Recipe

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

Chicken and avocado is my ultimate flex recipe because you can cook it in a pan or grill it any night of the week. Keep reading for the tips to make this your new go-to healthy dinner.

four chicken breasts with avocado topping and lime wedges in a baking sheet

Juicy Chicken with Avocado

Every time I see avocados on sale at the grocery store, I make this Avocado Chicken recipe with my quick cilantro lime marinade. It'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!

Ingredients

To marinade the chicken breasts (or thighs), you’ll need olive oil, limes, chopped fresh cilantro, ground cumin, garlic cloves, and salt. The topping is made with avocado and shallot or red onion (plus more cilantro and lime).

How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken

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 avocado chicken recipe:

Combine the marinade ingredients in a zip bag or bowl, add the chicken, and let it marinate in the fridge for 15 minutes.
Cook the chicken on both sides in a pan or skillet until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165F.
Make the avocado topping while the cooked chicken rests for 5 minutes.
Serve the avocado salsa over the chicken breasts, grab a fork, and enjoy!

Top left: Lime juice, olive oil, garlic, and chopped cilantro mixed in a bowl. Top right: Raw chicken breasts marinating with cilantro and lime in a zipbag. Bottom left: Diced avocado mixed with red onion and cilantro in a bowl. Bottom right: Grilled chicken breasts topped with avocado salsa on a sheet pan with lime wedges.

Cilantro Lime Chicken on the Grill

To make this recipe on the grill, marinate the chicken, and preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 375F). Once hot, grease the grates. Grilling chicken breasts takes about 12 minutes: 7 minutes on the first side with the lid closed, then another 5 with the lid open. The result is mouthwatering!

The Trick for Juicy Chicken

The trick to making perfect, juicy chicken is cooking by temperature, not time, which is why I suggest keeping a meat thermometer on hand. You’ll know chicken breasts are done when the internal temperature reaches 165F (or 175F for dark chicken meat).

What to Serve with Avocado Chicken

You can make this Avocado Chicken recipe 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 and easy to make!

Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts with Avocado

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 10

Marinate: 20

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 45

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

4.96 from 45 votes

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Watch how it’s made:

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.