Fiesta Lime Chicken Avocado (Printable)
Zesty lime-marinated chicken with creamy avocado topping, ready in 40 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken & Marinade
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
02 - 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
03 - 2 tsp lime zest
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 ½ tsp chili powder
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Avocado Topping
11 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
12 - 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
13 - ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
14 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - 1 tbsp lime juice
16 - ¼ tsp salt
→ Garnishes
17 - ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
18 - Lime wedges
19 - Extra cilantro
# How To Make It:
01 - Whisk together lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken breasts and turn to coat evenly. Cover and marinate for at least 20 minutes, or up to 2 hours refrigerated.
02 - Preheat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from the marinade and discard excess liquid. Cook 6 to 7 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
03 - While the chicken cooks, combine diced avocados, tomato, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a bowl. Gently toss to combine without mashing the avocado.
04 - Transfer cooked chicken to serving plates. Sprinkle shredded cheese over each breast while hot so it melts slightly, if using.
05 - Spoon generous portions of the avocado mixture over each chicken breast. Garnish with lime wedges and extra cilantro. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The lime marinade does double duty, tenderizing the chicken while building layers of flavor you can actually taste
- That cool avocado topping on hot chicken is one of those contrasts that makes you close your eyes while eating
02 -
- Marinating longer than 2 hours in lime juice can actually break down the chicken texture too much and make it mealy
- The avocado topping should always be made right before serving because it does not sit well even for 30 minutes
03 -
- Pat the chicken mostly dry before searing so the marinade does not cause steaming instead of browning
- Add a minced jalapeño to the avocado topping if your crowd likes heat and you want to earn some gasps at the table