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Cilantro lime chicken is marinated with fresh lime and herbs, bursting with zesty flavor for an easy weeknight meal.

Enjoy on its own or in a Burrito Bowl, Taco Bowl, or Taco Salad.

Grilled cilantro lime chicken on a plate with sliced limes.


We Love Grilled Chicken!

We eat a lot of chicken for dinner in our house. It can take on a variety of flavor profiles and cooks easily. Plus, the kids love it!

One recipe we have on repeat is our Mexican cilantro lime chicken. It uses a simple marinade (similar to our Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette) for full flavor and an easy healthy Mexican dinner!

Why we love it:

  • A quick marinade. This fresh marinade uses 7 simple ingredients and whips up in minutes.
  • 2-step dinner. Simply place the chicken in the marinade for several hours and then grill them up in only 15 minutes! This dish is perfect for prepping ahead.
  • A variety of meals. Slice and place on green salads, pair with grilled veggies like Grilled Asparagus, wrap it in Chicken Fajitas, or a Flour Tortilla for Chicken Tacos.

Ingredients

  • chicken For extra-juicy flavor, use boneless skinless chicken thighs but chicken breasts can also be used.
  • olive oil
  • limes Each medium-sized lime should produce about 2 tablespoons of juice. This recipe needs about 4 tablespoons altogether. For extra flavor add lime zest.
  • cilantro
  • garlic
  • sugar
  • salt
  • black pepper
Chicken and cilantro marinade in a ziploc bag.

An Easy Marinade

  1. MARINADE. Combine the seasonings in a large Ziploc bag. Place chicken in a bag with marinade and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 8 hours.
  2. GRILL. Preheat to medium to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Lightly oil the grate. Place chicken on the grill and cook for 5-7 minutes per side or until a meat thermometer reads 165°F.
    • Remove from grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Alternative Cooking Methods

Fry. Add the marinated chicken to a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side or until well-browned and cooked through.

Bake. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the flavored chicken in a baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Allow it to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Cilantro lime chicken marinade in bowl.

Recipe Tips

  • Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes. The longer it marinades the more flavorful and tender it will be. However, do not exceed 24 hours.
  • Chicken prep. Use a kitchen mallet to pound the boneless chicken so that it is an even thickness for an even cook.
  • Easy cleanup. Add oil to the clean grill grates to prevent sticking.
  • Grill bone-in chicken. Place the chicken over direct high heat for 5 minutes on each side. Then move the chicken away from the flame and cook for another 30 minutes. Flip the chicken every 10-15 minutes.
  • Bone-in chicken thighs only need about 20 minutes and flip halfway through.
  • Serving suggestions. Cilantro Lime Rice is a perfect choice or serve it with Mexican Corn on the Cob and Jalapeno Cornbread. Honestly, any Mexican side dish would be great!
Grilled marinated chicken on a white plate.

Storage Info

  • Freezing in the marinade. Place the raw chicken and marinade in a freezer ziploc for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and grill.
  • STORE leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for 3-4 days.
  • FREEZE. Place chicken in a freezer bag and it will keep in the freezer for 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.
Close up of cilantro lime chicken recipe on a white plate.

For More Recipes:

5 from 16 votes

Cilantro Lime Chicken

By: Lil’ Luna
Cilantro lime chicken is marinated with fresh lime and herbs, bursting with zesty flavor for an easy weeknight meal.
Servings: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Marinating Time: 30 minutes
Total: 55 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • juice of two limes
  • cup chopped cilantro
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

Instructions 

  • Combine the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper in a large Ziploc bag. Place chicken in a bag with marinade and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 8 hours.
  • When ready to grill preheat to medium to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Lightly oil the grate. Place chicken on the grill and grill for 5-7 minutes per side or until a meat thermometer reads 165°F.
  • Remove from grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Video

Notes

If your chicken breasts are very large cut them in half horizontally for quicker cooking. 
Freezing in the marinade. Place the raw chicken and marinade in a freezer ziploc for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and grill.
STORE leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for 3-4 days.
FREEZE. Place chicken in a freezer bag and it will keep in the freezer for 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 72mg, Sodium: 132mg, Potassium: 430mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 124IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
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Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!


About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




16 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This chicken tasted amazing and was so easy to make!! My family loved it so much, they can’t wait to have it again!

  2. 5 stars
    Cilantro lime chicken is a new addition to our meal rotation! It was so tender and delicious, kids can’t get enough of it!

  3. 5 stars
    This tastes like summer! So fresh and full of flavor. I will be making this one again for Cinco De Mayo!