor to your next meal.

Nutriscore Rating: 45/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:10 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 0.25 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1.5 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoons onion powder
• 0.5 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
• 2 tablespoons water

Directions

Step 1

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, and water. Whisk until the mixture is emulsified and smooth.

Step 2

Add the smoked paprika, ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Whisk the spices into the liquid base until fully incorporated.

Step 3

If using, stir in the freshly chopped cilantro for an added fresh, herbal note.

Step 4

Pour the marinade into a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish.

Step 5

Add the protein or vegetables of your choice (such as chicken breasts, flank steak, pork chops, or sliced zucchini) to the marinade. Ensure they are fully coated.

Step 6

Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or up to 24 hours) for optimal flavor infusion.

Step 7

Remove the marinated ingredients from the marinade, letting any excess liquid drip off before grilling, roasting, or pan-searing as desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(279.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	729.8

Total Fat 57.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 8.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.3g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2450.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 55.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 5.1g	0%
Total Sugars 36.8g
Protein 3.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 93.7mg	0%
Iron 5.8mg	0%
Potassium 412.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 69.0%

Protein: 1.6%

Carbs: 29.4%