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Dinner just got delicious with this cilantro lime chicken. So quick and easy to make, it’s perfect for a flavorful weeknight meal. Serve with my avocado salsa for one tasty dinner!

cilantro lime chicken on a plate

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If you are looking for an easy way to add flavor to your weeknight meals, I’ve got you covered with this cilantro lime chicken.

It’s so fresh and zingy and super simple to make. This marinade is Mexican-inspired and is delicious when served with my avocado salsa.

Be sure to try my White Chicken Chili and Baked Chicken Fajitas too!

Why you will love this Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe!

  • Quick and easy: This cilantro lime chicken dish is ready to serve in less than 30 minutes total time, so is a great option for easy weeknight meals.
  • Healthy: Chicken is low in fat, carbohydrates, saturated fat, cholesterol, calories, and it’s high in protein and the marinade is made with natural ingredients. This is a dinner you can feel good about!
  • Great for meal prep: This is a great chicken recipe that’s perfect for meal prep. Cook it ahead of time and add it to your favorite salads.
close up image of cilantro lime marinated chicken with avocado salsa

Ingredients

  • Chicken: Use skinless and boneless chicken breasts for this recipe. Cut them in half so that they cook quickly.
  • Cilantro Lime Marinade for chicken: Fresh cilantro, cloves garlic, fresh lime juice and zest, salt, pepper, half teaspoon ground cumin, and olive oil. If you like a little spicy kick, you can add some red pepper flakes.
  • To serve: This cilantro lime chicken recipe is great topped with some of my fresh and delicious avocado salsa!
ingredients for cilantro lime chicken

How to make cilantro lime chicken

  • In a medium bowl, stir together the cilantro, garlic, lime zest, lime juice, salt, cumin, and olive oil. Season with black pepper, to taste. Add chicken to the cilantro lime marinade and let stand at room temperature while you prepare the salsa, no more than 15 minutes.
  • Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat and cook chicken for 10-12 minutes (about 4-5 minutes per each side) or until cooked through. Transfer cooked chicken to a platter and serve with avocado salsa.
process images of cilantro lime chicken

What’s the best cut of chicken to use?

I made this with boneless skinless chicken breast, but you can easily make it with boneless or bone-in chicken thighs or chicken tenders. If using chicken thighs, be aware that the cooking time will need to be increased by a few minutes to fully cook them through.

How long does the chicken need to marinate?

Because this chicken marinade contains lime juice, you don’t want to marinate it for more than 30 minutes as the acid can start to break down the chicken proteins and make it tough to eat. In fact, 15 minutes will be plenty of time, so you don’t have to plan this chicken too far ahead.

cilantro lime chicken topped with avocado salsa

What do you serve cilantro lime chicken with?

As well as serving this chicken with my avocado salsa and tortilla chips, this is great to serve with cauliflower rice, Spanish rice, or regular rice. I also like to cook a little extra and then use it cold, sliced onto salads for lunch, in burrito bowls with black beans, corn, and cilantro lime rice, or in sandwiches, tacos, or wraps.

TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • Don’t marinate the chicken in the cilantro lime marinade for more than 30 minutes.
  • If you don’t like the flavor of cilantro, you can make this recipe with fresh parsley instead.
  • The cooked cilantro lime marinated chicken will keep well for up to 4 days covered in the fridge.
  • You can also grill the cilantro lime chicken breasts instead of cooking them on the cooktop.

More Chicken Recipes

If you like this recipe for cilantro and lime chicken, be sure to check out my other recipes:

cilantro lime chicken on a plate
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Cilantro Lime Chicken

Calories565
Protein:49
Carbs:11
Fat:35
Dinner just got delicious with this cilantro lime chicken. So quick and easy to make, it's perfect for flavorful weeknight meal. Serve with my avocado salsa for one tasty dinner!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Save This Recipe

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Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • In a medium bowl, stir together the cilantro, garlic, lime zest, lime juice, salt, cumin, and olive oil. Season with black pepper, to taste. Add chicken to the marinade and let stand at room temperature while you prepare the salsa, no more than 15 minutes.
  • Heat olive oil over medium high heat and cook chicken for 10-12 minutes (about 4-5 minutes per each side) or until cooked through. Transfer cooked chicken to a platter and serve with salsa.

Video

Notes

  • Don’t marinate the chicken for more than 30 minutes.
  • If you don’t like the flavor of cilantro, you can make this recipe with fresh parsley instead.
  • The cooked chicken will keep well for up to 4 days covered in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 565kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 2822mg | Potassium: 1132mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 925IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg
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About Neli Howard

Meet Neli Howard, a food blogger and recipe developer on a mission to make healthy eating delicious! With a knack for creating mouthwatering recipes using real food ingredients, Neli's all about making nutritious meals that the whole family will love. Her easy-to-follow recipes turn healthy cooking into a joyful experience, proving that eating well doesn't have to be bland or boring.

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