Cilantro Lime Chicken

By Becky Hardin

Published Feb 23, 2023

This easy recipe for Cilantro Lime Chicken uses fresh lime juice, a blend of spices, fresh cilantro, and juicy chicken breasts to make a delicious and simple meal with tons of flavor! The acidic marinade from the lime juice acts as a natural tenderizer. This low carb recipe is the perfect basic chicken dish to pair alongside rice, salad, beans, and more.

a partially sliced cilantro lime chicken breast surrounded by more chicken breasts and lime wedges on a white plate. - 6

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What’s in this Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

Cilantro lime chicken is a simple recipe with only a handful of ingredients. Here’s a rundown:

Olive Oil: Olive oil forms the base of our marinade, allowing it to coat the chicken breasts and infuse them with flavor. In place of olive oil, you could also use vegetable or canola oil for a more neutral flavor.
Lime Juice: The acid in lime juice helps to tenderize the chicken and adds a delicious, fresh flavor. In a pinch, you could use lemon juice, but I don’t recommend using bottled lime or lemon juice because it lacks that zingy flavor.
Cilantro: Cilantro is what gives this marinade most of its flavor and beautiful color. It’s fresh and herbaceous! You can swap it for parsley if you prefer.
Spices : Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper help amp up the flavor in this marinade. To save some time, you could swap these spices for a pre-made spice blend, such as taco seasoning or chili seasoning !
Chicken: I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you could also use boneless, skinless or bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs if you prefer. Chicken thighs, with or without the bone, will take longer to cook than breasts.

Pro Tip: If you like a sweeter marinade, feel free to add a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup!

Variations on the Cilantro Lime Marinade

This recipe is a jumping-off point for custom citrus-and-herb chicken marinades ! Try swapping the lime juice for orange or lemon juice, and swap out the cilantro for fresh rosemary or thyme. The possibilities are endless!

overhead view of 4 cilantro lime chicken breasts surrounded by lime wedges on a white plate. - 7

Marinating chicken in acidic ingredients such as lime juice helps to tenderize the meat as well as adds a fresh, zesty flavor!

You can marinate this chicken in lime juice for as little as 30 minutes or up to overnight!

I do not recommend using bottled lime juice in marinades, as it is not as punchy as fresh and will give a lackluster flavor.

This chicken goes great with so many different veggies, like broccoli , corn , or even cauliflower mash !

Absolutely! Marinate the chicken as per the instructions, then cook on the grill until well browned and cooked through to 165°F.

close up of 3 cilantro lime chicken breasts surrounded by lime wedges on a white plate. - 8

How to Store and Reheat Cilantro Lime Chicken Breast

Store leftover cilantro lime chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes, until warmed through.

How to Freeze Lime and Cilantro Chicken

Freeze chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken

The simple bold flavors in this great recipe allow it to pair well with several different side dishes and sauces. It’s great simply served with cauliflower rice, brown rice, white rice , or quinoa and refried beans . Or try it with Mexican corn salad , salsa , tomatillo avocado salsa , or Mexican street corn .

close up of a partially sliced cilantro lime chicken breast surrounded by more chicken breasts and lime wedges on a white plate. - 9

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe .

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
▢ ¼ cup lime juice from 2 limes
▢ ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
▢ 1 teaspoon chili powder
▢ ½ teaspoon ground cumin
▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
▢ 1 teaspoons kosher salt
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
▢ 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Instructions

Whisk the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, and seasonings together in a bowl. 2 tablespoons olive oil, ¼ cup lime juice, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoons kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Place the chicken in a greased baking dish. 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Pour the marinade over the chicken. Cover the dish, and let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes or as long as overnight.
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Bake the chicken for 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.

Equipment

9×13 Baking Pan

Becky’s Tips

Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes.
I do not recommend using bottled lime juice, as it has a less fresh flavor.
For a sweeter marinade, add 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup!
Fully cooked chicken should be 165°F internally.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Cilantro Lime Recipes We Love

Cilantro Lime Rice
Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Salmon
One Pot Cilantro Lime Shrimp Scampi
Grilled Flank Steak with Cilantro Lime Butter
BLT with Cilantro Lime Mayo

partial overhead view of 4 cilantro lime chicken breasts surrounded by lime wedges on a white plate. - 10

Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

Equipment

9x13 Baking Pan

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup lime juice from 2 limes
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Instructions

Whisk the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, and seasonings together in a bowl. 2 tablespoons olive oil, ¼ cup lime juice, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoons kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Place the chicken in a greased baking dish. 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Pour the marinade over the chicken. Cover the dish, and let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes or as long as overnight.
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Bake the chicken for 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.

Notes

Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes.
I do not recommend using bottled lime juice, as it has a less fresh flavor.
For a sweeter marinade, add 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup!
Fully cooked chicken should be 165°F internally.

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

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Essential Grocery List

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What to Buy at the Grocery Store

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