Grilled Mexican Lime Chicken is one of those recipes that just tastes like summer. It’s fresh, zesty, and so simple to make—you just blend up a quick marinade, toss it with some chicken, and let the grill do the rest. We recently got a new grill, so I’ve been making this a lot since the weather warmed up. It’s perfect for taco night, easy weeknight dinners, or when you’re feeding a crowd. Make extra chicken and use it for lunch during the week for meal prep. It’s great to add it to salads or for making a burrito bowl. Plus, that lime-garlic-cilantro combo is packed with flavor and gives the chicken the best bright, juicy kick that tastes even better the next day!
Simple Ingredients needed for Mexican Lime Chicken:
For the Chicken:
Chicken Breasts: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Thin-sliced or pounded so they’re an even thickness. A standard chicken breast tends to be thicker on one side, so I will pound that side to make the whole chicken similar in thickness. Alternatively, you can also slice the chicken breast in half horizontally so that you end up with two thin chicken breasts. Any cut of chicken can be used in this recipe. Boneless chicken thighs, drumsticks, or bone-in chicken breast. Just remember that the thickness of the chicken and the kind of chicken will determine the cook time.
Marinade Ingredients:
Limes: 3 limes – You’ll need both the zest and the juice. Zest first, then juice! It’s really hard to zest after you have juiced a lime. Only use fresh lime juice, please! Grab an extra lime or two and serve lime wedges with the grilled chicken. Some limes are juicer than others, you need about 1/4 cup, so you may need more or less than 3 limes.
Garlic: 3 cloves garlic – Peeled and used whole, these get blended into the marinade for a bold, garlicky kick.
Olive Oil: 1/4 cup olive oil – Helps the marinade coat the chicken and keeps it moist while grilling.
Onion Powder: 1/4 teaspoon onion powder – Adds a little savory depth.
Dried Oregano: 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano – Brings a warm, earthy flavor that complements the lime.
Salt: 1/4 teaspoon salt – Enhances all the flavors.
Black Pepper: 1/4 teaspoon black pepper – For just a touch of heat.
Fresh Cilantro: 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves – Adds a fresh, herby brightness that makes the whole dish pop. I love cilantro, but I know some do not. I will say this: my kids do not like the taste of cilantro, and they like this chicken. So, unless you are allergic, I would try it before taking it out of the recipe. You could also swap out flat-leaf parsley if you want.
Mexican Lime Chicken Recipe -Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the cilantro lime marinade
Add the lime zest and juice, garlic cloves, olive oil, onion powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and cilantro leaves to a blender or mini food processor. Blend until smooth.
Step 2: Marinate the chicken
Place the chicken breasts in a large bowl or zip-top bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure each piece is coated. Cover the bowl or seal the bag and let it marinate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. (Do not marinate longer than 2 hours, or the chicken will start to cook and become tough from the acidity of lime juice.)
Tip: If marinating for more than 30 minutes, refrigerate the chicken. Let it come to room temperature before grilling.
Step 3: Prep the grill
Preheat your BBQ grill to 375–400°F. Clean the grill grates and oil them well so the chicken doesn’t stick.
Quick trick: Use tongs to rub the grates with an oiled wad of paper towels for easy nonstick grilling.
Step 4: Grill the chicken
Place the marinated chicken breasts on the hot grill, presentation side (smooth side) down. Grill for 5–7 minutes per side, depending on thickness. **General rule for cooking time: About 5–7 minutes per side for 1-inch thick breasts. Thicker pieces may take a couple of minutes more.
Step 5: Let it rest
Once cooked through, remove the chicken from the grill and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing or serving. This helps the juices redistribute and keeps the chicken juicy.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy!
Serve your grilled Mexican lime chicken with your favorite sides, slice it for salads or tacos, or enjoy it straight off the grill. I like to serve it with black beans, Mexican rice, corn on the cob, or a big salad.
NO GRILL? NO PROBLEM!
If you do not have an outdoor grill, this can be made on the stovetop or baked in the oven. Add the marinated chicken to a hot skillet or cast iron pan and cook for about 5-6 minutes on both sides. If you are going to bake the chicken in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, place the chicken on a baking sheet, and bake for 20-25 minutes. This is a great alternative to grilling the chicken, and you will still get the juiciest chicken packed full of flavor.
This Grilled Mexican Lime Chicken is the perfect recipe to fire up your taste buds with fresh ingredients and bold, zesty flavor. Whether you’re planning a backyard BBQ or just need an easy dinner idea, this cilantro lime chicken pairs perfectly with just about anything—from salads to tacos to rice bowls. It’s a great way to keep things simple without skimping on flavor. The marinade makes the chicken so tender and juicy, it’s bound to be a new favorite. If you’re looking for great ideas for your next cookout or weeknight meal, this one’s going straight into the rotation!
More Recipes To Try!
Roasted Corn with Feta and Lime
Grilled Mexican Lime Chicken
This Grilled Mexican Lime Chicken is bright, juicy, and full of bold flavor from fresh lime, garlic, and cilantro. It’s one of my favorite easy grilling recipes for summer! Serve it with rice, tucked into tacos, or on top of a big salad. It’s super versatile, and the marinade comes together in minutes.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken breasts (thin-sliced or pounded so they are even)
Marinade
- 3 limes, zest of limes, and the juice. Zest first, then juice! (1/4 c juice)
- 3 whole cloves of garlic, peeled
- 1/4 c olive oil
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Add all marinade ingredients to a blender or mini food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Add chicken breasts to a bowl or a ziploc bag. Carefully pour in the marinade and cover the bowl or seal the bag.
- Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. (but not longer, or the chicken will start to cook and become tough from the lime juice.) If you are marinating for more than 30 minutes, put the chicken in the refrigerator and let the chicken come to room temperature before grilling.
- Preheat the BBQ grill to 375-400. Be sure the grates of the grill are clean. Before adding the chicken to the grill, make sure it’s oiled. I like to take a paper towel and bunch it into a ball and oil it, then I use tongs and carefully rub the grates of the grill so that the chicken won’t stick.
- Once the grill is hot, add chicken breasts. Smooth side (presentation side) down first. Let cook 5-7 minutes on each side. Cooking time depends on the thickness of the chicken. If the chicken is 1 inch thick, it will take about 5-7 minutes per side; if it’s thicker, it will take a bit longer.
- Once you remove the chicken, let it rest for 5 minutes before serving or cutting into it. This allows the juices to flow back into the chicken, keeping it moist and juicy.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Any kind of chicken can be used in this recipe. Chicken thighs, drumsticks, or bone-in chicken breast. Just remember that the thickness of the chicken and the kind of chicken will determine the cook time.
- No grill? No problem! Cook on the stovetop in a large pan for 5-7 minutes on each side. Any pan will work, but I recommend using a cast-iron pan or stainless steel pan to get that good browning on the chicken.
- You can also bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 404Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 309mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 16gProtein: 38g
**I have included an estimation of the nutrition information for this recipe. However always remember a recipe is so much more than just nutritional content and these numbers do not need to dictate your food choices. Please don’t forget that both your body and soul need nourishment! The owner of this website is not liable for this estimation**.
