Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs Recipe
This easy chicken dinner recipe starts on the stovetop and finishes in the oven and is ready in 30 minutes. Because I used chicken thighs rather than chicken breasts, the chicken is extra juicy, tender, and perfect to sink your teeth into.I seasoned the chicken with cumin and smoked paprika to give it layers of Mexican-inspired flavor. The lime cilantro chicken is made in one skillet which keeps things super practical and streamlined, especially on busy weeknights.
Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs
This baked cilantro lime chicken recipe has a very short ingredients list with common everyday ingredients. You’ll need:
Chicken thighs Garlic Lime juice Cumin Smoked paprika Cilantro Lime wedges
How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs
This recipe is so easy and ready in about 30 minutes! Here’s how the cilantro lime chicken thighs are prepared:
Can I Use Chicken Breasts Instead of Thighs?
For this recipe, I used boneless skinless chicken thighs. Normally my chicken recipes use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but it’s good to mix things up at times! You could probably use bone-in chicken thighs or chicken breasts, with or without skin, but I haven’t tried those variations can’t give exact cooking times. Normally bone-in will take an extra 5 minutes or so to cook through in the oven, but just keep an eye on them.
What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken
Serve the chicken thighs with your favorite Mexican-inspired sides. To get you started, here are some cilantro lime chicken sides you can make:
Borracho Beans Baked Tortilla Chips + Salsa Very Veggie Rice and Beans Grilled Corn and Black Bean Salad Grilled Mexican Corn (Elote)
Tips for Making Baked Cilantro Lime Chicken
Chicken is such a lean protein, and even thighs aren’t a guarantee that your chicken can’t dry out in a hot oven. Whenever you’re baking chicken, make sure it reaches 160F in the oven, and it will finish carryover cooking just sitting in the hot skillet and reach the recommended 165F. I always recommend allowing the chicken to rest a bit before slicing into it to keep all those luscious juices contained in the chicken and not runoff.
More Cilantro Lime Recipes:
20-Minute Baked Lime Cilantro Chicken Breasts – Super juicy, EASY, tender chicken that’s ready in 20 minutes and made on ONE sheet pan!! Bursting with robust Mexican-inspired lime cilantro flavors that will make this an automatic family FAVORITE!! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes!
Grilled Lime Cilantro Chicken — EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and the cilantro chicken is so TENDER, juicy, and full of Mexican-inspired flavor!! Put this HEALTHY chicken recipe on your summer menu rotation and it’ll be a hit with everyone!!
Lime Cilantro Chicken with Rice and Beans— This 15-minute recipe is made in a single skillet and tastes even better the next day! You can use it as a taco filling or enjoy as is. You’re going to love all that lime-cilantro flavor!
20-Minute Cilantro Chicken, Rice, and Beans — EASY, healthy, and the fresh cilantro sauce is SO good!! The chicken is juicy, loaded with flavor, and along with the rice and beans and you’ll be SATISFIED for hours!!
Grilled Sriracha Lime Chicken – EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and the chicken is SPICY, tender, and juicy!! Put this HEALTHY chicken recipe on your summer menu when you want to kick things up a notch!!
Lime Cilantro Shrimp and Black Bean Salad – Tender juicy shrimp, black beans, avocado, cilantro, and more coated in a lime sauce that’s a FIESTA in your mouth!! An EASY and HEALTHY Mexican-inspired salad that’s ready in 10 minutes!!
Foil Pack Lime Cilantro Salmon – EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Tender, juicy, and bursting with Mexican-inspired flavors that everyone LOVES!!
