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    Home » Special Diets » Nut-Free » Southwest Chicken Breasts

    Southwest Chicken Breasts

    Published: August 2, 2019 · Jill Baird · 2 Comments

    southwest grilled chicken sliced on cutting board

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    Jump to Recipe

    These Grilled Southwest Chicken Breasts are tender and juicy with a hint of sweetness and just the right amount of spice.  This recipe uses a simple marinade to create flavorful chicken that can be served on its own or in salads, enchiladas, tacos and more.

    Jump to:
    • Grilled Southwest Chicken Breasts
    • Ingredients in Grilled Southwest Chicken 
    • How to Grill Southwest Chicken Breasts
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing and Reheating
    • Southwest Chicken Breast Recipe
    • More of the Best Chicken Recipes to Try

    Grilled Southwest Chicken Breasts

    These grilled Southwest Chicken Breasts are so tasty, so versatile and oh-so-easy.  This recipe is honestly as simple as tossing a few ingredients that you probably already have into a freezer bag along with your chicken breasts, letting it marinate and then firing up the grill.  

    It’s perfect for summertime when the weather is hot and you don’t want to turn on the oven.  Serve it up at a summer BBQ along with grilled veggies and your favorite sides and watch friends and family scramble for seconds.

    For a delicious meal throughout the week, we like to slice up leftovers and make burrito bowls with rice, beans, cheese and salsa.  Or, add to tacos, enchiladas, salads and pizza.  This marinade also works great for any cut of chicken, including kabobs.  

    Grilled Southwest Chicken Breasts whole and sliced on a cutting board with fresh bell peppers.

    Ingredients in Grilled Southwest Chicken 

    • Chicken Breasts - this recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you could just as easily use the same Southwest Chicken marinade recipe for chicken thighs, chicken tenderloins or even chicken drumsticks.
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Lime Juice - this recipe tastes great when it is finished with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. 

    Southwest Chicken Marinade

    • Avocado Oil - you can substitute any other cooking oil.
    • Lime Juice - fresh tastes best.
    • Garlic - we like fresh minced garlic in this recipe.  The kind in the jar will work in a pinch.
    • Brown Sugar - either dark or light brown sugar will work great.
    • Chili Powder - chili powder adds a nice, sweet heat to the marinade.
    • Cumin - cumin is a traditional spice used in lots of Southwestern and Mexican cooking.
    • Cayenne Powder - this is optional but tastes amazing if you like a little extra spice.
    • Chili in Adobo - you can find this in cans in your local grocery store.  You’ll only need one canned chili for this recipe, so reserve the rest for another use.  Make sure you remove the seeds before mincing and adding to the marinade.
    A ziplock bag with chicken breasts and Southwest chicken marinade recipe.

    How to Grill Southwest Chicken Breasts

    1. Prepare the chicken breasts.  To prepare your chicken breasts, trim any excess fat or tendons, then place in a plastic bag or between two sheets of plastic wrap.  Using a meat tenderizer, rolling pin, or the bottom of a mason jar, give the chicken a few good whacks on the thickest parts.
    2. Make the Southwest Chicken marinade.  In a small bowl combine the avocado oil, lime juice, garlic, brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, and chili in adobo sauce.  Mix well until combined.
    3. Marinate the chicken.  Pour the marinade over the prepared chicken in the Ziplock bag (or a large mixing bowl) making sure you coat all sides of the chicken evenly.  Transfer to the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate for 2-24 hours.
    4. Remove the chicken from the marinade.  Preheat the grill.  Scrape and clean the grill if necessary, then spray with nonstick cooking oil.  Remove the chicken breasts from the Southwest chicken marinade using tongs and place on a plate.  Salt and pepper each side.
    5. Grill.  Transfer to the preheated grill, smooth side down.  Close the lid and grill at about 375 degrees for about 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown.  Flip each breast over and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
    6. Let the chicken rest.  Remove chicken from the grill and place on a plate.  Let rest for about 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute, then squeeze with fresh lime juice just before serving.
    7. Enjoy!

    How to Make Oven-Baked Southwest Chicken

    If you would rather not fire up the grill, you can absolutely cook your chicken in the oven.

    1. Follow the instructions for marinating the chicken, then remove from the marinade and place in a baking dish.
    2. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
    3. Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest before serving.
    A whole grilled southwest chicken breast on a cutting board.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How much chicken should I plan on per person?

    I like to plan on serving 4-6 oz of uncooked chicken per person, or 4 oz per person if I’m using it in tacos.  Of course some kids will eat less, and some adults will eat more but I’ve found it evens out to about 4-6 oz overall.

    Can I use a different cut of chicken?

    Absolutely!  All chicken needs to reach 165 degrees F to be considered safe to consume, so the only difference will be in the amount of time it takes to grill.  Smaller cuts of meat will take less time to cook, while larger cuts will take longer.

    Can you use frozen chicken breasts?

    If your chicken isn’t thawed yet, no worries.  Just pop them into the marinade frozen, and let them thaw while they marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

    How long do you grill chicken breasts on the grill?

    Assuming your grill is heated to about 375 degrees F, it should take a total of 8-10 minutes to cook the chicken breasts on the grill.  You’ll want to flip them about half way through the cooking time so that both sides cook evenly and get those pretty little sear lines.

    Storing and Reheating

    • Refrigerator: store leftover Southwest Chicken Breasts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • To reheat: reheat on a baking sheet in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.  You can also reheat a small portion in the microwave, for about 1-2 minutes on high, or until warmed through.
    southwest grilled chicken sliced on cutting board
    Print

    Southwest Chicken Breast Recipe

    These Grilled Southwest Chicken Breasts are tender and juicy with a hint of sweetness and just the right amount of spice. This recipe uses a simple marinade to create flavorful chicken that can be served on its own or in salads, enchiladas, tacos and more.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Marinade Time 2 hours
    Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 235kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 4-6 large Chicken Breasts
    • ¼ cup Avocado Oil or your favorite cooking oil
    • 3 Tablespoons Lime Juice fresh
    • 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
    • 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Powder optional
    • 1 each Chili in Adobo Sauce seeds removed and minced
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Pepper
    • 1 Lime to serve

    Instructions

    • To prepare your chicken breasts, trim any excess fat or tendons, then place in a Ziplock bag or between two sheets of plastic wrap. Using a meat tenderizer, rolling pin, or the bottom of a mason jar, give the chicken a few good whacks on the thickest parts.
    • In a small bowl combine the avocado oil, lime juice, garlic, brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, and chili in adobo sauce. Mix well until combined.
    • Pour the marinade over the prepared chicken in the Ziplock bag (or a large mixing bowl) making sure you coat all sides of the chicken evenly. Transfer to the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate for 2-24 hours.

    How to Grill the Chicken

    • Preheat the grill. Scrape and clean the grill if necessary, then spray with nonstick cooking oil.
    • Remove the chicken breasts from the Southwest chicken marinade using tongs and place on a plate. Salt and pepper each side, then transfer to the preheated grill, smooth side down.
    • Close the lid and grill at about 375 degrees for about 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown. Flip each breast over and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
    • Remove chicken from the grill and place on a plate. Let rest for about 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute, then squeeze with fresh lime juice just before serving. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6oz | Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 457mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 7.7mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.7mg

    More of the Best Chicken Recipes to Try

    • Chicken Quesadillas
    • Chicken Tacos
    • Crockpot Buffalo Chicken
    • Cornflake Chicken
    • Baked Lemon Chicken
    • Simple Oven Baked Chicken Breast
    • Honey Soy Chicken Thighs
    • More Chicken Recipes
    • More Easy Dinner Recipes

    More Southwest Recipes...

    • Southwest Stuffed Peppers
    • Southwest Chicken Kabobs

    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!!

    Pinterest pin for Southwest Chicken Breasts marinade recipe.

    These juicy grilled Southwest Chicken Breasts are tasty, versatile and super easy to make. They're perfect for eating as is, or tossing into salads, wraps, enchiladas, tacos and more.

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