Cilantro Lime Chicken with Lime Quinoa and Creamy Avocado Sauce

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

Delicious Cilantro Lime Grilled 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.  We 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 all tastes great.  Just be sure to marinate for at least 4 hours to get the juiciest most flavorful chicken possible.

What To Serve With Cilantro Lime Chicken 

We highly recommend serving this grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken with our Lime Quinoa and Creamy Avocado Sauce.  It’s super simple 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 it’s own it is pretty “earthy.”  

This version is made with chicken broth, green chilis, garlic, butter and fresh lime juice and has enough flavor to stand alone as a side dish, or added to tacos with Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken, enchiladas or this recipe for Cilantro Lime Chicken!  You can make it on the stovetop just like rice, but the rice cooker makes things so much 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 and creamy, slightly tangy and spicy sauce perfect for drizzling over your Cilantro Lime Chicken.

Any leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days.

More Tasty Combinations

If you want to mix it up, this Cilantro Lime Chicken would also taste great with:

• Homemade Rice Pilaf
• Coconut Rice
• Easy Spanish Rice
• Hasselback Potatoes
• Best Sweet Potato Fries
• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients in Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade

• 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.
• Garlic - fresh mined is best.
• 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.
• Salt & Pepper

How to Make This Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

1. In a large plastic ziplock bag, add the lime juice, avocado oil, oregano, green onion, garlic, chili powder, salt and pepper.  Close the bag, shake well, then add the chicken breasts.
2. Seal the bag tightly, then marinade for 4-24 hours in the refrigerator.

How to Grill Cilantro Lime Chicken Breast

1. Once you are ready to cook the chicken, preheat the grill, scraping and cleaning the grill if necessary.
2. Spray the grill with non-stick cooking oil or vegetable oil before grilling.  Using thongs, remove the chicken from the marinade and season chicken with salt and pepper to taste.  Discard the remaining marinade. 
3. 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.
4. Using a digital thermometer, check to make sure the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees before removing from the grill.  Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the grill and place it on a plate or platter, then let sit for 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute.  
5. Serve hot with Lime Quinoa, drizzled with Creamy Avocado Sauce.  Enjoy!

Can I Use Bone-In Chicken?

Bone-in chicken is actually an excellent substitute for this recipe.  The cooking time will be slightly different, but otherwise you can be sure it will be juicy, flavorful and delicious.

Can I Bake Cilantro Lime Chicken?

The answer is technically yes?  But we don’t recommend it. 

It would be nice to be able to tell you that you can make this recipe several different ways (grilling, baking or in the crockpot) but the truth is, grilling is the way to go with this Cilantro Lime Chicken marinade!

We tried baking the chicken after it marinated and while it turned out really juicy, the flavor just wasn't as intense.  The grill gives it such a deep and intense flavor that can’t be beat.

What is the Best Chicken Base or Chicken Broth

We love this chicken base!  You'll never need to buy chicken stock or chicken broth in the boxes again.  It seriously makes the best marinades, soups and casseroles.

Whenever a recipe calls for chicken stock,  you can use this chicken base.  Just add a teaspoon of chicken base to a cup of warm water and you're good to go!

Print

Recipe: Cilantro Lime Chicken

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.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Marinade Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes

Servings 4 People

Calories 602kcal

Author The Carefree Kitchen

Ingredients

Cilantro Lime Chicken

• 3-4 large Chicken Breasts
• 2 Limes juiced
• 3 tablespoons Avocado Oil can substitute canola oil
• 1 tsp Oregano dried or fresh
• 3 Green Onions thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons Cilantro chopped
• 2 tsp Garlic minced
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Pepper

Lime Quinoa

• 1 cup Quinoa uncooked
• 2 cups Chicken Broth
• 1 tsp Garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• Salt to taste
• Black Pepper to taste
• 1 4.5-oz can Green Chilies
• 1/2 Lime juiced

Creamy Avocado Sauce

• 1/2 Avocado ripe
• 1/4 cup Greek Yogurt plain
• 1/2 Lime juiced
• 1 pinch Cayenne Pepper
• 1 pinch Salt

Instructions

Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade

• 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.
• 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. Using thongs, 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. Place the chicken on a plate or platter and let sit for 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute.  Serve with Lime Quinoa, drizzled with Creamy Avocado Sauce. Enjoy!

Lime Quiona

• 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.

Creamy Avocado Sauce

• Put the avocado, Greek yogurt, lime juice, cayenne pepper and salt into a blender, and blend until smooth. 

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 602kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 1094mg | Potassium: 996mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 570IU | Vitamin C: 36.8mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg

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

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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.