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.

Shrimp Kebab

Garlic Butter Mushroom Kebab

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Asian BBQ Wings

Yield: 6 people

Chili Lime Grilled Chicken

Print

Chili lime chicken - moist and delicious chicken marinated with chili and lime and grill to perfection. Easy recipe that takes 30 mins! 

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

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
• 3 teaspoons fresh lime zest
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped finely
• 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped finely
• 2 jalapeño, chopped finely
• 2 jalapeño, chopped finely
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped finely
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped finely
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder or to taste
• 1 teaspoon chili powder or to taste

Instructions

1. Rinse the chicken thighs, remove the bones, leave the skin on, and pat dry with paper towels. Set aside.
2. Get a big bowl, mixing all the ingredients of the Marinade together using a whisk. Make sure the Marinade is well combined together.
3. Add chicken to the Marinade, make sure to stir and coat the chicken evenly. Marinate for 2 hours.
4. 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

6

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 425Total Fat 30gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 22gCholesterol 194mgSodium 982mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 1gSugar 4gProtein 36g