Cilantro lime chicken makes it easy to jazz up your weekly chicken dinner rotation with a sweet citrusy marinade made with plenty of fresh cilantro, honey, and of course, lime juice for that tangy zip!
Chicken and Lime Chicken
Cilantro lime chicken is a simple one-pan dish with zesty bold flavors!
Of all the chicken marinades I’ve made, this one is right up there as one of my all-time favorites. It’s a super simple way to get everyone running to the dinner table!
We let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, but you could easily let it sit for longer. Then, it’s into the oven it goes. On days when you’re firing up the grill, throw these on there for some extra charred flavor.
TIP: if you do marinate it for longer, cover the dish with plastic wrap or foil and place it in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Let the dish come to room temperature or place the cold dish in a cold oven and then turn the oven on.
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Cilantro Lime Chicken Ingredients Notes
The complete list of ingredients with amounts are listed in the full recipe card below.
- Chicken thighs: I used skin on, boneless chicken thighs to keep the dark meat extra moist. You can also use skinless chicken thighs as well. Or swap for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, drumsticks, or chicken tenders if preferred. If using a different cut of chicken, the cooking time may differ. Bone-in chicken will take longer to cook than boneless, as will larger pieces of meat.
- Olive oil: This is the base of the marinade. It helps to keep the chicken moist and disperse the rest of the ingredients to coat the thighs evenly.
- Cilantro and lime juice: the two key ingredients in this recipe. Use fresh lime juice and fresh chopped cilantro if you can! You can even add some lime zest as well.
- Honey: For a touch of sweetness. You can swap this for maple syrup too.
- Minced garlic and cumin: for extra flavor. Add more garlic if you’d like!
- Salt and pepper: To taste.
Variations
1. Add plain yogurt to the marinade for creamy cilantro lime chicken.
2. Sprinkle in some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for heat.
How to Make this Recipe
This recipe will come together in just a few simple steps. It couldn’t be easier!
Make the marinade
Step 1: In a small bowl, add the lime juice, olive oil, honey, garlic, cumin, salt, and black pepper and stir to combine.
Step 2: Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel and place them in a prepared 9×13 baking dish. Pour it over the chicken and let it sit and marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature.
Step 3: Bake chicken in a preheated 350° F oven for 30-35 minutes until cooked through, golden brown, and juicy. Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness. The internal temperature should read 165° F.
What to Serve with this Chicken Thighs Recipe
For the cilantro lovers, you could serve it with this cilantro lime rice with a veggie like broccoli for a quick weeknight dinner.
Top it with cilantro lime crema, mango salsa or cucumber avocado salsa, some corn salsa, pico de gallo, or a simple side salad. Then, use leftover chicken in a burrito bowl, a wrap, in tacos and salads!
How to Store Leftovers
Refrigerate: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Freeze: To freeze leftovers, transfer them to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Keep frozen for up to 1 month. Thaw them overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to enjoy!
Reheat: You can reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 350° F until heated through.
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Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds chicken thighs skin-on, boneless
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup lime juice juice of 2 limes
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoons honey
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray an 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Pat the chicken dry with with paper towels and place in the dish.2.5 pounds chicken thighs
- In a small bowl, add the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, honey, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper.2 tablespoons olive oil, ¼ cup lime juice, 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, 1 ½ tablespoons honey, 3-4 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, Salt and pepper to taste
- Pour the sauce over the chicken let it marinate for 30 minutes. (You can marinate it for longer for bolder flavors. If you do, cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator. Then place the dish in a cold oven to bake).
- Place the dish chicken in the oven and cook chicken for 30-35 minutes.
- Serve with rice or potatoes and a favorite vegetable like broccoli or spinach.
Notes
Freeze for up to 1 month in a freezer bag or container.
Reheat in the microwave on a microwave safe plate or in the oven on 350° F until heated though.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Ethel
Can this dish be cooked in the air fryer? Thankyou
Sherri
They sure can! I would air fry at 350°F for 15 minutes then flip it and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until the internal temp is 165° F. 🙂