Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs
by Chungah
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Truly the most AMAZING zesty cilantro-lime marinade ever! The chicken comes out perfectly juicy and so tender.
Featured Comment
why i love this cilantro lime chicken recipe
- Simple, flavor-packed zesty marinade. This easy chicken marinade is made with minimal ingredients, packed with maximum flavor. We’re talking fresh cilantro, olive oil, lime juice (and zest), chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper (most of which are pantry staples). It’s simple, it’s quick, and it yields the most flavorful, zesty, juicy chicken thighs.
- So many purposes. The cilantro lime chicken can be served with Mexican rice or utilized for tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, salads and so much more. There’s just so many different uses to suit the whole family.
- Flexible recipe. Throw these bad boys on a cast iron grill pan or a hot grill (for those of you with warm weather all year long!).
chicken breasts VS. chicken thighs
Chicken breasts (white meat)
Chicken breasts are leaner and lower in calories, maximizing protein.
Chicken thighs (dark meat)
Chicken thighs have a much more higher fat content than breasts, maximizing flavor and moisture. Thighs will also hold up much better during the cooking process (much more forgiving than chicken breasts) without drying out.
tips and tricks for success
- Work in batches. An overcrowded pan can lead to uneven cooking and poor browning. Work in batches to maintain high heat for a good sear and crispy crust on each chicken.
- Use freshly squeezed lime juice. While bottled lime juice can work in a pinch, freshly squeezed is ideal here for its vibrant, stronger flavors.
- Use an instant-read thermometer for the most accurate results. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
- Let your meat rest. Let your chicken rest for at least 5 minutes prior to serving, allowing the juices to redistribute – this will allow for maximum flavor and juiciness.
- Reheat in the oven. Leftover chicken can be rubbery when reheated. For best results with leftovers, reheat in the oven at 350°F, covered in aluminum foil until warmed through.
pro tip
Cast iron grill pan vs. cast iron skillet
A cast iron grill pan is ideal for those favorited distinct grilled marks, essentially simulating outdoor grilling indoors, especially when it’s too cold to grill out. In these instances, you can also use a large cast iron skillet, achieving the same flavor without the grill marks.
what to serve with cilantro lime chicken
Tools For This Recipe
Cast iron grill pan or large cast iron skillet
Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, chicken breasts can absolutely be used here but chicken thighs have more dark meat and a higher fat content which will yield juicier, more flavorful chicken.
Yes! The chicken can be marinated overnight and placed in the fridge.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days, reheating in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine cilantro, 2 tablespoons olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.
- In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine chicken and cilantro mixture; marinate for at least 2 hours to overnight, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken from the marinade.
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a cast iron grill pan over medium high heat.* Working in batches, add chicken to the grill pan in a single layer and cook until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 4-5 minutes per side.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
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Couldn’t agree more…BEST cilantro lime marinade ever! Company worthy (and inbetween)!
Why no garlic?
This turned out so good! The hubby is raving about it. Followed the recipe as is. I will be making this again and again. Thank you for sharing
Can this be made in the instant pot? I hate having oil splattered on my stove and am afraid that I’ll over-cook on the grill.
Could you oven cook these
Made this last night with skinless boneless thighs. Was delicious! A definite keeper. We grilled at 425 for about 15 min.
Served with Basmati rice topped with fresh cilantro & green onions. Also an arugula salad (that needed to be used up.) I mimicked the salad dressing with the chicken marinade … a simple lime, orange & honey concoction.
Highly recommend!
I would give this five stars wonderful dish. It’s great with my kids and my husband loves it too. Very good dish. Five stars I make it as tacos
This is delicious. The marinade is a real star! As much as I love it with the chicken, my favorite way to use this marinade is as the seasoning for red lentil and pumpkin daal! I make a large batch of the marinade and freeze it in suitable amounts, then just add to the daal when it is cooked. Soooo good!
This was absolutely a home run of a recipe. I served up the chicken with some cilantro lime rice and vegetables and everyone loved it, even my littles! Sure we had a mishap of spilt marinade on my refinished floors, but I’m still ready to make this all over again! 100% will be on the monthly rotation.
ALWAYS always always such a hit!!! So amazing!!
My grandchildren wanted steak for dinner but I already had the chicken marinating. So I ran to the store, 4 steaks later I’m home and BBQ the chicken. Hubby BBQ up the steaks while I finish the last touches to the chicken. My husband was the only person that ate a steak that night. My picky eaters tasted that wonder cilantro lime chicken and us 5 other eaters ate my beautiful chicken. The grand children went back for seconds. My daughter took the recipe and now they make it monthly.
For those asking about AIR FRYING!!
This was so good. I marinated for about 6 hours. All I did was put in my air fryer on 400 for 15 min and then I flipped them over for 3- 5 more min. I planned to flip them half way but forgot lol. They were fantastic and so simple. My teenage son really enjoyed them too.
We love this. I’ve been making it once a week for family, but it has become my go to for guests as well. It’s different, easy, foolproof and I’m 99.9% sure everyone will like it. Also, muy economical. Many thanks, Chunguh.
we grilled them on the bbq. They were awesome!
I doubled everything and substituted chipotle chili powder, it looked a little thick so put chicken thighs in a 1 gallon bag, added the marinade and poured in some beer. Cooked the thighs on the smoker with Mesquite wood. So delish
I’ve made this twice, first time I marinated for 3 days and second time only 2 hours. Turned out amazing both times. Hands down one of my new favorite recipes. Can’t wait to try this on the barbecue this summer.
Good grief woman! That was delicious, the whole group said move it into the dinner keeper book. And it just made the annual beach trip menu!
Amazing! My kids love this chicken diced up and made into tacos. I have even baked it in the oven with excellent results. One of my all time favorite recipes. Thank you!
This was delicious. I only have access to fresh cilantro for a few weeks a year, so would like to pre make and freeze the marinade. Would this be possible to then add to chicken and marinate, or would I need to put it all together before freezing, and create a dump bag? Thank you.
I love this recipe. I’ve made it many times. It’s become a family favourite. It’s so delicious.
I made this once already. So, so delicious. We’ll be having this again tonight. Thanks for sharing this recipe!