Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs

Name: Cilantro Lime Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lime; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; ½ teaspoon cumin; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon salt; 6 chicken thighs (Note 1); 2 tablespoons olive oil; ½ cup chicken broth; 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro; 4 garlic cloves (minced); 2 tablespoons butter (sliced)

This cilantro lime chicken is served on repeat at our house! When we have only 30 minutes to get dinner on the table, this is one of the most flavorful recipes in our meal prep arsenal. Whether it’s a long day at work or a sunny day at the pool with the kids, this recipe is a dish that the whole family loves, plus it makes for great leftovers too.

We serve it over a simple cilantro lime rice, or slice it up and serve it in corn tortillas for tacos. My son loves this recipe so much that I actually taught him how to make it last summer, and now he loves to help me prep the recipe all by himself. Whether you make it in a single skillet, throw it on the grill, or put it in the oven, it’s versatile and always delicious. We promise it’s a chicken dish that will put a smile on everyone’s face.

A plate of cilantro lime chicken with rice and beans.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Mexican-inspired flavors. We love the refreshing taste of Mexican cuisine and this recipe is inspired by our love for chicken fajitas. The smoky and tangy seasoning mixed with the rich lime sauce makes for a bite that’s so good.
A healthy chicken recipe that isn’t dry. We intentionally use boneless, skinless thighs because they contain more fat than breasts, which keeps them juicier after cooking. They’re our foolproof cut of chicken, you’ll see why we love them when you taste this dish!
Easy one-skillet dinner. With barely any prep work (even some steps that can be prepped in advance), these chicken thighs with lime and cilantro are ideal for any level of cook.

Tips for Busy Cooks

This is a one skillet healthy chicken recipe that is full of so many delicious flavors! We sear the meat in the pan, then deglaze with a lime-infused sauce that coats the thighs beautifully. We learned this cooking technique from a professional chef friend, and it’s truly the best way to cook chicken – you won’t be disappointed!

Key Ingredient Notes

Lime – adds a citrusy, bright flavor and helps tenderize the meat as it cooks in the cilantro lime sauce. You’ll use both lime juice and zest, the zest intensifies the lime flavor! We recommend using a microplane for zesting, read how to zest a lime if you’re unfamiliar.
Brown sugar – you only need a little bit to balance out the acidic lime juice.
Cumin and smoked paprika – seasons the meat with smoky, earthy flavors.
Chicken thighs – boneless, skinless thighs work great for this recipe because they’re usually thinner than breasts, which means they cook more quickly. They contain more fat too, so their extra moisture prevents them from drying out while cooking.
Chicken broth – I recommend using low-sodium chicken broth because you can always add more salt to taste if needed.
Fresh cilantro – adds refreshing, zesty flavors that pair perfectly with the lime.
Garlic – adds that flavor we all love with cilantro, cumin, and paprika.
Butter – mixes into the sauce at the very end, thickening it up slightly and adding a touch of richness.

Ingredients to make cilantro lime chicken thighs.

How to make cilantro lime chicken thighs

It’s incredibly easy to make this chicken dish. Let’s cook together.

Fresh lime zest with a lime and zester next to it.

Step 1: Zest the lime. Then, cut it in half and squeeze out the juice. You’ll need 2-3 tablespoons of lime juice.

Brown sugar, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt in a small bowl with a spoon.

Step 2: Combine the brown sugar, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt in a small bowl.

Raw chicken thighs in a bowl with a seasoning mix on top.

Step 3: Season the chicken thighs with the brown sugar seasoning mixture. This can be done up to 24 hours in advance.

Seasoned chicken thighs in a skillet with a raw side on top.

Step 4: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the olive oil and chicken. Sear the meat for 5-6 minutes or until brown on both sides.

Step 5: At this point, chicken doesn’t need to cook all the way through! Transfer the chicken to a clean plate and cover.

Chicken broth, lime juice, zest, cilantro, and garlic are added to the now-empty skillet.

Step 6: Deglaze the skillet with the chicken broth, and scrape up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Add the lime juice, zest, cilantro, and garlic to the broth, and bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 7: Transfer the chicken back into the skillet to finish cooking in the cilantro lime sauce. Cook uncovered for about 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175-180°F.

Butter chunks added to the chicken in a skillet.

Step 8: Turn off the heat, and stir the butter into the sauce.

Expert Tips:

Season the chicken thighs up to 24 hours in advance. This is a great tip not only for making cooking easier, but also to help give the meat even more flavor. It will soak up the flavors of the seasonings and the salt will help to tenderize the proteins. This makes for a bite that melts in your mouth with so much deliciousness.
Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. We are using boneless, skinless thighs here for simplicity, they are quick cooking and don’t dry out. But you can also use chicken breasts. We prefer either pounding the breasts thinner using a meat mallet, or buying chicken breast cutlets since they are thinner and easier to cook.
Grill or bake the chicken if desired. We’ve made this cilantro lime chicken recipe all different ways. It’s delicious on the grill for an even smokier flavor, or during the colder months we bake it in the oven. Just be sure to temp it on a meat thermometer to 165ºF.

A skillet of cooked cilantro lime chicken thighs topped with lime wedges.

What to serve with cilantro lime chicken

The fresh flavors in cilantro lime chicken thighs pair well with all of our favorite summertime side dishes. Here are some of our favorites:

Storage and Make Ahead

Store any leftover cilantro lime chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can freeze the thighs for up to 2 months. We usually defrost them overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or the oven until warmed through.

There are so many ways to meal prep this recipe in advance for easy weeknight cooking or for entertaining friends. We always have this seasoning blend in an airtight contaner in our pantry and we usually season the chicken the day before cooking.

FAQs

What does lime juice do to chicken?

Lime infuses citrus flavor into meat and tenderizes it by breaking down natural proteins in the meat. That’s why lime and lemon juice are commonly added to marinades. You don’t want to let raw chicken marinate in citrus-based marinades for more than a few hours, or you’ll end up with mushy meat.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, breasts would work in this recipe. Since breasts are usually thicker than thighs, you’ll need to pound them out to about 1 inch thick. Then, adjust the cooking time if needed.

Can I use bone-in chicken thighs?

I don’t recommend it. Bone-in chicken thighs require a much longer cooking time and often need to be finished cooking in the oven to guarantee they’re cooked through. They’re a bit more finicky. So, it’s best to stick with boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe!