This cilantro lime chicken is such a dinner winner. I’ve been eyeing this recipe for a while and I’m so glad I tried it out. Not only is it easy to put together, it’s packed with flavor, easy to scale up (or down if you really don’t want leftovers), healthy, and so yummy. It was the exact right recipe for me to try since my healthy new year goals have been overshadowed by a cold and lots of birthday celebrations. But a recipe like this is the perfect thing to inspire healthy eating, and cooking at home (some of my biggest goals for this year). I also got to try out one of my new kitchen gadgets, my new immersion blender came with a small 3-cup food processor attachment, which was perfect for making this marinade. If you don’t have that, you can easily make this marinade in a small food processor or a blender.
One of my tips for cooking is to take advantage of when you’re most energetic/excited about cooking. If I come home from work and sit around for a bit I’m much less likely to get up and make dinner. I like to do all my cooking a cleaning right away, so that when I’m ready to relax I don’t have to worry about getting motivated for chores. So this was the perfect dish, that allowed the chicken to marinate while I cleaned up and waited for Boyfriend to come home from work. And then I just had to quickly steam some broccoli and cook the chicken. Knowing when you like to get kitchen chores done is really helpful for menu planning. If you like to cook in the evenings, then capitalize on that and make recipes that are fast and efficient, or that you can do the majority of in the evening, but finish off the next day (like slow cooker recipes). Or if you like cooking when you have the whole day, plan on making a couple of dishes on the weekend and either freeze or portion them out for the rest of the week. This recipe is great for leftovers, so I’d definitely recommend making extra.
While the original recipe was cooked on the grill, I just cooked them in a pan on the stove. I’m sure you could also bake it. Just make sure you save some of the marinade (before mixing with raw chicken) to serve on top.
When do you like to do your cooking? What recipes have inspired your healthy eating goals?
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Adapted from Foodie Crush
- 2 1/2 to 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 4 limes, zested and juiced
- 1 bunch cilantro, about 1 1/2 cups, stems and leaves chopped
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 Tbsp cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
Trim any excess fat from the chicken (I cut each thigh into thirds so they’d cook faster, but leave whole if you prefer), and add to a large ziplock bag.
In a small food processor, or blender, add the lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, olive oil, cumin, salt, and pepper. Blend for about 30 seconds, or until well blended. Pour 3/4 of the sauce in the ziplock bag, seal and mix well until chicken is coated in the marinade. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes or several hours.
When ready to cook, heat a little olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan in batches, and cook through. Add the reserved marinade on top of the cooked chicken. Serve with rice, couscous, or orzo.