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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Chicken and Poultry Recipes

    Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

    Published: May 28, 2024 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 37 Comments

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    Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa is a delicious recipe that's light, fresh, and loaded with bold flavors. Cilantro lime chicken is not just another boring chicken recipe; in fact you might want to make a double batch of this 5 stars worthy meal!

    Looking for more nutritious and satisfying dinner options? Give our Sausage Stuffed Butternut Squash and Mexican Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet recipes a try this week.

    Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa is a delicious recipe that's light, fresh, and loaded with bold flavors.
    Jump to:
    • Why make this Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • How to make Cilantro Lime Chicken
    • Adaptations and variations
    • What to serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Some of our favorite tools!
    • Other Related Chicken Recipes
    • Get the Recipe

    Why make this Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe

    Is because it sounds delicious a good enough reason?

    If not, these boneless skinless chicken breasts come out tender and juicy after bathing in the cilantro lime marinade and have been cooked to perfection in a cast iron grill pan.

    With easy prep, a fairly quick cooking time, and so much flavor, you really can't go wrong when you make cilantro lime chicken.

    Recipe Ingredients

    Ingredients to make cilantro lime chicken with avocado: avocados, red onion, cumin, chipotle powder, fresh limes, salt, pepper, tomatoes, granulated garlic, cilantro, and chicken.
    • Chicken breasts — we used boneless skinless chicken breast.
    • Produce — limes, fresh cilantro, tomatoes, red onion, and avocados
    • Pantry — extra virgin olive oil, granulated garlic, ground cumin, chipotle powder, salt, and pepper.

    How to make Cilantro Lime Chicken

    Image collage for step by step directions for making the recipe.

    Step 1 — Place chicken in an air tight container, shallow dish with a lid, or zip-seal bag. In a small bowl whisk the olive oil, fresh lime juice, salt, pepper, granulated garlic, chipotle powder, cumin, and roughly chopped cilantro together and pour over the chicken. Seal and shake it about, making sure the chicken is well coated. Place flat in the refrigerator. Allow to marinate for at least an hour.

    Step 2 — Heat a grill pan over medium high heat. While the pan is warming, remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade and any clinging cilantro from the chicken. Once the pan is hot, place the chicken and allow to cook for 6 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature registers 165°F on a meat thermometer.

    Step 3 — While the chicken is cooking, prepare the salsa. Add the diced tomatoes, avocado and onion to a medium bowl. Stir in the cilantro and season with the salt and pepper. Toss the mixture with the freshly squeezed lime juice.

    Four pan grilled chicken breasts on a white platter.

    Adaptations and variations

    • Chicken — you can use bone in chicken breasts, with or without skin. Chicken thighs are also a great substitution. Boneless or bone in thighs are incredibly juicy. If using skin on, pull the skin back so the cilantro lime marinade can work it's magic on the chicken.
    • Spices — Play with the seasonings: cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or the more mild chili powder in place or along with the chipotle powder. If you're short on time or spices but have some taco season, that will work.
    • Lime — We recommend using fresh lime juice, but bottled lime juice could work in a pinch. A little bit of fresh lime zest will give the marinade a bolder and brighter flavor.
    • Garlic — Garlic powder can be swapped for granulated but fresh garlic cloves are excellent. Roughly chop or minced garlic will infuse better than whole cloves.
    • Salsa — Add some freshly diced peaches or mangoes to the salsa to give it a touch of sweetness. So in essence you'd have avocado peach or mango salsa.
    Avocado Salsa in a white bowl.

    What to serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken

    • Beans — Refried, pinto, or Black beans
    • Rice — Spanish or Mexican rice. Cilantro lime rice. Cauliflower rice.
    • Plating — Sour cream, queso fresco, and lime wedges as additional toppings. Corn or flour tortillas.

    Recipe FAQs

    Why is my chicken not done in middle?

    Most pieces of chicken breast have a thinner bottom with a plumper top. Use a meat mallet or similar to thin out the thicker areas of the chicken to ensure even cooking.

    Can I marinate the chicken longer than 1 hour?

    Yes. You can marinate it for several hours or best flavor results, marinate it over night. Rotate the chicken every so often to ensure maximum coverage.

    I don't have a grill pan, can I still make this recipe?

    Your trusty cast iron skillet, or any skillet will be perfect in place of a grill pan.

    Why is my chicken taking longer than the recipe says?

    Cooking time will vary based on how thick the chicken is and what cut you're using.

    How long will the leftovers last?

    The chicken will last up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. The salsa will last about a day or two.

    A piece of cilantro lime chicken resting in a bed of black beans topped with avocado salsa.

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    Other Related Chicken Recipes

    • Fresh from the oven pan of creamy green chile chicken enchiladas that have been garnished with fresh cilantro.
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    If you tried this Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    Get the Recipe

    A piece of cilantro lime chicken resting in a bed of black beans topped with avocado salsa.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 33 votes

    Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

    Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa is a delicious recipe that's light, fresh, and loaded with bold flavors.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Marinating Time1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican Fusion
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 513kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • cast iron grill pan OR
    • 12" Cast Iron Skillet

    Ingredients

    Chicken

    • 4 chicken breasts boneless skinless
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
    • ¼ cup cilantro roughly chopped
    • 3 tablespoons lime juice fresh
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper

    Avocado Salsa

    • 4 tomatoes medium (on a vine, roma)
    • 2 avocados large ripe; diced (3 medium)
    • ½ red onion diced (1 cup)
    • 2 tablespoons cilantro fresh, finely chopped (up to ยผ cup)
    • 2 teaspoon lime juice fresh
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper fresh, ground
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    Chicken

    • Place chicken in an air tight container, shallow dish with a lid, or zip-seal bag.
    • In a small bowl whisk the olive oil, fresh lime juice, salt, pepper, granulated garlic, chipotle powder, cumin, and roughly chopped cilantro together and pour over the chicken.
    • Seal and shake it about, making sure the chicken is well coated.
    • Place flat in the refrigerator. Allow to marinate for at least an hour.
    • Heat a grill pan over medium high heat.
    • While the pan is warming, remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade and any clinging cilantro from the chicken.
    • Once the pan is hot, place the chicken and allow to cook for 6 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature registers 165°F on a meat thermometer.

    Avocado Salsa

    • Add the diced tomatoes, avocado and onion to a medium bowl and stir in the cilantro.
    • Season with salt and pepper. Gently toss the mixture with the freshly squeezed lime juice.
    • Serve and enjoy.

    Notes

    Chicken can be marinated overnight. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 513kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 1665mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1330IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 33 votes

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Monica Thornburg

      September 06, 2024 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      Sooo good!
      On the repeat list

      Reply
    2. Beth

      August 13, 2024 at 9:25 am

      5 stars
      I love the bright citrus flavor combined with the cilantro. That avocado salsa brings it all together nicely, too!

      Reply
    3. Kim

      July 22, 2024 at 5:34 am

      5 stars
      So many bright flavors in this chicken. It was a huge hit with my family!

      Reply
    4. Chenee

      July 22, 2024 at 5:28 am

      5 stars
      It looked so good I took your advice and made a double batch - best decision ever!

      Reply
    5. Heather

      July 22, 2024 at 3:33 am

      5 stars
      This Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe is fantastic! It's easy to make, and the flavors are incredibly fresh and vibrant. Perfect for a healthy and delicious meal. Thank you!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

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    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

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