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
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @damn_delicious on Instagram and hashtag it #damndelicious!
Made exactly as stated with ingredients, and I marinated for 4 hours. I did however change the cooking method as I couldn’t grill and I don’t have a grill pan. So I just browned them on one side in my cast iron pan with the olive oil, flipped over, and finished in a 375 oven for about 20-25 min. Delish! My husband said this might be his favorite chicken. Served over brown rice with roasted garlic broccoli. Yum! Thanks!
This was the comment I was looking for, I don’t have a grill! Thank you!
So so GOOD and So so EASY. I marinated for only 2.5 hours. I bet it will be even better longer. I browned on stove top first then 30 mins in the 400 degree oven as suggested in the comments. “good seasoning”, says daughter. “I want another one” says husband.
Definitely a keeper. Thanks for another great recipe.
Very easy, very tasty. I used red pepper instead of black pepper for an extra kick.
The best cilantro lime chicken recipe I tried!!!
We have made this twice now and it is great! Both my kids love it too!
This is amazing! Trying to get my elderly father into eating healthier.. (he was adamant that chicken have skin in order to he grilled and taste good!) Marinated boneless skinless chicken thighs in this overnight and grilled them for lunch today. He was so impressed! I give this 4 thumbs up… 2 from me and 2 from my father!!
This marinade is to DIE FOR. I’m not a huge fan of chicken thighs so I used chicken breasts instead. I meant to only marinate for 1 day but things got busy so I think it ended up being 2-3 days in the fridge. I don’t have a cast iron skillet so I used the air frier and they were amazing! This marinade is sooooo flavorful, I’m obsessed. Next time Im going to use it to make a chicken bowl for meal prep. I can’t recommend enough!
You’ve never let me down but this is a new favorite. It was so good that I made it twice in one week! The second time I added garlic and cooked the chicken a bit longer to get a nice char.
Damn delicious, indeed!
This is a tasty recipe just as it is. Since making it twice, I have used it as the base for several improvisations. Thanks for recipe
I’ve made this on the stove and on the grill. SO GOOD.
Omg this is absolutely my go to recipe fo marinating chicken !!
OMG this is so……..wonderful. I could not cook out because of the weather THUNDERSTORMS so I had to do this inside. I followed your recipe to a T, but cooked them in a frying pan to brown the chicken, the put them on a rack in a baking pan and baked them at 400 for 30 minutes. I used breasts because that is what I had. My sons went crazy over this recipe. I was told by them this was definitely a keeper. Thank you so much for this recipe and all the recipes that you post. Waving at you from Charlotte NC
Substituted cilantro with parsley. It was an amazing dish. One of the best chicken dishes I’ve ever tasted. But wait until “real summer.” Needs to be grilled/charred!!! Served with rice with sautéed onions mixed in. It was ridiculous!!!
Hi, Chungha
Made this for dinner tonite for Mom and me. It was really nice — chicken thighs were very tender. I marinated 3 chicken thighs for about 3 hours and massaged the ziploc bag about every 45 min. I used parsley since Mom doesn’t care for cilantro. Next time, I’ll increase the lime juice and zest. Thank you for sharing your recipe. Will check out your other creations soon. Lisa in Indianapolis
That looks and sounds delicious! I will have to try that.
I’m marinating the chicken now. Has anyone used the air fryer to cook this? If so, what temperature and cook for how long? I’m using bone-in chicken thighs.
Excellent! I’ve made it again tonight to cook tomorrow after a long day. Everything is so tender and flavorful. And they cook so quickly! This has quickly become a household favorite.
Made this for my wife and stepdaughter yesterday and they absolutely loved it! And they are tough customers! Sorry I don’t have pictures but I don’t really think of doing it at the time! I sliced up the meat and made them into chicken tacos. We made rice and Mexican street corn too. Delicioso! ☺️
Absolutely fantastic, this is now one of my go to recipes.
So GOOD!!!! But was thinking about doing in the air fryer. thoughts on that?