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5 Secrets to 20 Minute Dinners!
Tips, tricks, and recipes for dinner in a hurry!
Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
Zesty, moist, juicy baked chicken with mouthwatering marinade is a 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 bring out the explosive flavors of the chicken.
Serve the chicken with side dishes such as Cilantro Lime Rice, Tequila Lime Shrimp or make taco salad with the chicken.
You can also serve with a simple sauteed broccoli.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken?
To make this easy recipe, first you marinate the chicken for 15 minutes.
Next, pan-fry the chicken in a skillet for a few minutes before baking it for 20 minutes. It’s that easy!
Cilantro Lime Chicken 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.
Cooking 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.
- After baking, spoon the marinade over the chicken to make it extra flavorful and moist.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 404 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
Serve this dish as is or with rice and other side dishes. For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
Cilantro Lime Chicken
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
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- 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.
- 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.
- Spoon the leftover Marinade on top of the chicken before baking. Bake the chicken for 20 minutes.
- Transfer the chicken and the Marinade residual to a serving platter (discard the oil), squirt some fresh lime juice, garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.
Thank you for this recipe. It was easy, quick and really good. I am happy to add this to the rotation. The only thing I did different was add a little seasoning to my chicken as I always do in recipes, even if it doesn’t call for it. I severed it with cilantro lime rice, black beans, flour tortillas and salsa. The next time I think I’ll add more pepper flakes and tiny more lime juice. I can’t wait to make it again!
Hi Kimberly, thanks for trying my cilantro lime chicken recipe.
Thank you for another delicious recipe! Quick question, could I put everything in a ziplock bag and freeze to use another time?
Yes you can for another time.
This recipe was fantastic! We’ve recently traveled to Vietnam and Laos. This dish reminded us of our trip and the fabulous cuisine. I wonder if you could suggest side dishes to compliment the Cilantro Lime Chicken and round out the meal?
I made this on boneless skinless chicken thigh and it was really yummy. Thanks for this recipe!
Thanks Anna for trying my cilantro lime chicken recipe.
We went with no skin too and did 2-3 minutes under the broiler at the end. Served it with Hong Kong style noodles with broccoli and kale — so delicious and we are looking forward to the leftovers!
Thanks for trying my cilantro lime chicken recipe.
Super delicious. I added some jalapeño’s before putting the chicken in the oven and it gives it an awesome spicy flavor.
I enjoy reading all the comments. I just wish more people would comment after they have actually made the dish so that’s what I am going to do. I followed the recipe as stated (I did use a bit more red pepper flakes because my family likes spicy) and let me tell you – this was one of the best chicken recipes I have ever made!!! I did use boneless chicken thighs andt they were also skinless but I don’t think it took away from the flavor at all…they still browned up nicely! Not only is it easy but there is not a long list of ingredients (most of them I already had) and I was able to make this after working all day. My daughter and husband loved this recipe and I am making it again tonight. Thank you for this recipe!! Oh, I served this with a German cucumber salad that was a nice contrast with the spice of the chicken. There were NO leftovers!
Hi Heidi, awww, thanks so much for your wonderful comment. I am humbled that you love my cilantro lime recipe. You should try the chili lime recipe on my site, it’s going to blow you away: https://rasamalaysia.com/chili-lime-chicken/ or check out all the dinner recipes on my website: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Looks delicious!!!! I loveeee cilantro and garlic!! Im like you i prefer skin on thighs due to how flavorful and juicy it is BUT i have leftover breast.Saw this recipe and my chicken is marinating as i type this I am super excited thanks for posting
You will love this cilantro lime chicken recipe.
Ooo. I’m so excited for this one. My husband loves this flavor but I always have to use a packet. He’s gonna love this. Thanks!!
The colour of the chicken is mouth watering and the lime too. Thanks for the fabulous cilantro lime chicken :) I’m too a chef like you. And thanks for the chicken story I’ll definitely try with some white wine.
Your recipe says to marinate for 15 minutes, but is there any harm in marinating longer (like overnight)?
The lime juice might “cook” the cilantro lime chicken if marinated too long. You can marinate for a couple of hours. :)