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Sliced chicken on wood cutting board with cilantro lime chicken marinade and fresh limes
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5 from 2 votes

Cilantro lime chicken marinade

With just six simple ingredients, this cilantro lime chicken marinade infuses chicken breasts with delicious, aromatic cilantro, lime and garlic flavors. Serve over salad, with rice, in tacos, or just as is.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4
Calories: 190kcal
Author: Denise Bustard

Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (roughly 4 chicken breasts)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 ½ tablespoons honey
  • ½ cup cilantro leaves (chopped + loosely packed)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a heavy duty freezer bag or reusable silicone bag. Smoosh it around to combine, then add chicken breasts. Turn to coat in marinade.

Fridge

  • Marinate the chicken in the fridge for 2-24 hours.

Freezer

  • If freezing, place in the freezer immediately. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or by immersing the bag in a bowl of cold water for a couple of hours.

To bake

  • Heat oven to 425°F. Bake chicken in a shallow baking dish for 10 minutes, flip over, then bake for another 12-17 minutes, or until internal temperature has reached 165°F.
  • Allow chicken to rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Storage
Marinade may be mixed together up to 1 week before adding chicken.
After cooking, chicken may be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Alternative cooking methods:
  • grill- I recommend pounding the chicken flat before marinating to ensure it cooks through evenly. Cook over high heat 2 minutes per side until it reaches an internal temp of 155°F
  • frying pan- cook in olive oil over medium heat in a nonstick skillet for 5-7 minutes per side
  • air fryer- I recommend pounding the chicken before marinating. Cook at 390°F/ 200°C for 4 minutes + 2 minutes (flipping half way).
Marinating time for other proteins:
  • boneless chicken thighs- 2-24 hours marinating time
  • shrimp or fish- 30 minutes marinating time
  • pork tenderloin- at least 24 hours to marinate
  • tofu- press first, then marinate for 2-24 hours

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz chicken breast | Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 48mg | Sugar: 7g