Grilled to Perfection: Seasonings & Marinades

The sun’s out! It’s time to fire up the grill and cook up some serious flavor with our tips and recipes for the ultimate marinades and seasonings.

Whether you're sizzling steaks or firing up tofu, bold marinades and punchy seasonings are your ticket to next-level flavor. Ready to get grilling?

The key is getting your marinade proportions just right for perfectly tenderized, flavor-packed results is three parts fat, one part acid, and one part seasoning (aka herbs, spices, and other flavor boosters). 

Your fat could be olive oil, coconut milk, yogurt, avocado oil—even mayo. For acid, think citrus juice, vinegar, beer, or mustard. And when it comes to aromatics, go wild—fresh or dried herbs, shallots, garlic, chili flakes, cracked pepper, or a touch of sweetness like honey or maple syrup all do the trick.
 
This marinade recipe always hits the spot:

• ¼ cup avocado oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Not sure how long to marinate? Our cheat sheet lays it out—chicken, steak, tofu, shrimp, all timed for max flavor. 

No Time to Marinate? No Problem!

If you're more of a spice-it-and-grill-it type, a good rub is your shortcut to bold, craveable flavor. 

Start with a base—salt for savory, sugar for sweet. Then build it out with punchy layers like garlic powder, paprika, or cumin. Add aromatics and heat to bring it all together: think black pepper, chili flakes, or your favorite dried herbs.

Mix it all up, lightly oil your protein (or veggies!), rub it down with your seasoning blend, and let it rest for about 30 minutes before hitting the grill. No fuss, all flavor.
 
This simple spice rub is one of our summer favorites:

• 1 tbsp ground cumin 
• 1 tbsp chili powder 
• 1 tbsp paprika, preferably hot  
• 1 tbsp dried marjoram 
• 1 tbsp dry mustard 
• 1 ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper