How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken?
Zesty, moist, juicy baked chicken with mouthwatering marinade is 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 are the main ingredients that bring out the explosive flavors of the chicken.
To make this easy recipe, first you marinate the chicken for 15 minutes, then pan-fry in a skillet for a few minutes before baking it for 20 minutes. It’s that easy!
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The Ingredients for the 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.
What Dishes to Serve with this Recipe?
For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
How Many Calories Per Serving?
This recipe is only 404 calories per serving.
Pairs well with:
Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
Cilantro Lime Chicken - juicy Mexican-inspired chicken marinated with cilantro, lime juice and garlic. You can pan-fry, bake or grill the chicken with this easy recipe!
Ingredients
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 375F.
-
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
Transfer the skillet into oven and bake for 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken and the Marinade residual (after baking) to a serving platter (discard the oil), squirt some fresh lime juice and garnish with cilantro, serve immediately.
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.
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Lisa L
I have made this chicken so many times over the past year and decided it’s finally time to say thank you! It’s so quick and easy. My family always enjoys it so thank you Rasa Masala for this delicious recipe!
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Lisa, thanks for trying my cilantro lime chicken recipe. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Lisa L
Sorry darn auto correct! Rasa Malaysia I mean!!!
Gianna Licata
Also excellent if cooked on the grill.
Rasa Malaysia
Yes I agree! :)
CDHPL
I like chicken so much thanks for sharing this
Chrissie Baker
This is perfect for those summer nights! Thanks for the post and the idea!
Lori
Have made this for dinner twice now. Absolutely love it!! I made with boneless skinless chicken breasts and just cut down cooking time. Also, I love lime so I take half a lime and squeeze a little juice over each bite. This is so delish!!
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Lori, sounds very yummy. I am glad you love this cilantro lime chicken recipe.
Alanethompson
Can I make this only on a skillet???
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, you can!!
Maria
Made this last night using skinless chicken breast and cooked on the grill. Spectacular! Moist, flavorful, just the right amount of heat from the chili flakes.
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Maria, thanks for trying my cilantro lime chicken.
Stacey
Hi! Could you cook this in the slow cooker?
Tim S
Recipe may have been here a little while, but wanted to comment on it because it’s so dang good. I set up the marinade per the recipe and let it marinate an hour. I then sous vide it at 145 for 2 hrs, letting it cook in all those delicious juices, and drop it on a searing hot cast iron skillet to brown.
I can eat it just like this, but the flavor of this chicken is perfect for fajitas.