Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

5 from 16 votes

Cilantro lime chicken is marinated with fresh lime and herbs, bursting with zesty flavor and grilled to tender perfection.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Marinating Time30

Total Time55

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings:

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.

Recipe Tips.

Marinate for at least 30 minutes, but longer marinating gives a deeper flavor.
Lightly oil the grill grate to prevent sticking.
Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.
Let the chicken rest before slicing to keep it juicy. Use a kitchen mallet to pound the boneless chicken so that it is an even thickness for an even cook.
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.
This chicken is perfect for slicing over salads or using in tacos the next day.
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!

Freeze 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. 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.