This easy Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe starts with a super flavorful marinade, then the chicken is pan-seared in one big skillet until golden brown. The chicken is tender, juicy, and perfect with rice, beans, or chopped up and added to a burrito bowl. You can also easily cook it on an indoor or outdoor grill too! It’s a quick chicken recipe that works any day of the week and is absolutely perfect for meal prep!
These easy skillet recipes are my go-to meals during warmer months when I don’t want to heat up the oven. I’ve been making this One Skillet Sausage and Peppers recipe and this Easy Chicken Stir Fry on repeat lately!🙌
The Chicken Marinade
What I love most about this recipe is that you really only need a few simple ingredients to make a super flavorful chicken marinade. My marinade includes a combination of fresh cilantro, the zest and juice of one lime, olive oil, garlic, and spices. The chicken then gets submerged in the marinade to soak up all of that flavor. Now the hard work is done. All that’s left is a quick 15 minute sear on the stovetop and dinner is served!
How To Make Cilantro Lime Chicken
Step One: Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator. Then add the chicken to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Step Two: Cook for roughly 6-7 minutes on each side until well browned and cooked through. Add a squeeze of lime juice and extra fresh cilantro on top before serving. So easy and so good!
Marsha’s Tips!
- Be careful not to marinate the chicken too long. Marinades with acidic ingredients like lemon juice and lime juice can cause the proteins in the chicken to break down too much over time and make the chicken mushy. Stick to 30 minutes to 2 hours in the fridge.
- Adding fresh chopped cilantro and an extra squeeze of lime juice on top of the chicken after it’s done is a must! It adds so much extra flavor to this chicken recipe. I even add it to my rice too!
If you love this recipe, please leave a rating and review down below. I love reading your feedback and it helps other readers discover more delicious recipes just like this one!
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs*
- 3 ½ Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice**
- ¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Clean the chicken thighs and remove any excess fat.
- Zest then juice one lime, chop the cilantro and mince the garlic or use a garlic press.
- In a large bowl add 3 tablespoons of olive oil along with the rest of the marinade ingredients (lime zest, lime juice, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, Adobo seasoning, salt, and black pepper). Whisk the ingredients together until well combined.
- Add the chicken thighs to the bowl and toss together until the chicken is thoroughly coated in the marinade. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
- When you are ready to cook, remove the bowl from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
- Heat ½ tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. The chicken will be well coated in oil, so you don’t need to add a lot to the skillet. Once the skillet is hot add the chicken thighs, smooth side down first, and cook for 6-7 minutes on both sides until the chicken is well browned and cooked through.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and finish the dish by adding extra chopped cilantro on top and a few squeezes of lime juice. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. Marinate the chicken breasts and cook for roughly 4-5 minutes on each side until cooked through and golden brown.
- You’ll need to purchase 2 limes. One to zest and juice for the marinade and the second lime is needed for serving. Adding extra fresh squeezed lime juice over the cooked chicken right before serving is a key step!😉
Nutrition
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