Description
Juicy, flavorful chicken thighs marinated in a bright cilantro-lime mixture and grilled to perfection. This forgiving, weeknight-friendly recipe takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh cilantro, packed (stems included)
- 3 large limes (zest and juice, approx. ½ cup juice)
- 6 cloves fresh garlic
- ¼ cup vegetable oil (or neutral oil)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pounds chicken thighs (boneless, skinless recommended)
- Lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Combine cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, garlic, oil, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Pulse until a smooth, vibrant green paste forms.
- Place chicken thighs in a large ziplock bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, massaging it in to ensure every piece is coated.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish. Marinate at room temperature for 10-15 minutes, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours. Do not exceed 4 hours to prevent the meat from becoming mushy.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (375-400°F). Clean grates and lightly oil them to prevent sticking.
- Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Discard leftover marinade.
- Place thighs on the grill, leaving space between them. Cook for 5-6 minutes on the first side without moving to create grill marks.
- Flip chicken and cook for another 5-6 minutes. For bone-in thighs, add 5-7 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 165°F (175°F is juicier).
- Transfer chicken to a clean plate and let rest for 5 minutes to redistribute juices.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and lime wedges. Serve warm.
Notes
Chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts and stay juicy even if slightly overcooked. If you don’t have a grill, you can bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes or cook in a skillet for 6-7 minutes per side. Always reserve a portion of marinade before adding raw chicken if you wish to use it as a sauce, and boil it for 2 minutes if using the marinade that touched raw meat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 thigh
- Calories: 280
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 26
Keywords: grilled chicken, cilantro lime chicken, weeknight dinner, easy chicken recipe, keto friendly, low carb, meal prep, summer grilling