This cilantro lime chicken marinade comes together in 5 minutes, flavors chicken in as little as 20 minutes, and works with breasts, thighs, drumsticks, or wings. It’s fresh, zesty, and one of the easiest ways to make juicy, flavorful chicken.
Cilantro Lime Marinade for Chicken
My son raves about this cilantro-lime marinade every time I make it, and rightfully so! It’s fresh and full of flavor, and it can transform your chicken thighs and breasts. And because I’m one of those “go big or go home” types, I often serve it with cilantro lime rice. If this flavor is your go-to, you’ll love this quick marinade recipe.
Ingredients
All great marinades contain a fat, salt, acid, and seasonings, and this cilantro-lime chicken marinade is one of them. The acid of fresh lime juice makes the meat more tender and flavorful when cooked. Olive oil is the fat that coats the chicken. The seasonings are ground cumin, garlic, and salt. Finally, finely chopped cilantro for more flavor.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
- Make the marinade.
Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl or zip bag. - Marinate.
Add the chicken breasts or thighs, and transfer them to the fridge. Marinate for 15 to 20 minutes, up to 4 hours.
- Cook the chicken.
Follow the recipe to cook the chicken breasts or thighs. It can also be grilled. Discard the cilantro-lime marinade.
How Long to Marinate Chicken in Lime Juice
You’ll need 15 to 20 minutes to add flavor to your chicken. Anything longer than 4 hours isn’t needed, since the acid in the marinade will begin to break down the protein, making it chewier.
Laura’s Tips for the Best Cilantro Lime Chicken
Fresh lime juice gives this marinade its bright, fresh flavor, so it’s my first choice. If bottled lime juice is all you have, it’ll still work, but the flavor won’t be quite as vibrant.
This recipe yields enough marinade to marinate about 2lbs of chicken, breasts or thighs.
No. Raw chicken should always marinate in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Unless you’re getting ready to cook it and you added the chicken to the marinade cold. Then, you can let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes, while it marinates and the chicken comes to room temperature before it gets cooked.
I don’t recommend marinating chicken in this cilantro lime marinade for longer than 4 hours. Since fresh lime juice is acidic, leaving the chicken in it for too long can break down the meat and make it less tender. If you want to prep ahead, freeze the chicken in the marinade instead.
Yes. You can freeze the marinade on its own or add it to a freezer bag with the chicken. As the chicken thaws in the refrigerator, it’ll marinate at the same time, making dinner even easier.
You can cook cilantro lime chicken in a skillet, on the grill, or in the oven. My favorite is the stovetop because it’s quick and gives the chicken beautifully golden edges while keeping it juicy inside. Grilling is another great option if you’re cooking outdoors.
Quick Cilantro Lime Marinade
Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 small garlic clove, grated
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 lbs chicken, breasts or thighs
Instructions
Make the marinade:
- Combine the lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, chopped cilantro, cumin, garlic, and salt in a large bowl or zip bag. Add the chicken and toss to coat.
Marinate:
- Marinate the chicken for 20 minutes or up to 4 hours in the fridge. If you want to make this ahead of time, make the marinade 1 day in advance, then combine it with the chicken the day you want to cook it.
Cook the chicken:
- Breasts, in a pan: Heat a large skillet, add some olive oil, and cook the chicken breasts for 5 to 7 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Discard the marinade. Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest 5 minutes before slicing or serving.
- Thighs, in the oven: preheat the oven to 425F. Sear the chicken thighs in an oven-safe skillet for about 3 minutes per side. Arrange the chicken thighs, skin-side up, and bake them for 17 to 20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 175F. Here is the full recipe.
Notes
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Cathleen says
Who knew something so easy could be so good?? This was perfect, I am definitely making this chicken marinade again next week 🙂
Vicky says
I just whipped up the cilantro lime chicken marinade, and it was such a hit! The flavors were zesty and delicious—I’ll definitely be making this again for my next barbecue!
Angela says
This marinade is amazing! Made the most amazing and flavorful chicken breasts. So good!
Elisa says
Love this Cilantro and lime recipe, looks tasty and is so easy to make. I will make it for dinner. Thanks for sharing :)is
Kimmy says
This lime and cilantro marinade is perfectly tangy and delicious! Love it!!