This lime cilantro marinade chicken is a fabulous and easy recipe, great for a quick weeknight dinner. Mix the marinade ingredients with chicken, bake, and get ready to enjoy a vibrant, cilantro-lime-flavored, delicious meal.
This lime cilantro marinade chicken is a straightforward chicken marinade that yields a tender, comforting, juicy chicken you'll love!
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💚 About This Recipe
You can quickly whip up this easy lime cilantro marinade chicken with simple ingredients.
This marinade recipe combines fresh lime juice and cilantro to create a zesty flavor. Enjoy it with a drizzle of taco sauce for an extra layer of flavor.
Plus, this easy chicken marinade is versatile and adaptable. As a serving suggestion, top your chicken with pickled jalapenos for a delightful spicy kick.
Best of all? This simple recipe is fantastic with any meat and suits all cooking methods. It rivals my Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken when it comes to simple and easy chicken dinners!
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- fresh lime juice - adds a refreshing, citrusy note.
- olive oil - emulsifies and adds richness to the marinade. Feel free to swap it with any neutral oil, like canola or vegetable oil.
- fresh cilantro - brings a unique, herby flavor that's key to the dish.
- garlic cloves - fresh garlic is the best way to build the flavors. However, you can also use garlic powder.
- honey - balances the acidity of the lime in this lime cilantro marinade chicken.
- ground cumin - gives a warm, earthy note.
- chicken breasts or thighs - opt for either boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, and alter to your taste and preferred texture.
🔪 Instructions
- In a small bowl, assemble the marinade ingredients. Combine cilantro, fresh lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic cloves, honey, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. And blend the ingredients thoroughly with a whisk.
- Place the chicken (boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts) in a large bowl. Pour the lime cilantro marinade over the chicken. Blend the ingredients until the marinade uniformly coats all the chicken pieces. Then refrigerate and let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or for a deeper flavor, allow it to marinate for up to 4 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place chicken on a baking sheet in a single layer. (If using a cast iron pan, preheat it and apply a light oil coating to avoid sticking.) Cook to a golden brown for 25-30 minutes
❔ FAQs
In general, the longer you marinate with lime juice, the better. For example, you'll get better flavor marinating for 4 hours instead of just 30. However, there is a limit. While I will occasionally marinate overnight, I don't recommend marinating more than 12 hours or so.
The chicken will start to become chewy and a bit mushy, so make sure to not let it sit in the fridge in the marinade for too long. Two to four hours marination time is ideal. I generally limit the marination time to no more than 12 hours, although some say the limit is more like 36-48 hours. However, with the price of chicken these days, I don't want to take any chances!
This marinade would be great with beef, pork, or fish as well. It's a very versatile sauce that elevates the taste of just about any meat!
💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Use fresh lime juice, minced jalapeno peppers, and cilantro to make the lime cilantro marinade chicken taste more vibrant.
- Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours. Over-marinating, especially in lime juice, can make the chicken chewy.
- Sprinkle lime zest for an extra depth of flavor.
- If you prefer, you can cook this cilantro lime chicken on the stovetop or grill. On the stovetop, use medium heat to retain the flavor of this chicken. On the grill, make sure the grill is preheated before putting the marinated chicken on. Note that the cooking time varies according to the cooking method and the chicken's thickness. Feel free to use an air fryer as well.
📌 This Lime Cilantro Marinade Chicken is the solution for a quick, easy, and budget-friendly dinner that your family will love. It's a fuss-free recipe that's sure to become a favorite for busy weeknights!
💡 Substitutions and Variations
- Lemon juice can be a good substitute, though it tastes slightly different.
- This marinade works well with pork chops, beef steak, shrimp, or salmon.
- Toss in cayenne pepper or chili powder for a profound heat and with different flavors.
- Add fresh garlic to the marinade for a more robust, aromatic kick. Garlic lovers will appreciate this!
🥫 Storage and Reheating
- Store the lime cilantro marinade in an air-sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- For extended storage, freeze the marinade in a freezer-safe, airtight container or freezer bag for about 2-3 months.
- Thaw frozen marinade in the refrigerator overnight. For a quicker method, use the microwave defrost setting.
- There is no need for reheating; once the lime cilantro marinade liquifies, toss it with the chicken or other meat.
⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions
Make the marinade ahead and store it in the fridge until ready to use. If desired, you can also coat the chicken with the marinade and then store in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours prior to cooking.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Serve this on a bed of cilantro lime rice or fluffy brown rice. It makes a perfect base, absorbing the marinade flavors beautifully.
Pair with a simple salad or grilled vegetables for a fresh, light side that balances the bold flavors of the chicken.
Serve with warm tortillas or crusty bread to soak up all the delicious juices.
Create burrito bowls by combining the chicken with rice, beans, vegetables, and a scoop of guacamole for a complete meal in one dish.
✔️ More Chicken Recipes You'll Love
- One Pan Honey Garlic Chicken with Veggies - So easy to make, and combines sweet and savory ingredients for the perfect symphony of flavors.
- Cajun Blackened Chicken Cutlets - Bold and spicy flavors take tender chicken and turn it into a fiery, savory dish.
- Easy Skillet Chicken Fajitas - Features a homemade fajita seasoning sprinkled over warm chicken and veggies.
- Baked Breaded Lemon Chicken - Has a bright, lemony flavor and a crispy breadcrumb coating, giving you a super-easy weeknight meal that will have your family clamoring for more.
- Baked Pesto Chicken - Comes together with minimal effort, and there's also plenty of nutrition from the yummy mushrooms and tomato.
Easy Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
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📋 Recipe Card
Lime Cilantro Marinade Chicken
Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs
Instructions
- Make the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, honey (or sugar), cumin, salt, and pepper.½ cup fresh lime juice, ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1 teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken in a large resealable bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure it's well coated. Seal or cover, and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for more flavor.2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs
- Cook the chicken: Preheat your grill, pan, or oven. Remove the chicken from the marinade and cook it until it's thoroughly done (internal temperature of 165°F). The cooking time will vary depending on the method and size of the chicken pieces.
Notes
- Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes to 4 hours. Over-marinating, especially in lime juice, can make the chicken chewy.
- Zest a lime and sprinkle over the chicken for even more lime flavor.
- No time to chop? Use Gourmet Garden partially dried and chopped cilantro, and jarred minced garlic. The flavors will not be as vibrant as if you used fresh ingredients, but sometimes you just need a shortcut to get dinner on the table!
- Massage the marinade into the chicken to help it to penetrate evenly.
- Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes after cooking before slicing or serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in juicier meat.
- Garnish your cilantro lime chicken with additional chopped cilantro, lime wedges, or a sprinkle of chopped green onions for extra flavor and a pretty presentation.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Explore quick, party-friendly, and family-friendly recipes with Suja at PepperBowl.com and MiddayDrinks.com. Join her food journey beyond the blog on Instagram and YouTube!
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