This quick and easy Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe is perfectly seared on the outside and bursting with juices and flavor from the marinade on the inside.
The chicken can be grilled, cooked in a skillet on the stovetop, or even baked, making it the perfect weeknight meal. It’s also packed with enough flavor to impress your dinner guests.
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Why You’ll Love Cilantro Lime Chicken
This Mexican-inspired chicken is the perfect recipe for summer cookouts. The cilantro lime chicken marinade has simple ingredients and takes under 5 minutes to prepare. You can cook this on the grill, on the stovetop, or even in the oven (instructions below).
When the weather starts warming up, grilling is one of our favorite ways to cook chicken breast or thighs because it seals in all of the juices and flavor, just like Grilled Steak or Grilled Pork Tenderloin.
The combination of zesty lime, cilantro, garlic, and a little honey is a clear winner, so it’s going to win your family over and get rave reviews.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Combine the ingredients for the marinade.
- Pour marinade over the chicken and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. Grill, Saute, or Bake the chicken (instructions below). Then, once cooked, serve the chicken with lime wedges and more cilantro to garnish.
Pro Tip:
The marinade is so delicious, we like to brush some over the chicken as it’s being grilled.
How to Cook Cilantro Lime Chicken
Once the Cilantro Lime Chicken is marinated, you can grill, saute, or bake in the oven. No matter what method you choose, this recipe makes the juiciest chicken!
GRILLED Cilantro Lime Chicken
Heat the grill to medium. Place the marinated chicken onto the grates, cover, and grill for 4-5 minutes on each side or until cooked to 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.
SKILLET Cilantro Lime Chicken
If you prefer to cook on the stovetop, heat a large skillet or grill pan to medium heat. Coat with 1 Tbsp of oil and then place marinated chicken in the pan in a single layer. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until 165°F. If the chicken is browning too quickly, cover the pan with a lid after you flip it to the second side.
BAKED Cilantro Lime Chicken
It’s easy to bake the chicken following the instructions from our Baked Chicken Breast recipe. Simply bake on a sheet pan or dish for 20 minutes at 400°F or until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs?
Yes, chicken thighs will work just as great in this recipe. Grill the chicken like in our Chimichurri Chicken recipe until the thickest part of the meat has an internal reading of at least 165°F. They taste even better when they reach 175˚F. Chicken thighs are more forgiving since they aren’t as lean as chicken breast meat.
What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken?
This classic recipe can easily be served with your favorite Mexican-inspired sides. We love to serve the chicken with white rice or our quick instant pot mashed potatoes. This cilantro lime chicken pairs well with:
Make-Ahead
Due to the amount of lime in the marinade, we don’t recommend marinating for more than 2 hours.
- To Refrigerate: Once cooled, store any leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Store cooled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Thaw in the fridge overnight. Then reheat in the microwave, in a skillet, or in the oven. You can also eat it cold within one day of defrosting.
Once you try the cilantro lime chicken recipe, it will become a regular on your grilling menu. I love that it is enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
More Summer Grilling Recipes
We love cooking outdoors in summer because everything seems to taste and smell better on the grill; chicken, beef, seafood, veggies – you name it! If you love firing up the grill in summer, you will love these grilling recipes.
- Grilled Salmon
- Juicy BBQ Chicken Breast
- Honey Garlic Shrimp
- Grilled Corn in Foil
- Grilled Pork Chops
- Perfect Hamburger
- Carne Asada
Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken
- In a bowl, combine oil, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, salt, pepper, paprika, and honey for the marinade.
- Add the chicken to the mixture and allow to marinate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours then cook the chicken either on the grill, in a skillet, or bake it in the oven (see instructions below). Once it's cooked, serve with lime wedges and garnish with more cilantro if desired.
How to Grill Chicken
- Preheat the grill to medium heat. Cover and grill the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, or until cooked through*.
To Cook Chicken in a Skillet
- Set a large non-stick, non-reactive skillet or grill pan over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp oil and sautee chicken in a single layer for 4-5 minutes per side until browned and cooked through*, depending on the thickness of your chicken. If your chicken is very thick, cover the chicken with a lid after you flip it.
How to Bake Chicken
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the chicken breast on a lined baking sheet or large casserole dish. Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes or until cooked through.
Notes
*Chicken breast should be cooked until it reaches 165˚F at the thickest part on an instant-read thermometer.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Great recipe. We use on the BBQ and cut the chicken into pieces and when marinated put onto skewers with some chorizo and wow !
Thank you! So glad you love this recipe!
Hi Natasha, I’ve been following you for years, your recipes are fantastic! Now I want to make again this recipe of Cilantro Lime Chicken, my question is if can I use drumsticks, I have lots in my freezer because my husband love them. Blessings for you and your family!!!
Hi Cristina, I haven’t tried this with drumsticks to advise, but that may work. You may need adjust the bake time a bit to bake it longer. I hope you love it. Blessings to you!
Can I air fry these chicken breasts after marinating them? If yes, at what temperature and for how long? Thank you!
Hi Kajal, several of my readers mentioned they successfully made it in an air fryer. I recommend looking through the recipe comments for particulars as I haven’t tried it in an air fryer myself to advise.
I am rating this a 5, without tasting it…YET! I’ve taken the liberty to add some diced fresh jalapeño and used hot honey instead. It’s currently marinating and I cannot wait to have it for dinner!
This is a fabulous chicken recipe. I prepared it exactly as directed. I pounded my boneless skinless breasts to flatten a bit and after marinating, threw them on the grill. Yum. Yum. Yum. I served it with a sweet black bean and corn salad and tortilla chips. Big hit with the whole family. Thank you!
Just made this recipe tonight for 1st time and along with 2 other meats grilled, it was by far the winner! Very flavorful and pairs well with anything.
That’s great to hear, Angela!
Fantastic chicken. My wife said she had never tasted such flavorful chicken. I made it just like your recipe said and it couldn’t have been any better. Another great recipe.
Thank you for the lovely feedback, Paul and for sharing!
This recipe blew my mind. How insanely tasty!! I let the chicken marinade for 2 days and it tasted like heaven on a plate. Love to serve this with some white rice and veg! Highly recommend making some marinade to set aside (and NOT come into contact with the raw meat)–and then heating and pouring it over the chicken/rice at the end!
It was fantastic. Great recipe as always. I made mine in a large cast iron skillet with rice and long string green beans on the side. (Also from Natasha’s Kitchen. Green Beans Almondine) I’ll be keeping both of them for in the future. Many Thanks. 🙂
You’re very welcome! Thank you for the wonderful feedback.
All of your recipes that my family or I have tried are awesome. I just got your book ordered as I want to make sure I have one on hand despite the website. 🙂
I look forward to trying more of your recipes in the future. (We just made sloppy joes tonight.)
Thank you so much, Joseph!
Made this tonight and my family LOVED it. I first made the marinade and tasted it- and oh wow are those flavors DELICIOUS together. I liked it so much I quadrupled the marinade recipe. First batch I used for the chicken. The second batch I added to 3 cans of black beans along with some jarred jalapeños and some chicken bullion and cooked on low about an hour. The third batch I added to the rice I was cooking, along with some crushed red pepper and some chicken bullion. The fourth batch I added to the pan drippings (I don’t have a grill so I just pan seared) and made a roux with some half/half, chicken and bullion to put on the chicken and the rice. I can’t wait to make this again- the flavors are AMAZING- if you like flavorful entrees, don’t be afraid to play with this one. Kudos to the chef for combining these flavors!! 💙
Thank you so much for sharing these notes with us!
Delicious. Chicken was moist and tender. Fresh taste. Would definitely make again.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Cate!
Is it ok to mix this marinade up in the morning to use in the evening if you keep it in the fridge?
Hi Chelle. I think that would be fine.
Thank you. I made the marinade this morning and used it this evening, and it was perfect just like the first time. This is a wonderful recipe.
It’s my pleasure! Glad that you enjoyed it.
Can I put it in the oven instead of grilling? I absolutely love this combination of flavors with chicken. However I don’t have a grill. Is there a way I can either pan sear it or bake it but with all the same ingredients?
Hi Jessica, I haven’t tried this in the oven to advise. If you give it a try in that oven, I would love to know how you like that.
Hi Valentina…& Natasha…
Whole family loved this recipe…
Thx❤️
Hi Sherry! That’s wonderful to hear. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Natasha
Can we bake this
If so what time & temperature
Thx
Hi Sherry, I haven’t tried this in the oven to advise. If you give it a try in that oven, I would love to know how you like that.
400deg farenheit 30 mins or so depending on the size I baked…
Came out great…
Natasha.. 1 question ❤️
can we freeze or how can long we can save opened can of condensed milk…
Thx❤️
Hi Sherry! I’m glad it was great.
To be honest, I don’t know the specifications on storing that. You might try researching it online.
OMG! So juicy and so delicious! I’m definitely a keeper of this recipe. My family finished this grilled chicken in seconds:) Thank you, Natasha!
You’re welcome, Natalia! I’m so glad you loved the recipe.
This is absolutely the best chicken marinade! Thank yo so much Natasha! So darn good!!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Nancy!
Hi Natasha,
This looks so good and I’m going to try to make it, but want to know if using bottled lime juice will be okay or will change the flavor substantially?
Hi Wendy! The flavor in fresh lime is so much better. Bottled tends to be more muted and bitter.
This recipe is excellent!!! I, like one other reviewer used the air fryer. I didn’t have the regular paprika so used smoked paprika..
I served this with a jasmine rice and salad.
Yummy!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Gracie!
What temperature on a grill or better yet what temp and how long in air fryer mode?
So delicious. I made it with bone in and skin on chicken thighs and it was so tasty. Did it in the air fryer.
Hi David, that’s wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Hi David,
What temperature and for how long did you cook in the air frier?
Can you or anyone advise on air fryer Temps and times please.
Hi Koch! You can reference my air fryer chicken thighs recipe for times and temperatures. See the “common question” section to adjust the time if you are using boneless. The best way to know when it’s done is to test it with a food thermometer. The internal temperature should reach at least 165ºF (I prefer letting dark meat chicken go to 175˚F).