Cilantro Lime Chicken – Downshiftology

Cilantro lime chicken is one of my signature easy dinners. A handful of simple ingredients pack the chicken thighs with fresh, bright flavor, and after a quick sear, they’re baked until juicy and golden.

A skillet of cilantro lime chicken thighs. — *Photo: Gayle McLeod*

Why You’ll Love This Cilantro Lime Chicken

It’s no secret that I love the vibrant flavors of Mexican food, and this cilantro lime chicken is an all-star Downshiftology recipe—just read the comments! Not only is it really easy to make, but the chicken marinade packs an irresistible punch of flavor with fresh cilantro, zesty lime juice, garlic, bold spices, and a touch of honey. It’s a flavor combination that always hits the spot for an incredible Mexican-inspired dinner. Just don’t forget to serve it with my cilantro lime rice for the ultimate cilantro lime experience! Here’s what else you’ll love about my recipe:

The marinade infuses the meat. Similar to my carne asada or steak fajitas, this recipe benefits from a good marinade time, allowing the meat to soak up all the delicious flavors.
You can serve it in creative ways. I often make a double batch and use the leftovers in tacos, salads, or wraps—meal prep at its finest!

Cilantro Lime Chicken Ingredients

Chicken: You can use either chicken thighs or chicken breasts. But I find that bone-in chicken thighs lock in extra juiciness, and the skin gets all nice and crispy on top.
Fresh Lime. I highly recommend freshly squeezed lime juice over bottled lime juice for the best flavor.
Cilantro: Chopped cilantro leaves add a delicious herbal note and look beautiful as garnish on the serving plate.
Garlic: For the garlic, I love the intensity of fresh garlic in almost any chicken dish, but you can add fewer cloves or substitute 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder per clove if you don’t have fresh on hand.
Cumin: A staple spice in Mexican cuisine, ground cumin imparts that authentic flavor.
Honey: A little honey helps to balance the sourness of the lime in the marinade.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below

How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken

Cilantro lime marinade in a bowl for chicken.

Make the marinade. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients. Alternatively, you could blend them in a food processor.

Chicken thighs marinating in a cilantro lime marinade.

Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken thighs in a glass dish or bowl, pour the marinade over them, and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.

Seared cilantro lime chicken thighs in a skillet.

Sear the chicken. Heat the oil in an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and sear until golden brown.

Baked cilantro lime chicken thighs in a skillet.

Bake the chicken. Transfer the skillet to a preheated oven and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches around 160°F (71°C). Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes—the temperature should rise to 165°F (74°C).

Ways to Serve

Pair with Mexican sides: My Mexican rice, cilantro lime rice, cilantro lime bacon coleslaw, or fajita veggies are great ways to round out your meal.
Add to salads, tacos, and more: I love shredding or chopping the chicken to add to my Southwest chicken salad, chicken and black bean wrap, or taco soup.
For a Mexican fiesta: Whether it’s for Cinco de Mayo or a dinner party, include this recipe along with chicken fajitas, carnitas, birria, barbacoa, and more! Then, wash them down with a classic margarita or mango margarita.

Storage Tips

To store: Store leftover chicken in the fridge in a sealed container for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to three months.
To reheat: Microwave the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes. If you want to crisp up the skin, place the chicken under a broiler for a couple of minutes. Just watch it carefully to make sure it doesn’t burn.

More Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes

If you make this cilantro lime chicken recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.

Description

This cilantro lime chicken is incredibly juicy, bursting with bright flavors, and an easy weeknight dinner everyone will love. Watch the video below to see how I make this in my kitchen!

Make the marinade. In a mixing bowl, whisk together two tablespoons of olive oil, lime juice and zest, cumin, chili powder, minced garlic, honey, salt, pepper, and chopped cilantro. You can also pulse in a food processor until it’s combined.
Marinate the chicken. Combine the marinade and chicken thighs in a bowl or shallow dish. Marinate chicken for 30 minutes to an hour in the fridge. When the chicken is done marinating, take it out of the fridge and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature.
Sear the chicken. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Heat the remaining one tablespoon of olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes with the skin side down, until they’re golden brown. Then, flip the chicken and sear the other side for 2 to 3 minutes. The chicken will not be fully cooked at this point.
Bake the chicken. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake the chicken thighs for 15 to 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C).
Garnish and serve. Remove the chicken from the oven, let it rest for 5 minutes, and garnish with extra lime slices and cilantro leaves before serving.

Storage tip: Leftovers will stay fresh in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
I always recommend using a meat thermometer since most ovens vary as much as 50 degrees in temperature.
Experiment with different chili powders in this recipe (and always feel free to add a little more!). Grocery stores are now carrying different varieties of chili powder like guajillo or chipotle.

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This recipe was originally posted August 2020, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!