# Lime Chicken Cilantro Recipe

Cilantro Lime Chicken (skillet or grilled) is seeping with flavor and is a meal in itself or instantly transforms salads, tacos, burritos, wraps, etc into the most epic meal EVER!

- Servings: 4 servings
- Total time: 20 min
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Category: Drink
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts pounded to an even thickness
- 1 cup loosely packed cilantro, leaves and stems
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp pepper
- 0.5 tsp sugar
- 0.5 tsp coriander
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper

## Instructions

1. Add all marinade ingredients to your food processor.
2. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping down sides several times.
3. Remove and reserve 2 tablespoons of marinade for basting (if making salad, use 1 tablespoon for basting and 1 tablespoon for dressing).
4. Add the remaining marinade to a shallow dish or large freezer bag.
5. Add chicken and turn to coat.
6. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2-10 hours.
7. When ready to cook, remove chicken from the fridge and let sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
8. SKILLET DIRECTIONS: Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat.
9. Once very hot, drain chicken from marinade, pat off excess and add to skillet.
10. Cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes, or until nicely browned on one side.
11. Turn chicken over, cover, and reduce heat to medium.
12. Cook for approximately 4-6 more minutes (depending on thickness of chicken), or until chicken is cooked through.
13. Remove chicken to a cutting board and baste with reserved 2 tablespoons of marinade.
14. Garnish with additional lime juice to taste if desired.
15. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
16. GRILL DIRECTIONS: Grease and preheat the grill to medium heat, 375-450°F.
17. Drain chicken from marinade, pat off excess and add to grill.
18. Grill chicken undisturbed for 5-7 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through (An inserted thermometer should read 165 degrees F).
19. Remove chicken to a cutting board and baste with reserved 2 tablespoons of marinade.
20. Garnish with additional lime juice to taste if desired.
21. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

## Equipment

- food processor
- shallow dish
- large freezer bag
- cutting board
- large non-stick skillet
- grill pan
- grill

## Tips

- Use boneless chicken breasts or boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Use one cup loosely packed cilantro, including both the leaves and stems. No need to chop before adding to the food processor.
- Use quality extra virgin olive oil.
- Please use fresh lime juice for this recipe. You can freeze extra lime and lemon juice by the 1 tablespoon ice cubes so it is always handy.
- Peel four garlic cloves before adding to the food processor. You may use more or less as desired.
- If you do not have coriander stocked, it’s okay to skip it.
- You can use different cuts of chicken, but cooking time will slightly vary. Remove skin for bone-in thighs or breast.
- Swap cilantro for parsley and lime juice for lemon juice, and add other herbs such as fresh basil, dill, and tarragon for a variation.
- Make the Cilantro Lime Chicken spicy by adding additional cayenne pepper.
- Make chicken kabobs by threading chicken onto skewers. You can also add vegetables and/or pineapple.
- Use your favorite spice mix such as Old Bay Seasoning, Cajun Seasonings or Taco Seasoning for different flavor profiles.
- Marinating time of 2 to 10 hours for bigger flavor.
- Store cooked lime chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw before enjoying or reheating.
- Lime juice adds flavor, tenderizes, and increases moisture retention in chicken.
- To keep chicken breast moist in the oven: do not overcook (bake to 160°F internal temperature), bake at a higher temperature (425°F/220°C), and allow chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes after removing from oven.
- Do not marinate chicken in lime juice for too long (up to 10 hours is a general guideline) as it can negatively affect flavor and texture due to the citric acid breaking down proteins or

## Source

- Original video: https://carlsbadcravings.com/cilantro-lime-chicken/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/186ab47e-5416-4bdc-92ee-b5f24d10def6
- Extracted: 2026-05-07

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt