This cilantro lime chicken is the juiciest, most flavor filled chicken around. Bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs are used for the ultimate juicy chicken that’s just bursting with lime and cilantro flavors.
The chicken is marinated in a lightly spiced honey, olive oil, cilantro and lime marinade. It’s then seared for extra flavor and to seal in those juices, before being oven baked to perfection.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Chicken thighs: Bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs were used in this recipe, which will give the best results in terms of flavor filled, juicy chicken. Skinless and boneless chicken thighs could also be used, as could chicken breasts, however the oven baking time will need to be adjusted to suit.
Cilantro: It’s important to use fresh cilantro in this recipe. The amount of cilantro used can be adjusted to suit personal tastes.
Lime: It’s best to use fresh lime in this recipe, however bottled lime juice could be used if fresh lime is not available.
Olive oil: Use a good quality olive oil, or your preferred frying/marinating oil.
Garlic: This chicken tastes best when made with fresh garlic cloves, however 2 heaped teaspoons of minced jar garlic can be used in place of fresh.
Honey: The honey can be substituted with maple syrup if preferred.
Ground cumin: The ground cumin adds a delicious lightly spiced flavor to the chicken, however this could be omitted if preferred.
Onion powder: The onion powder can be omitted if preferred.
Cayenne pepper: Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper added to suit personal tastes.
Salt: Adjust the amount of salt added to suit personal tastes.
Pepper: Adjust the amount of pepper added to suit personal tastes.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken
1. To make the marinade, add the olive oil, finely chopped cilantro, lime juice, garlic, honey, lime zest, ground cumin, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined.
2. Add the chicken thighs to the marinade mixture and toss until the chicken is well coated in the marinade. Cover and transfer to the fridge for at least 30 minutes to marinade.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
4. Place a large oven proof skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear on both sides until golden, around 2 minutes each side (chicken will not be fully cooked). Remove from the heat. Drizzle over any leftover marinade.
5. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink inside and has reached and internal temperature of 165°F.
6. Garnish the cooked chicken with the extra chopped cilantro, if using, and serve with lime wedges.
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- ¼ cup lightly packed, finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves for serving (optional)
- Lime wedges for serving
Cilantro Lime Marinade
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup lightly packed finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 3 Tbsp lime juice
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped or minced
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
- To make the marinade, add the olive oil, finely chopped cilantro, lime juice, garlic, honey, lime zest, ground cumin, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined.
- Add the chicken thighs to the marinade mixture and toss until the chicken is well coated in the marinade. Cover and transfer to the fridge for at least 30 minutes to marinade.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place a large oven proof skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear on both sides until golden, around 2 minutes each side (chicken will not be fully cooked). Remove from the heat. Drizzle over any leftover marinade.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink inside and has reached and internal temperature of 165°F.
- Garnish the cooked chicken with the extra chopped cilantro, if using, and serve with lime wedges.
Notes
- 1 teaspoon of paprika, either sweet or smokey, could also be added to the marinade for additional spice flavor.
- Marinate the chicken for up to 4 hours.
- After searing, the chicken can be transferred to an oven safe baking dish if you don’t have access to an oven safe skillet.
- The searing step isn’t essential, however it adds a delicious flavor to the chicken, and helps seal in the juices.
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