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    Home » Main Dish

    Cilantro Lime Chicken

    By Jill Baird · Published February 11, 2023 · Updated April 17, 2023 · 2 Comments

    grilled cilantro lime chicken with quinoa, An incredibly juicy and falvorful Cilantro Lime Chicken on a bed of the most delicious Quinoa! chicken with avocado sauce.

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    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
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    Cilantro Lime Chicken marinating with garlic, fresh cilantro, fresh lime juice, and spices. So much flavor packed into this incredible meal!

    This grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts 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!

    Jump to:
    • Cilantro Lime Chicken Video Tutorial
    • Marinade for Lime Chicken Recipe
    • What To Serve With Cilantro Lime Chicken 
    • Side Dishes to Serve with Lime Chicken
    • Ingredients in Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
    • How to Make This Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
    • How to Grill Cilantro Lime Chicken Breast
    • Cilantro Lime Chicken

    Cilantro Lime Chicken Video Tutorial

    Marinade for Lime Chicken Recipe

    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 tastes great too.  Just be sure to marinate for at least 4 hours to get the juiciest, most flavorful chicken possible.

    Cilantro Lime Chicken marinating with garlic, fresh cilantro, fresh lime juice, and spices. So much flavor packed into this incredible meal!

    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 match 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.
    • Cilantro Lime Rice- A staple at our house and perfect for serving with this grilled chicken recipe.
    • Coconut Rice- A quick and easy flavored rice recipe, perfect if you're looking for a switch up from cilantro lime.
    • 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.
    Cilantro lime rice and avocado cream for cilantro lime chicken recipe. easy family dinner recipe.

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

    Side Dishes to Serve with Lime Chicken

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

    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Easy Spanish Rice
    • Hasselback Potatoes
    • Best Sweet Potato Fries
    • Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
    Grilling Cilantro Lime Chicken, so tender and juicy! best cilantro lime chicken marinade recipe, grilled chicken cilantro.

    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
    cilantro lime quinoa with Grilled lime chicken breast recipe on a white plate. creamy cilantro lime chicken, grilled chicken recipe, lime chicken grilled.

    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.
    best chicken marinade, grilled chicken with cilantro crema on cutting board.

    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 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!
    grilled chicken with cilantro-crema in a bowl with quiona and avocado cream sauce, easy chicken marinade recipe
    Can I Use Bone-In Chicken?

    Bone-in chicken is actually an excellent substitute for this recipe.  The cooking time will be slightly different; 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.

    An incredibly juicy and falvorful Cilantro Lime Chicken on a bed of the most delicious Quinoa!
    Print

    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 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
    Marinade Time 4 hours hours
    Total Time 4 hours hours 45 minutes 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 teaspoon Oregano dried or fresh
    • 3 Green Onions thinly sliced
    • 2 tablespoons Cilantro chopped
    • 2 teaspoon Garlic minced
    • 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ 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
    • ½ Lime juiced

    Creamy Avocado Sauce

    • ½ Avocado ripe
    • ¼ cup Greek Yogurt plain
    • ½ 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 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. Place the chicken on a plate or platter, tent with foil, 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. 

    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
    • Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
    • Crockpot Lemon Pepper Rotisserie Chicken
    • More Chicken Recipes
    • More Main Dish Recipes

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    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.  

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