Okay, so maybe this grilled 7-UP chicken recipe is not TOP SECRET, but that makes it sounds exciting, right? This is hands-down my favorite marinade of all time. My mom has been making it for as long as I can remember and everyone always asks for the recipe when she does.
The chicken has amazing flavor and it INCREDIBLY moist. It tastes awesome with pork too. If you are looking for a simple, healthy, and delicious chicken marinade recipe, this is definitely one you need to try.


Recipe Ingredient Notes
To make our grilled 7-Up chicken, you need the following ingredients:
- Chicken breasts
- Soy sauce
- Horseradish
- Lemon-lime soda pop (not diet)
- Vegetable oil
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
- Ziploc Bag (Gallon)
- Large Bowl or Medium Bowl, (Optional)
- Hot Grill
- Grilling Tools
- Tongs
How to Make Our Grilled 7-Up Chicken Recipe
- Mix all ingredients together in a Ziploc bag or a large mixing bowl. Pour marinade into a plastic resealable bag if you didn’t mix it in one. Add 6 raw chicken breasts and marinate for at least 30 minutes (although the longer you go, the better they taste! I usually marinate my chicken for at least 8 hours or overnight).
- Rub your grill with olive oil so the chicken doesn’t stick. Place chicken on your grill grates. Grill chicken over medium-high heat until cooked all the way through.
- Let the chicken rest and cut it to your liking.
- Eat the grilled chicken pieces by themselves, with a side dish, or over a salad. You can even put it in the fridge and save it for the next day!
Recipe Notes
If you do not have 7-Up, you can use the following sodas: Sprite (or Sprite Zero), Ginger ale, carbonated lemon lime soda, Mt. Dew, or Coke (or Diet Coke). Most carbonated drinks would work to replace 7-Up. However, we do not recommend fruit-flavored drinks. This marinade is really so simple, and adds amazing flavor to the chicken. I like to let mine sit overnight to let all the juices sink in.


Serving Suggestions
We recommend serving this recipe with our Creamy Pasta Salad, Easy Potato Salad, or Oven Roasted Parmesan Broccoli. You can find more classic American recipes here.
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Grilled 7-Up Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon horseradish
- 12 ounces lemon lime soda, not diet
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
Equipment
- Large Bowl or Medium Bowl, (Optional)
- Hot Grill
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a Ziploc bag or a large mixing bowl. Pour marinade into a plastic resealable bag if you didn't mix it in one. Add 6 raw chicken breasts and marinate for at least 30 minutes (although the longer you go, the better they taste! I usually marinate my chicken for at least 8 hours or overnight).
- Rub your grill with olive oil so the chicken doesn't stick. Place chicken on your grill grates. Grill chicken over medium-high heat until cooked all the way through.
- Let the chicken rest and cut it to your liking.
- Eat the grilled chicken pieces by themselves, with a side dish, or over a salad. You can even put it in the fridge and save it for the next day!


















Why am I so scared of Horseradish? I’ve never tried it in my whole darn life?
Seriously scared.
Like really.
Is it good? Should I go for this recipe? The picture looks yum.
Wow, I’m a chicken.
Still scared.
Girls this looks like an amazing marinade and I adore horseradish and so does my hubby. Thanks!
Erin…Horseradish adds amazing flavor to any dish…be brave and try it! If you like GREAT, if you don’t like it…you know never to try again!
Sounds like the PERFECT Summer Chicken Marinade! YUM! Thank you so much!
We do a similar recipe but add some garlic powder and soy sauce! Super yummers!
This was amazing!!! Both my husband and I loved it!! It was so tender and juicy! Thank you for the wonderful idea for supper 🙂 Off to find another amazing recipe from you beautiful ladies!
You all are beautiful!! Love your site!!
trying it now, with ginger ale since all we have in the house is diet 7 up. I love that pasta salad as well. May have to make some of that.
Sounds good and I want to try, but we don’t have a grill. Can it be prepared in the oven?
How do you think it would taste if you added all ingredients into crock-pot instead?
Why not diet soda?
I have heard that you need the sugar in the regular soda to give it it’s great taste, instead of the other sweeteners used in diet soda. But, I have never actually tried it. Let me know if you do!
You might try the creamy horseradish sauce that they make for a prime rib side. Then, progress from there if you like that. It is less of a bite, but awesome flavor! Once you try it, it’s just a step up to straight horseradish!
I would like to know that, too. I’m a crock-pot addict!
Do you use boneles/skinless chicken breasts, or do you have to have skin on breasts?
I also use boneless skinless chicken breasts! 🙂
The sugars in the regular soda caramelize on the meat, giving it the great taste,the artificial sweeteners can’t do that.
Wanted something different for my boring boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Hubby & I are on Weight Watchers so couldn’t do anything w/ a breaded coating or cheese. I decided to try this recipe tonight. Thought I had some horseradish but must’ve thrown it out when we moved…so i even put on a little mascara, changed my clothes and made a quick trip to the grocery store to buy some. It only marinaded about 30 mins. & I cooked it on the Foreman grill, but it was pretty tasty… hoping next time to marinade it longer and it’ll be even more tasty! Thanks!!
We tried this on steak, and it was delicious!
I don’t have a grill, can I bake or pan fry??
Hi! I would try this technique: http://www.ehow.com/how_5137296_grill-oven.html I think that it would work!
Thank you, I will try tomorrow 🙂
Can I use horseradish mustard?
The chicken was moist – that’s all i can give the recipe. Thought it would much more flavorful because of the soy sauce. Well, you never know unless you try ! 😀
It’s good if you like spicy, I love it
My husband is so afraid of not getting the chicken all the way cooked on the grill that he cooks it way too long and is dry. What is a good secret to knowing when it’s done without cutting it up and looking?
Preheat your grill on high for about 10 minutes. If you have a temperature indicator, it will probably be around 450. Place marinated chicken, on the grill and turn heat down to medium. Cook bone-in chicken breasts for about 8-9 minutes per side and boneless skinless chicken breasts for 7 minutes per side. Your chicken should be cooked through.
I just saw this recipe on Facebook, and it looks so good!
How about grilling on the George Foreman? Has anyone tried that?
Thanks!
It should work fine on the George Foreman too. Just need to be sure it cooks all the way through!
This sounds really good. However, we have a soy allergy in our family. Can you think of anything that you can substitute for the soy sauce?
Hi Julie, I have found a great substitute for soy sauce that is easy to make. It is from All Recipes: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/soy-sauce-substitute/
Cook chicken breast to 155 internal and pull them. It will rose to 160 while resting. You’ll never eat dry chicken again
Can this be done in the oven?
And can I use Bone in chicken thighs?
If so how long & what degree?
Thanks
What can you substitute if you don’t have horseradish?
You can just leave it out all together if you don’t have any on hand. But you’ll want to get some for your next grilling session! So good!
I loved this chicken! It was so moist and tasty. I didn’t have the horseradish, but I subbed with Dijon mustard – turned out great!
This is a favorite childhood recipe that we grew up on grilling in the backyard! It’s amazing!
Can this be cooked on the stovetop
We like it best on the grill or even a portable indoor grill like a George Foreman – here is a link https://amzn.to/3V3YP3R But you can certainly cook it on the stove top too. Here are some great instructions for cooking on the Stove-top.
Grilling on stove top
1. Place your grill pan on the kitchen stovetop and heat it to a high temperature.
2. Add in your oil and let it sizzle for a moment.
3. Place your meats and vegetables on the raised edges of the pan.
4. Grill for a few minutes, then flip over and repeat on the other side.
We just have a smoker. Have you ever smoked it?
We haven’t tested this recipe out on a smoker but it sounds delicious! Be sure to let us know how it turns out if you try it!