Healthy Cilantro Lime Chicken

Cilantro Lime Chicken Ingredients

• Cilantro – Fresh is best, so be sure to purchase it from your grocery store or local farmer’s market. Look for bright green, tender leaves with no evidence of brusing or fading.
• Jalapeño – To tame down the spice factor, remove the seeds and ribs before making the cilantro lime chicken marinade. For a spicy chicken recipe, leave the seeds and ribs intact and look for peppers that have streaks on them. These are heat marks, meaning that pepper is hot!
• Lime Juice – Use fresh lime juice or purchase in the produce or juice aisle of your grocer. You will need about 2-3 limes for this cilantro lime chicken recipe, depending on how juicy they are. To really get all the juice out of your limes, place them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds prior to slicing. The warm lime will give you up to twice as much juice!
• Olive Oil – Any of your favorite brand of olive oil will do. Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil for a lighter and fruitier flavor.
• Minced Garlic – Mincing the garlic before placing in your food processor helps make the marinade come together more easily and prevents the cilantro from bruising. You can also use minced garlic purchased in a jar in the produce section of your grocer.
• Chicken Breasts – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best. If the chicken breasts are on the large side, cut them in half lengthwise to ensure they cook all the way through. For a faster and kid-friendly approach, chicken tenders would work beautifully as well.

How To Make Cilantro Lime Chicken

1. Prep – Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Make Marinade – In the bowl of a food processor, add cilantro, lime juice, olive oil and minced garlic. Grind until fine. Alternatively, chop by hand.
3. Coat the Chicken – Add half the marinade to a small bowl and coat the chicken. Reserve the other half for garnish.
4. Bake – Place the marinated chicken on a baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes.
5. Brush Chicken with the remaining cilantro lime sauce. Enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

There are endless ways to serve this juicy chicken!

• Top with Avocado Salsa
• Make Tacos
• Add on top of Chicken Nachos
• Serve on Taco Salad
• In Quesadillas
• Tossed with lettuce and Cilantro Lime Dressing

The lime cilantro chicken also works beautifully with a side of white or brown rice, refried beans, salad greens, or roasted vegetables.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

• Beer Can Chicken In The Oven
• Rosemary Chicken
• Chicken With Garlic Sauce and Caramelized Shallots
• Lemon Chicken
• California Chicken
• Cream Cheese Chicken
• Chicken In White Wine Sauce
• Pesto Chicken
• Greek Chicken
• Baked Chicken Breast
• Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast