Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
Zesty, moist, juicy baked chicken with mouthwatering marinade is a sure-fire way to tantalize your palate and appetite.
This is one my favorite Mexican recipes and I have the perfect baked cilantro lime chicken recipe for you.
This recipe couldn’t be any easier as simple ingredients are all you need. Aromatic cilantro, fresh lime juice, garlic, chili flakes bring out the explosive flavors of the chicken.
Serve the chicken with side dishes such as Cilantro Lime Rice, Tequila Lime Shrimp or make taco salad with the chicken.
You can also serve with a simple sauteed broccoli.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken?
To make this easy recipe, first you marinate the chicken for 15 minutes.
Next, pan-fry the chicken in a skillet for a few minutes before baking it for 20 minutes. It’s that easy!
Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
The marinade is the soul of this dish. It calls for everyday ingredients that you already have in your pantry:
- Olive oil. This will keep the chicken moist and juicy.
- Garlic.
- Cilantro, stems and leaves.
- Lime juice.
- Red chili flakes.
- Salt.
Cook’s Tips
To make sure that you have the best results, follow the tips below:
- Use chicken thighs, which are more tender, moist and juicy. Buy bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs and debone it. Click on this post to learn how to debone chicken thighs, with video guide.
- You can use skinless and boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, if you like.
- Use freshly squeezed lime juice if you can. You will love the fresh and citrusy aroma from the lime juice.
- Use lots of cilantro stems and some cilantro leaves as there is a lot of flavors in the stems.
- Pan-fry the chicken on a skillet first, to make sure that the skin is browned and crispy before baking the chicken in the oven. This extra step turns your cilantro lime chicken from good to exquisite.
- After baking, spoon the marinade over the chicken to make it extra flavorful and moist.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 404 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
Serve this dish as is or with rice and other side dishes. For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Juicy Mexican cilantro lime chicken marinated with cilantro, lime juice and garlic. Pan-fry, bake or grill the chicken with this easy cilantro lime chicken recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. skin-on deboned chicken thighs
- lime wedges for garnishing
- chopped cilantro for garnishing
Marinade:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 4 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro stems and leaves
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes or more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste
Directions
-
1
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
-
2
Whisk all the Marinade ingredients together in a big bowl, mix well. Add the chicken into the Marinade, stir to coat well. Marinate for 15 minutes, but best for 2 hours.
-
3
Heat up a skillet and pan-fry the chicken with the skin-side down until slightly browned. Turn over and pan-fry the other side of the chicken until slightly browned.
-
4
Spoon the leftover Marinade on top of the chicken before baking. Bake the chicken for 20 minutes.
-
5
Transfer the chicken and the Marinade residual to a serving platter (discard the oil), squirt some fresh lime juice, garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Make sure you use an oven-safe skillet or pan before baking the chicken in the oven. You may also grill the chicken. For the chicken, you can use boneless and skinless chicken breast/chicken thighs or bone-in chicken thighs.
I am making this tonight? I can’t wait! What side or sides would you recommend?
I like this chili lime corn: https://reference.rasamalaysia.com/skillet-chili-lime-corn/ with this cilantro lime chicken. It’s a complete Mexican-style meal. Or you can try any recipes here: https://reference.rasamalaysia.com/tag/side-dish/
I’m allergic to cilantro. Could you recommend something to use instead?
Perhaps you can use Italian parsley.
Are you allergic to Culantro also? Very similar flavor but Culantro is stronger
How long would you cook the boneless skinless chicken breast?
About the same time, or a couple of minutes longer.
Thank you. I have defrosted breasts in my frig, along with cilantro, lime juice & zest and garlic.
I made a smiliar marinade for boneless top sirloin fajitas tonight. Added soy sauce, worsterschire, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, dash of cayenne., lime juice & zest.
Sauteed orange & green peppers, white & red onions in same marinade. Was so yummy.
Yummy, sounds so good!
Need to make these immediately! My mouth is watering!
Greets,
:)
This looks absolutely fabulous. I will make it this week!
Great, try it I am sure you will love this cilantro lime chicken.
I would suggest boiling the marinade after it is used if you plan on adding it back to the chicken at the end. This will kill any bacteria it might have gotten from the raw chicken.
Hi Randy, thanks for letting me know. I meant the marinade residual (after baking) on the chicken…thanks for letting me know.
Its called drippings
Hi was planning to make this Tonite but marinated chicken breast in cilantro lime over nite and then read not to over nite. Should I not prepare it.what will happen if I do?
It’s fine.
Maybe I read the recipe wrong but if you put the leftover marinade on the finished chicken be sure to boil it first. This will kill any bacteria that it might have gotten from the raw chicken.
You’re right, any marinade from raw chicken needs to be cooked. Otherwise food poisoning big time! Food blogger basics surely.
Of course. That’s just common sense. No one would use the marinade (before cooking). I meant the dripping.
I made this for dinner last night… it was delicious!
Thank you for the recipe.
Hi, your narration mentions use of garlic but garlic is missing from your recipe.
Oops, thanks for pointing out. Updated.
Love cilantro and lime in this chicken because it adds lots of flavor but not calories ~ which my Doc says I don’t need right now. High cholesterol and I’m only 36! Wants to put me on cholesterol lowering drugs even though I’m in a good weight range. So it’s healthy eating for me, would rather change my diet than go on drugs!
Hey Tom, don’t worry I think cholesterol is hereditary and genetic, just make this cilantro lime chicken with skinless thighs or breasts. For me, it’s all about the skin. ;)
Hi! This recipe is SO GOOD and great reheated. I can’t stop eating it! I’m a little confused about the calorie count – it says 1/3 the recipe = 630 calories, but is that the amount for 1 1/2 pounds of chicken? I cook this with chicken breasts and it’s delightful. Thanks for changing my life!!
I dont know that i would say “Dont worry”. You might want to read the Heart Attack Gene. Im young too and its doesnt mean just cause ots hereditary you worry less, you may worry more…
http://amzn.to/2y6gjSi
Can you make this with chicken drum sticks?
Yes you can.