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southwest grilled chicken sliced on cutting board
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5 from 3 votes

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.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Marinade Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
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