Tequila Lime Chicken
This tequila lime chicken recipe uses a zesty marinade with fresh lime, tequila, and cilantro. Grilled on a cast iron grill pan in under 25 minutes.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 418kcal
Equipment
- cast iron grill pan
Ingredients
Marinade
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup tequila
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- ⅓ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ cup cilantro chopped, plus more for garnishing
Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 350°F.
- Mix the tequila, olive oil, lime juice, and spices together in a bowl and roughly chop the fresh cilantro.
- Add the chicken and cilantro to a Ziploc bag and pour in the marinade Seal, shake, until the chicken is well coated.
- Place it in the refrigerator. Marinate chicken for at least 30 minutes to overnight.
- Heat a grill pan over medium high heat.
- Remove chicken from the marinade and pull off any large pieces of clinging cilantro. Discard the marinade.
- Sear each side of the chicken then finish cooking the chicken in the oven, about 15 minutes.
Notes
Expert Tips
∗ Don't over-marinate. 30 minutes to 2 hours for breasts is the sweet spot. Any longer and the acid starts breaking down the texture.
∗ Pound the chicken to about ¾-inch thickness, consistent across the whole piece. This ensures even cooking with no dry edges and no raw center.
∗ Preheat the grill pan over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes before the chicken goes on. You want it hot enough that water droplets bead and dance.
∗ Don't move the chicken. Once it hits the pan, leave it alone for 4-5 minutes before flipping. Moving it breaks the sear and lifts the grill marks.
∗ Check the internal temp. Pull the chicken at 160°F and let it rest. It will coast up to 165°F as it sits.
∗ Let it rest 5 minutes off the heat before slicing. This redistributes the juices so every bite stays moist.
Nutrition
Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 871mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
