Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken Breasts

Looking for a simple but delicious marinade that’s perfect for the grill or the skillet? My cilantro lime chicken is one of my favorite grilling recipes, but also cooks up beautiful in a pan during the winter months.

 

Why this recipe works

Only 5 ingredients makes this a really easy and affordable recipe. I always have limes and garlic in the fridge, so I usually only have to pick up cilantro.Thi

My cilantro lime chicken is versatile too. It’s wonderful as chicken tacos, sliced up in a salad, or even on a homemade hamburger bun!

Ingredients you will need

I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but chicken thighs work great with this marinade as well.

How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. Please scroll down to simply print out the recipe!

1. Poke several holes in the chicken breasts with the tip of a knife. Place chicken breasts in a glass casserole dish.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, zest, salt, pepper, garlic, and cilantro.

3. Pour marinade over the chicken, turning to coat each breast. 

4. Marinate covered, in the refrigerator for about 2 to 4 hours.

5. Remove chicken from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before cooking. Grill over medium heat for several minutes, turn and grill several more, enough to get nice grill marks. Turn heat down to low and cover, turning occasionally, until meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 F.

6. Let rest on a cutting board tented with aluminum foil for ten minutes before slicing. Serve with Grilled Corn on the Cob.

Expert Tips & FAQs

• Dry off the marinated meat before you put it onto the grill. Remove the meat from the marinade, let it drip, then place on paper towels and pat dry. Placing meat with wet marinade on it onto the grill can cause scorching and burning.
• To cook in the skillet instead of on the grill, follow all the instructions for preparing the chicken. When it’s time to cook, add some olive oil to a skillet and let it get hot (but not smoking) over medium high heat. Brown the chicken on both sides, then reduce heat to low and partially cover. Allow to cook until internal temperature reaches 165 F.

We make this cilantro lime grilled chicken throughout the summer, it’s that good!

More Great Grill Recipes

Before you grill anything, be sure to properly clean your gas grill.

• Grilled Shrimp
• Grilled Salmon
• Grilled Chicken in Garlic Marinade
• Grilled Pork Chops in Lemon Herb Marinade
• Marinated Grilled Chicken Skewers
• Cedar Plank Salmon

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Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken

Only 5 ingredients makes this a really easy and affordable recipe. You probably have limes and garlic in the fridge, so you'll just need to pick up cilantro!

5 from 3 votes

IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 servings

2 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

Calories: 254

Author: Amanda Davis

Ingredients

• ▢ 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• ▢ ¼ cup olive oil
• ▢ 2 tablespoons lime juice from one lime
• ▢ 1 teaspoon lime zest from one lime
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic finely minced
• ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Things You’ll Need

• ▢
  2-quart casserole
• ▢
  Mixing bowls
• ▢
  Meat thermometer
• ▢
  Measuring cups and spoons

Before You Begin

• Dry off the marinated meat before you put it onto the grill. Remove the meat from the marinade, let it drip, then place on paper towels and pat dry. Placing meat with wet marinade on it onto the grill can cause scorching and burning.
• To cook in the skillet instead of on the grill, follow all the instructions for preparing the chicken. When it’s time to cook, add some olive oil to a skillet and let it get hot (but not smoking) over medium high heat. Brown the chicken on both sides, then reduce heat to low and partially cover. Allow to cook until internal temperature reaches 165 F.

Instructions

• Poke several holes in the chicken breasts with the tip of a knife. Place chicken breasts in a glass casserole dish.
  
• Combine the oil, lime juice, zest, salt, pepper, garlic, and cilantro and cover the chicken, turning to coat.
  
• Marinate covered, in the refrigerator for about 2 to 4 hours. Remove chicken from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before cooking.
  
• Grill over medium heat for several minutes, turn and grill several more, enough to get nice grill marks. Turn heat down to low and cover, turning occasionally, until meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 F.
  

Nutrition

Serving: 1breast | Calories: 254cal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 423mg | Potassium: 427mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 101IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

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This post originally appeared here on May 14, 2012 and has since been updated with new photos and expert tips.