Cilantro Lime Chicken (Printable)
Marinated chicken with lime and cilantro for a zesty, quick dinner.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
→ Marinade
02 - 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
03 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp chili powder
08 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
11 - Zest of 1 lime
→ To Serve (optional)
12 - Extra lime wedges
13 - Fresh cilantro leaves
14 - Cooked rice, tortillas, or salad
# How To Make It:
01 - Place the chicken breasts in a large resealable bag or shallow dish.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and lime zest until well combined.
03 - Pour the marinade over the chicken; seal the bag or cover the dish. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours for more flavor).
04 - Preheat grill or skillet to medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off.
05 - Grill or pan-sear chicken for 6–8 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
06 - Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
07 - Serve with extra lime wedges, fresh cilantro, and choice of sides.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The marinade does double duty by tenderizing the meat while infusing it with bright, punchy flavor.
- It comes together so quickly that you can easily make it on a busy Tuesday without any stress.
02 -
- Do not marinate the chicken for longer than four hours or the lime juice will make the texture mushy.
- Patting the chicken dry before searing helps achieve those beautiful dark grill marks.
03 -
- Use a microplane to get the most flavor out of the lime zest without any bitter pith.
- Let the grill grate get fully hot before cooking to prevent the chicken from sticking.