Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken

why you’ll love this grilled chicken recipe

• A zesty marinade. Fresh, light and packed with flavor, this cilantro lime marinade is made for chicken! The acid in the lime also helps tenderize the chicken to perfection!
• An easy chicken recipe. The marinade is a breeze to whip up, with only a few pantry staples needed, then whack that chicken on the grill for 10 mins – done!
• Healthy. Protein-packed chicken in a light marinade, then grilled, low in calories, and perfect with a healthy side salad or some cauliflower rice.

ingredients you’ll need

• Skinless Chicken Breasts: Ideally organic, free-range.
• Fresh cilantro
• Lime Zest
• Lime Juice
• Garlic
• Salt & Pepper
• Olive Oil
• Garnishes: Cilantro leaves lime wedges.

how to make grilled cilantro lime chicken

• Make the marinade. Combine all the marinade ingredients to a blender or food processor and pulse until it
  forms a smooth mixture.
• Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken to a sealable bag with the marinade. Press out the air and press the marinade around the chicken. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least an hour.
• Grill the chicken. Grill without moving the chicken around, about 5 minutes on each side, or until charred and cooked through.
• Serve and enjoy!

recipe notes and tips

• To make things quick, use thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts for this lime chicken. The thinner size makes for faster grilling times more even cooking.
• Pounding the boneless, skinless chicken breasts to an even thickness helps the meat cook evenly.
• Let the chicken marinate for at least an hour, this allows the flavor to seep in and tenderize the chicken breast.
• Place marinating meat in the refrigerator to keep it at a safe temperature while marinating.
• You make these on the grill or in a heavy-bottomed pan.
• Cook the chicken straight from the fridge, this way it’ll not be overcooked.
• Make sure to lightly brush the grill with oil before adding the chicken, this stops the chicken from tearing when you flip it.
• You can reserve some of the marinades to drizzle over the chicken when it’s done.
• If you don’t have any sealable bags to hand, you can use a dish to marinate the lime chicken. However, stick to shallow containers made of non-reactive materials like stainless steel, glass, or ceramic. This way the flavor won’t be affected.

faq’s

can I use chicken thighs

You can use either chicken breasts or chicken thighs for this Cilantro Lime Chicken.  The dark meat of chicken thighs gives you a slightly different flavor and they still turn out tender, chickens breasts also emerge incredibly juicy.

If you choose to use thighs just remember the cooking time may need to adjust, depending on thickness. You can check the doneness of the lime chicken with a meat thermometer – it should register 165 degrees.

can I swap out the cilantro?

Cilantro Lime Chicken is a popular Southwestern dish. However, cilantro isn’t to everyone’s taste. You can swap out the cilantro and add some grated ginger and thyme, sage, or parsley.

Does lime juice tenderize chicken

Any liquid that’s acidic will help tenderize the chicken meat. This is why most marinades will include an acidic addition like wine, lemon, lime, pineapple juice, vinegar, or orange juice.

what to serve with this lime chicken

This easy chicken recipe goes well with all kinds of sides! Here are some ideas:

• Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
• Black Bean Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
• Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
• Roasted Garlic Cauliflower
• Healthy Potato Salad

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken would also work greatly sliced and in a wrap, pita, or sandwich!

other delicious chicken recipes

• Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
• Strawberry Chicken Salad
• Air fryer Chicken Parmesan
• Keto Chicken Fajita Wraps

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken

Juicy and tender grilled chicken breast with a delicious cilantro and lime marinade.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Marinade: 1 hour

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 165kcal

Author: Rena

Ingredients

• ▢ 8 Boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lbs.

Marinade:

• ▢ 2/3 bunch fresh cilantro
• ▢ zest of 1 lime
• ▢ 3 Tbsp lime juice about 2 limes
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic chopped
• ▢ 1 tsp ground coriander
• ▢ 1 tsp salt
• ▢ 1 tsp black pepper
• ▢ 2 tbsp olive oil

Optional Garnishes:

• ▢ Cilantro leaves
• ▢ Lime wedges

Instructions

• Combine all the marinade ingredients to a blender or food processor and pulse until it forms a smooth mixture.
• Add chicken breast to a large freezer-safe sealable bag, followed by the marinade. Press the air out of the bag and seal it tightly. Now gently press to the marinade around the chicken cutlets to coat well.
• Allow it to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to overnight. Marinating overnight will enhance the juiciness and flavor of the chicken.
• Next, brush the grill or a heavy-bottomed pan with some oil and heat over medium-high heat. Place the marinated chicken breast onto the hot grill.
• Grill without moving them around, about 5 minutes on each side, or until charred and cooked through.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges if desired.

Video

Notes

• Serving size is one chicken breast
• To make things quick, use thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts for this lime chicken. The thinner size makes for faster grilling times more even cooking.
• Pounding the boneless, skinless chicken breasts to an even thickness helps the meat cook evenly.
• Let the chicken marinate for at least an hour, this allows the flavor to seep in and tenderize the chicken breast.
• Place marinating meat in the refrigerator to keep it at a safe temperature while marinating.
• You make these on the grill or in a heavy-bottomed pan.
• Cook the chicken straight from the fridge, this way it'll not be overcooked.
• Make sure to lightly brush the grill with oil before adding the chicken, this stops the chicken from tearing when you flip it.
• You can reserve some of the marinades to drizzle over the chicken when it's done.
• If you don't have any sealable bags to hand, you can use a dish to marinate the lime chicken. However, stick to shallow containers made of non-reactive materials like stainless steel, glass, or ceramic. This way the flavor won't be affected.

Nutrition

Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 423mg | Potassium: 440mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 169IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

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