Cilantro Lime Chicken

Cilantro Lime Chicken is one of our go to chicken recipes for meal prep or an easy weeknight dinner. It's perfect for grilling or searing in a cast iron skillet.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword cilantro lime chicken, cilantro lime chicken breast

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Marinating time 1

Servings

Calories 112kcal

Author Courtney

Ingredients

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
2 limes juiced
3 tablespoons avocado oil divided
1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped, plus more for garnish
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Prepare the chicken by pounding it thin. Alternatively, you can slice the chicken breasts into thinner slices for quicker cooking.
In a mixing container, combine 2 tablespoons of avocado oil, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, kosher salt, and black pepper to create the marinade.
Add the chicken to the container, ensuring each piece is well-coated with the marinade. Let the chicken marinate for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
After marinating, remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of avocado oil.
Cook the chicken in the skillet for 5-8 minutes on each side, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
Once cooked, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring it's moist and flavorful.
Squeeze fresh lime juice over the sliced chicken and garnish with additional chopped cilantro, if desired.

Notes

Ensure all ingredients are prepared before marinating the chicken to streamline the cooking process.
Letting the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking is crucial for retaining its juiciness.
Cook time will depend on how large your chicken breasts are but you can pound them or thinly slice them to decrease the cook time.
You can also do this with chicken thighs, but will need to adjust the cooking time.

Nutrition