Cilantro Lime Chicken

This Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe uses a simple marinade to make the most juicy, delicious grilled chicken. The marinade takes no time to prepare and can be done the night before.

Serve with our fluffy lime quinoa and creamy avocado sauce drizzle for a complete meal that’s super healthy. The combination of flavors is like a party in your mouth!

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken

If you are a cilantro and lime fan, then this cilantro lime chicken recipe will become part of your family dinner rotation in no time.  I like to use freezer bags to marinate meat because it makes the clean-up easy-peasy and molds around the chicken to really make sure the marinade is covering the entire thing.

If you want to substitute chicken tenderloins or bone-in chicken, go right ahead!  It all works and tastes great too.  Just be sure to marinate for at least 4 hours to get the juiciest, most flavorful chicken possible.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Video Tutorial

What To Serve With Cilantro Lime Chicken 

I highly recommend serving this grilled chicken with the additional recipes for Lime Quinoa and Creamy Avocado Sauce.  They’re simple to make and the flavors and textures are a match made in heaven.

• Lime Quinoa– Move over rice – this delicious quinoa is more nutritious and here to stay!  The secret to cooking quinoa is adding lots of flavor because on its own, it is pretty “earthy.”  You can make it on the stovetop just like rice, but the rice cooker makes it even easier.
• Creamy Avocado Sauce– This is such a healthy choice and oh-so delicious.  It’s made with a blend of plain Greek yogurt, avocado, fresh lime juice, cayenne powder and salt.  Together, they form a perfectly smooth, creamy, slightly tangy, and spicy sauce that is perfect for drizzling over your Cilantro Lime Chicken.

If you want to mix it up, this Cilantro Lime Chicken would also taste great with our Homemade Rice Pilaf, Easy Spanish Rice, Hasselback Potatoes, Best Sweet Potato Fries, or these Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes.

Key Ingredients

• Lime Juice – fresh squeezed is best.
• Avocado Oil – you can also substitute canola or vegetable oil.  You want something with little to no flavor.
• Oregano – we definitely prefer fresh, but if you only have dried that works too.
• Green Onions – these should be thinly sliced.
• Cilantro – you want to use fresh cilantro for this recipe.  You can feel free to add a bit more or less to your marinade.
• Chili Powder – you can add a little more or less, depending on how spicy you like things.  You could also add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like.
• Quinoa – I usually use white quinoa as it has the most mild and least bitter flavor. With that being said, you can also use red quinoa or black quinoa if you prefer. The flavors will work with any of them.
• Chicken Broth – this gives the cooked quinoa more flavor.
• Butter – you can use salted or unsalted butter for the quinoa. Just season accordingly.
• Green Chilies – you’ll need a can of green chilis. Drain them before adding to the quinoa.

Creamy Avocado Sauce Ingredients

• Avocado – the difference between good and great avocado sauce is, of course, the avocadoes. Try and find ripe avocados that are a bit soft when pressed but not squishy.
• Greek Yogurt – you’ll need plain Greek yogurt to make this sauce. Sour cream would be a good substitute.
• Cayenne Pepper – this is optional but really gives the sauce a little kick.

How to Make This Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

1. Marinate the chicken. In a large plastic ziplock bag, add the lime juice, avocado oil, oregano, green onion, fresh cilantro, garlic, chili powder, salt and pepper.  Close the bag, shake well, then add the chicken breasts. Seal the bag tightly, then marinade for 4-24 hours in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat the grill. Once you are ready to cook the chicken, preheat the grill, scraping and cleaning the grill if necessary. Spray the grill with non-stick cooking oil or vegetable oil before grilling.
3. Cook the chicken. Using tongs, remove the chicken from the marinade and season each chicken breast with salt and pepper.  Place the chicken on the grill and close the lid. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the first side is golden brown, then flip to cook the other side and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Using a digital thermometer, check to make sure the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees before removing from the grill.
4. Let the chicken rest. Place the chicken on a plate or platter, tent with foil, and let sit for 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute. 
5. Make the lime quinoa. Put the quinoa, chicken broth, garlic, butter, salt, pepper and green chilies in a rice cooker and turn on the white rice setting. Once the quinoa has finished finished cooking, add the lime juice and fluff with a fork.
6. Make the avocado sauce. Put the avocado, Greek yogurt, lime juice, cayenne pepper and salt into a blender, and blend until smooth. 
7. Serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some other delicious chicken entrees that we love!

• Garlic Parmesan Wings
• Green Chili Hasselback Chicken
• Baked Lemon Chicken
• Southwest Grilled Chicken Breast
• Easy Grilled Caprese Chicken
• Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
• Crockpot Lemon Pepper Rotisserie Chicken
• More Chicken Recipes
• More Main Dish Recipes

This easy Cilantro Lime Chicken is like a party in your mouth.  It uses a simple marinade to make the most juicy, delicious chicken that we serve with fluffy Lime Quinoa and a Creamy Avocado Sauce drizzle.