Cilantro-Lime Chicken – made amongst hearty chicken thighs or thin chicken breasts which are soaked inwards a fresh and vibrant cilantro-lime, too garlic seasoned marinade. Chicken is then grilled or pan-seared to gold brown perfection!
Looking for more recipes with similar flavors? Try my One Pan Cilantro Lime Chicken too Rice (amongst Black Beans), Street Tacos, or Cilantro Lime Chicken alongside Avocado Salsa.
Flavorful Cilantro-Lime Chicken Recipe
A incredibly delicious chicken recipe I plow to fourth dimension together with time once again! It’second super tardily nonetheless ever wows amongst season! Plus it alone requires a few fresh ingredients and cooking it couldn’t live easier.
Not to advert everyone loves it! Who tin resist those perfectly browned edges?
It’second versatile too. You tin can throw this cilantro-lime chicken in tacos, grill bell peppers amongst it and serve it fajita manner, make a burrito bowl, or construct upwardly a tostada – piled high alongside the plant of course.
Or just continue it super unproblematic as well as serve it alongside rice together with it’s nevertheless plenty adept enough to impress.
The best way to brighten upwardly chicken is with fresh citrus and this recipe is proof of that.
It’second grilling flavour then permit’second savor!
Happy Cinco de Mayo to those celebrating!
Cilantro-Lime Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken thighs: I similar to function boneless skinless here, though os-in, pare on volition go likewise if going the grilling route (increment grill fourth dimension of course). Boneless skinless chicken breasts operate corking here as well if that’s what you prefer.
- Limes: Don’t forget to zest earlier slicing together with juicing. I’ve done this myself a few times as well as it’sec ever much easier to zest whole limes.
- Olive fossil oil: Just function criterion refined olive fossil oil not extra-virgin.
- Fresh cilantro: You’ll call for about 1 bunch for this recipe.
- Garlic: It’s all nigh the fresh garlic for hither, no pulverisation. This builds upwardly another layer of groovy flavour.
- Honey: Only a tiny is used, not to sweeten the chicken yous won’t even detect any of that. Rather it is role to encourage browning. If y'all are pan searing chicken on the stovetop though skip this.
- Cumin: This spice pairs then good with cilantro and lime. It adds a light earthy flavor.
- Salt too pepper: I’ve listed the amounts I prefer in the recipe simply of grade suit this to gustatory modality.
Continue scrolling down for factor amounts, directions as well as impress pick.
How to Make Cilantro-Lime Chicken
To make the marinade:
- In a mixing bowl whisk together lime zest, lime juice, olive petroleum, cilantro, garlic, dear, cumin and salt as well as pepper to gustation.
- Place chicken inwards a gallon size resealable pocketbook, pour marinade over chicken. Seal pocketbook too rub marinade over chicken.
- Let marinate ane 60 minutes in refrigerator.
How to Cook It
Grill Method:
- Preheat a gas grill to medium-high estrus (about 425 degrees).
- Remove chicken from marinade (I like to brush virtually of the cilantro off equally it but turns to an unappetizing colour and it has already seasoned the chicken).
- Grill chicken thighs until heart reaches 165 degrees, near five – six minutes per side.
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a fiddling olive crude in a skillet over medium-high estrus.
- Remove chicken from marinade, wipe excess marinade off.
- Cook chicken thighs inward skillet until chicken registers 165 in heart, most six minutes per side.
How Long to Marinate Chicken?
With a really acidic marinade similar this I don’t recommend marinating longer than eight hours for thighs or 4 hours for chicken breasts as it tin start to modify the texture of the chicken. This marinade is super flavorful then 1 hr is even plenty.
What Sides to get alongside Cilantro-Lime Chicken?
Some of the things I honey to serve this chicken amongst include:
- Coconut Rice
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Grilled mini bell peppers
- Tortilla chips in addition to salsa
- Fresh pineapple or mango (a sugariness fruit to rest the tart)
- Avocado slices
Tips:
- For the almost tender results go amongst thighs instead of breasts (I used to e'er cook chicken breasts until I realized how much improve thighs tin can be). They take more flavor besides.
- Don’t skip marinating fourth dimension to let the flavors to penetrate.
- Use freshest ingredients for best flavour.
- Careful not to overcook the chicken or it will first to dry out out (particularly if you opt to function chicken breasts, thighs don’t dry out equally easily).
- Use an instant read thermometer to test doneness inwards heart of portions to 165 degrees, for both food rubber reasons as well as over again and so chicken doesn’t first to dry out.
More Delicious Mexican Chicken Dinners to Try
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken Fajitas
- Salsa Chicken Tacos (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot)
- Salsa Verde Chicken
Cilantro-Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed of excess fatty*
- ane Tbsp lime zest
- ane/iii cup fresh lime juice
- ane/four loving cup olive oil
- 2/iii cup chopped fresh cilantro, addition one Tbsp more than for garnish
- ane 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- i tsp love**
- 1 tsp earth cumin
- Salt together with freshly ground dark pepper
Instructions
- To brand marinade: In a mixing bowl whisk together lime zest, lime juice, olive fossil oil, cilantro, garlic, love, cumin and common salt in addition to pepper to taste (I role 1 one/4 tsp salt and ane tsp pepper - not included in nutrition gauge equally this is per personal preference).
- Place chicken thighs in a gallon size resealable handbag, pour marinade over chicken. Seal pocketbook while pressing out excess air. Rub marinade over chicken until it cilantro appears more evenly distributed.
- Let marinate 1 60 minutes in fridge (or upward to viii hours for thighs iv hours for breasts).
- Grill instructions: Preheat a gas grill to medium-high estrus (about 425 degrees). Remove chicken from marinade (I similar to brush virtually of the cilantro off as it merely turns to an unappetizing color too it'second already seasoned the chicken). Grill chicken thighs until center reaches 165 degrees, nigh v - 6 minutes per side.
- Stovetop instructions: Heat a fiddling olive petroleum inwards a skillet over medium-high estrus. Remove chicken from marinade, wipe excess marinade in addition to cilantro off. Cook chicken thighs in skillet until 165 inward centre, well-nigh 5 - 7 minutes per side.
- Serve chicken warm garnished alongside ane Tbsp chopped cilantro.
Notes
*If you opt to make thighs inwards a skillet then omit this constituent, it is only added to promote browning on the grill. Thighs will chocolate-brown enough inwards a skillet.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 235
Calories from Fat ninety
% Daily Value*