Quick Cilantro Lime Marinade
20 minutes is all it takes to transform your chicken into an epic meal with this delicious cilantro lime marinade.
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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
This recipe yields enough marinade for to 2 lbs of chicken.
Take things to the next level by topping your cilantro lime chicken with homemade avocado salsa.
Nutrition
Serving: 2 tablespoons | Calories: 44kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.1g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 4.7g | Saturated Fat: 0.7g | Sodium: 97.8mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.2g
