Description
This cilantro lime chicken soaks in a marinade bursting with flavors, and it all cooks together in only one pan!
Ingredients
Scale
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 limes, juice and zest
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Make the Marinade: In a mixing bowl (or a zip-top bag), combine the olive oil, juice, and zest of 2 limes, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, honey, chili powder, pepper flakes, cumin, salt, and pepper; stir or mix until well combined. Remove about 3 tablespoons of the marinade, place it in a bowl, cover it, and set it aside for later.
- Marinate: Add the chicken thighs to the marinade and toss around to coat well; cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the fridge for up to 2 hours.
- Cook: Set a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and heat it until hot. Add the chicken thighs to the hot skillet—be careful, they will sizzle—and cook them for 5 minutes, or until nicely browned on the bottom; flip and continue to cook for 6 to 8 more minutes, or until cooked through. The chicken is done when its internal temperature registers at 165˚F.
- Finish: Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest for a few minutes. Brush the chicken thighs with the reserved marinade, garnish it with chopped cilantro, and serve it with lime wedges.
Notes
Can be substituted with boneless skinless chicken breasts. Can also be grilled or air-fried at 400°F for 8 minutes on one side and 5 minutes on the other.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-searing
- Cuisine: Mexican/Southwest
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 ounces
- Calories: 419 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 535 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 215 mg
Keywords: cilantro lime chicken, chicken thighs, Tex-Mex, pan-seared chicken, zesty chicken