I love using chicken marinades!  There simply is no other way to tenderize and infuse chicken with the same level of flavor.  Here are just a few benefits of using a marinade in this Lemon Basil Chicken recipe - and all chicken recipes! - The oil dissolves fat-soluble flavor compounds like the oil in lemon zest, mustard, and capsaicin in black pepper to evenly disperse on the surface. - Salt acts as a brine, helping the chicken hold more water and become juicer, easier to eat and more savory in flavor.  Salt first draws out the liquid from the meat by osmosis; then the brine is reabsorbed into the protein while breaking down muscle structures. The brine draws flavors further down below the surface into the cut. - Garlic also has unique flavor compounds that can infuse into and coat the exterior of the chicken. - The lemon juice brightens the flavor and can provide some tenderization properties, but only at small amounts for relatively a short amount of time