Description
This cilantro lime chicken is incredibly juicy, bursting with bright flavors, and an easy weeknight dinner everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 chicken thighs (bone-in and skin-on)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 2 limes (zested and juiced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves (chopped)
Instructions
- Step: Make the marinade. In a mixing bowl, whisk together two tablespoons of olive oil, lime juice and zest, cumin, chili powder, minced garlic, honey, salt, pepper, and chopped cilantro.
- Step: Marinate the chicken. Combine the marinade and chicken thighs in a bowl or shallow dish. Marinate chicken for 30 minutes to an hour in the fridge. When done, take it out of the fridge and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature.
- Step: Sear the chicken. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Heat the remaining one tablespoon of olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes with the skin side down, until golden brown, then flip and sear for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Step: Bake the chicken. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake the chicken thighs for 15 to 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C).
- Step: Garnish and serve. Remove the chicken from the oven, let it rest for 5 minutes, and garnish with extra lime slices and cilantro leaves before serving.
Notes
Leftovers will stay fresh in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature.
- Prep Time: PT5M
- Cook Time: PT25M
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 thigh
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 503 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 142 mg
Keywords: cilantro lime chicken, mexican chicken, easy weeknight dinner, oven baked chicken thighs