Description
Vibrant Tajin Grilled Chicken with a zesty citrus marinade. Perfect for quick weeknights or a family BBQ, it’s lean, flavorful, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs / 680g boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 2–3 tablespoons Tajin Clásico Seasoning
- ½ cup / 120ml total fresh citrus juice (from 1 large orange, 2 limes, and 1 lemon)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tbsp garlic powder)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Pat your chicken pieces thoroughly dry with paper towels and trim any excess fat.
- Make the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together the fresh citrus juices, Tajin Clásico seasoning, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, and olive oil until well combined.
- Marinate: Add the chicken to the marinade, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Cover the bowl or place the chicken and marinade in a large zip-top bag. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or for the best flavor, let it marinate for up to 4 hours. Avoid marinating chicken breasts for more than 4 hours with highly acidic marinades, as they can sometimes become a bit mushy.
- Preheat Grill: Get your outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to a medium-high heat (around 400°F / 200°C). Make sure the grates are clean.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the chicken on the hot grill. Cook boneless, skinless breasts for 6-8 minutes per side, and boneless, skinless thighs for 8-10 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the edges look nicely seared. Don’t overcrowd the grill, as this can steam the chicken instead of searing it.
- Rest: Transfer the cooked Tajin Grilled Chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute.
Notes
Substitutions & Tips:
- No fresh citrus? Good quality bottled orange, lime, and lemon juice will work in a pinch.
- Prefer different cuts of chicken? Drumsticks or wings are also delicious; just adjust cooking times.
- Going plant-based? Use firm tofu or hearty portobello mushrooms instead of chicken for a fantastic vegan option.
- Using a zip-top bag for marinating is a great shortcut for easy cleanup.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Overcrowding the grill: Give your chicken enough space on the grates to ensure it sears beautifully, rather than steaming. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Not resting the chicken: Skipping the resting step (5 minutes) will lead to juices escaping, resulting in dry chicken.
- Marinating too long (for breasts): While thighs can handle longer marinating, highly acidic marinades can sometimes alter the texture of leaner chicken breasts if left for many hours (stick to 30 minutes to 4 hours for breasts).
Nutritional information is an estimate based on ingredients and preparation, as exact data was not provided in the original article.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 170g
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: Grilled Chicken