

The Best Grilled Chicken
This chili lime grilled chicken is absolutely delicious, juicy, and flavorful. It hits all the right notes: citrusy, aromatic, with a pleasant nuance of the cilantro and garlic.

How to Make Chili Lime Grilled Chicken Recipe
For the chicken, the original recipe calls for chicken breast but I opted for chicken thighs with the skin and bone.
I remove the bones prior to marinating the chicken and still keep the skin. The end result is crispy skin, and tender, juicy chicken meat.
I love the combination of chili, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice in the marinade. They pair so well with the chicken, with a tint of spiciness from the chili.

Ingredients for Grilled Chicken Marinade
- Lime juice and zest
- Olive oil
- Cilantro
- Jalapeno
- Garlic
- Honey
- Chili powder

Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Grill the Perfect Chicken Breast?
Keep at medium heat covered for about 5-7 minutes, then flip it over. Grill for another 5-7 minutes, or until the thermometer reads 165°.
Is It Healthy to Eat Grilled Chicken?
Yes, chicken is high in protein and also low in calories. It is very useful in diets working to shed body fat.
Does This Recipe Have to Be Grilled?
No. You can make it anytime with a cast-iron grill pan or regular skillet, or bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes at 400F. The end result is always amazing.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 425 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
For a wholesome meal and easy BBQ party, I recommend the following recipes.
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Chili Lime Grilled Chicken

Chili lime chicken - moist and delicious chicken marinated with chili and lime and grill to perfection. Easy recipe that takes 30 mins!
Ingredients
- 2 - 2 1/2 lbs. (1 kg-1.3 kg) skin on chicken thighs
Marinade:
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
- 3 teaspoons fresh lime zest
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped finely
- 2 jalapeño, chopped finely
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped finely
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder or to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken thighs, remove the bones, leave the skin on, and pat dry with paper towels. Set aside.
- Get a big bowl, mixing all the ingredients of the Marinade together using a whisk. Make sure the Marinade is well combined together.
- Add chicken to the Marinade, make sure to stir and coat the chicken evenly. Marinate for 2 hours.
- Fire up the grill, brush a little bit of oil on the surface. Add a little bit of the garlic, cilantro, and jalapeno from the Marinade on top of the chicken and grill them until they turn golden brown and charred on both sides. Serve immediately.
Notes
Watch the cooking video on this page for step-by-step guide.
You can make this chili lime chicken with a cast-iron grill pan or regular skillet, or bake in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400F and bake it for about 20-25 minutes or until the skin becomes brown and charred. You can also use skinless and boneless chicken thighs or breasts.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 425Total Fat 30gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 22gCholesterol 194mgSodium 982mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 1gSugar 4gProtein 36g
Linda T
This looks amazing. I want to try this but no one in my household likes cilantro. Can you recommend a substitute? Would fresh parsley work?
Vanessa
Can I marinate overnight..?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes.
Dee
Hi Kelly…does the recipe ingredients need to be doubled up or that is a print error?
Olivia
We absolutely love this chicken recipe (made with chicken breast) I have made it a few times. Did I mention my husband is a picky eater? Last time instead of honey I subbed it with maple syrup so my toddler could enjoy it and I double the chilli powder !! It’s awesome. Going to try it with chicken thigh tonight ! It’s not spicy whatsoever it’s just packed with flavour !
Admin
Thanks for your support.
Chris Williams
Did this recipe tonight in the oven. Was AMAZING!!! I then shredded the chicken and we did chicken tacos. My wife went back for seconds AND thirds!
Definitely a keeper!
Rasa Malaysia
Awesome!
Helen Leong
Hi, did you grill the chicken in the oven or bake? When she mentioned grill does that mean oven grill or on the pan?
Smits
Tossing chicken over a mixed green salad with corn, black beans, avocado, pepper jack cheese, and pico de Gallo with an avocado ranch dressing.
Janet Oswald
I made this delicious dish, Chili Lime Chicken for my family tonight. It was absolutely perfect! I followed the recipe & will add it to my recipes my family loves. And did I mention easy & quick? Perfect for busy people today. I want my children to have recipes that are fast, easy on the budget & delicious!
Admin
Thanks for trying my recipe!
Stacia
Am I seeing double or are some of the ingredients listed twice? I’m confused.
GK
Same thing happened to me
Mary Tognazzini
ME TO.