Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts with Avocado Salsa 

This is my ultimate flex recipe for cilantro lime chicken breasts because they can be cooked in a pan or grilled any night of the week.

You’re going to love the quick 20-minute marinade and the tips below to make this your new go-to healthy chicken recipe.

Juicy Cilantro Lime Chicken

This Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa is a recipe I make every time I see avocados on sale at the grocery store. This recipe is delicious and the pan-seared chicken can be made that freezer stash of chicken breasts you keep handy at all times. I can’t be the only one who has a freezer full of frozen chicken ready to be thawed for quick meals, right?

With the cilantro lime marinade, you’ll transform your plain chicken breasts into juicy and flavorful perfection in just 20 minutes. You can cook them in a pan or grill for the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth meal. And the avocado topping… I mean, THE avocado salsa is one you’ll want to make more and grab the chips!

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Yes! This is going to be a new addition to your quick 30-minute family meals.

Ingredients

Chicken, avocado, and seasonings. I bet you have them around! The measurements for this epic Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts recipe are at the end of the post, but first, check this list before you omit or swap:

• Chicken breasts: I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You could use thighs.
• Olive oil: to mix with the marinade ingredients and more to cook the chicken.
• Limes: we want the fresh juice for the marinade and the avocado topping.
• Cilantro: chopped fresh cilantro makes this chicken super tasty!
• Ground cumin: adds an earthy flavor to the marinade.
• Garlic cloves: infuse the marinade with flavor.
• Salt: for seasoning.
• Avocado: it’s what makes this chicken recipe SO epic!
• Shallot: its crunchiness mixed with the avocados gives us guacamole vibes. Swap for red onion if necessary.

Quick Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade

For this recipe, I use my quick cilantro lime marinade. It’s made with 6 ingredients and packs SO much flavor. You can use it to take any baked or sautéed chicken recipe up a notch (or two)! 

How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken 

The tangy lime and cilantro flavors are the perfect match for the avocado topping and make this chicken dinner idea absolutely unforgettable. This time I’m cooking the chicken in the pan, but if you crave baked avocado chicken, check out this post. Here’s how to make this pan-seared chicken recipe:

1. Marinate
   Combine the marinade ingredients in a zip bag or bowl, add the chicken, and let it marinate in the fridge for 15 minutes.
2. Cook the chicken
   Discard the marinade and cook the chicken on both sides in a pan or skillet until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165F.
3. Make the avocado topping
   Once the chicken is cooked, let it rest for 5 minutes while you combine the ingredients for the avocado topping.
4. Assemble
   Serve the avocado salsa over the chicken breasts, grab a fork, and enjoy!

First time making cilantro lime chicken? Check all the cooking tips in this quick video:

Cilantro Lime Chicken on the Grill

This delicious cilantro lime chicken is one you can enjoy all year round, including those summer days when you want to make the most of your grill! To make it, marinate the chicken, and preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 375F). Once the grill is hot, and the chicken is ready, grease the grates.

Grilling chicken breasts takes a total of about 12 minutes, about 7 minutes on the first side with the lid closed, flip them, and then another 5 with the lid open. The end result is mouthwatering! The recipe card below has all the details for cooking this meal on the grill.

The Avocado Salsa Chicken Topping

Cilantro lime chicken breasts would be nothing without this incredible avocado salsa to top it. The chunky salsa is made with guacamole ingredients, but instead of a creamy dip, it’s a delicious salsa that’s ready to eat in less than 5 minutes.

This salsa is fresh and super easy to whip up. I personally love the simplicity of the ingredients, which allows the delicious chicken flavors to shine through. You’ll want to mound this salsa over the grilled chicken or add it to your favorite tacos, salads, and anything your heart desires. 

What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken

The cilantro lime chicken with avocado salsa is incredible all on its own, but you can make it a well-rounded meal with a few veggie side dishes, like Parmesan Green Beans, Garlic Fingerling Potatoes, or your favorite roasted vegetables.

That said, I have a thing for Cilantro Lime Rice and its low-carb version, Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice. Both sides are delicious, easy to make, and two that my family always enjoys!

This chicken recipe is the kind you’ll find in my Family Kickstart Program, it’s a clean eating guide and meal plan made for families, with recipes everyone will look forward to eating. It’s a game-changer if you’re looking for a way to eat better as a family and stick to your health goals.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts with Avocado

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Marinate: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

This cilantro lime chicken is infused with fresh flavor with the quick marinade and topped with an avocado salsa that's out of this world!

4.95 from 40 votes

Print Pin

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Marinade:

• 2-3 limes, ¼ cup, juiced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 small garlic clove, grated
• ¼ teaspoon salt

For the Avocado topping:

• 2 medium avocados, diced
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro, approx. ½ bunch
• 1 lime, 2 tablespoons, juiced
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Marinate the chicken:

• Add chicken and marinade ingredients to a large zip bag or bowl. Let chicken marinate for 15-20 minutes.

Make the avocado salsa:

• While the chicken marinates make the avocado salsa in a medium bowl by combining the avocados, shallot, cilantro, juice of 1 ½ limes, and salt in a bowl. Mix with a fork and refrigerate until ready to use.

Cook the chicken breasts:

• Heat a large pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, heat the oil and distribute it around to coat. Place chicken breasts in the pan, discard the marinade, and cook for about 6 minutes on the first side. Do not move the chicken around. Flip and cook the other side for an additional 4 to 6 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Remove from the pan onto a plate.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (375-400F). Once hot, grease the grates with oil. Place the marinated chicken breasts on the hot grill, and cook with the lid closed for 6-8 minutes. Open the lid, flip the chicken using tongs, and cook for 6 more minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Remove from the grill.

Serve:

• Serve the chicken breasts topped with avocado salsa. Sprinkle with additional chopped cilantro and squeeze more lime over the top (if desired).

Equipment

Ad Free Weekly Meal Plan $1

Meat Thermometer

Nutrition

Serving: 1chicken breast with ½ cup avocado salsa | Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 365mg | Potassium: 1123mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 282IU | Vitamin C: 67mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg