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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.
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
An Easy Marinade
- MARINADE. Combine the seasonings in a large Ziploc bag. Place chicken in a bag with marinade and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 8 hours.
- 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.
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!
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.
For More Recipes:
Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken
3 hrs 5 mins
Carnitas Recipe
9 hrs 10 mins
Green Chili Chicken
35 mins
Carne Asada Recipe
3 hrs 20 mins
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- juice of two limes
- ⅓ 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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Super simple and great flavor!
This chicken tasted amazing and was so easy to make!! My family loved it so much, they can’t wait to have it again!
Cilantro lime chicken is a new addition to our meal rotation! It was so tender and delicious, kids can’t get enough of it!
Oh I’m glad to hear that! And yay for the kids enjoying the chicken too!
This tastes like summer! So fresh and full of flavor. I will be making this one again for Cinco De Mayo!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed the chicken!