Lime Chicken infused with garlicky, savoury lime flavours! The trick to getting depth of flavour in a simple lime marinade is to use soy sauce for saltiness, plus a touch of sugar for great caramelisation.
Fabulous for a quick midweek meal and ESPECIALLY great for the BBQ! Bonus: super healthy at less than 300 calories for a whole chicken breast.
Lime Chicken
If you love lime flavour – and I’m yet to meet anyone who doesn’t – this Lime Chicken has your name written all over it.
It’s juicy. It’s caramelised. And it truly tastes of lime. (gasp shock horror!)
(PS The key is to use lime ZEST. That’s where most of the lime flavour is 👌🏻)
Grill it. Pan fry it. You can even BAKE it!
And it’s HEALTHY, clocking in at under 300 calories per serving!
Lime Marinade for Chicken
The trick with fresh citrus based marinades is getting depth of flavour into it. If you just use lime juice, salt and garlic, the flavour is quite flat and the chicken – especially if using chicken breast – will lack something (because breast has virtually no fat, and fat = flavour).
So I add a bit of sugar and olive oil (so the chicken caramelises when cooked), use soy or fish sauce for the salt (adds complexity but doesn’t taste fishy OR Asiany!) and throw in chopped cilantro / coriander for another layer of flavour!
Actually, this marinade is based on Vietnamese marinades, like the one I use in my Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Bowl and Vietnamese LemongrassPork Cutlet. The Vietnamese know their marinades, that’s for sure!!
But this one doesn’t taste Asian. 🙂
How long to marinade chicken
For this Lime Marinade, chicken is best marinated for 12 to 24 hours. It will make the outside a touch white because the amount of lime juice in this marinade “cooks” the chicken a bit (think ceviche).
But it doesn’t take it so far that the chicken starts to break down so don’t be alarmed. In fact, this marinade is fine for 48 hours, though I wouldn’t take it further than that.
TIP: I like to prepare freezer bags of the chicken in marinade then immediately pop it in the freezer. Then the night before, put it in the fridge and let it defrost for 24 hours, during which time it will marinate.
What to serve with Lime Chicken
The Lime Marinade makes the chicken juicy on the inside and injects with flavour so you won’t need a sauce with it. And after resting the chicken for a few minutes before serving it, some of those juices will sweat to the surface, like you see below.
As for what to serve on the side, here are a few suggestions!
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Lime Coconut Rice (pictured below) – lime overload?? Nope! Lime tastes different when cooked with the chicken vs in a coconut rice. 😇
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Keeping with the healthy theme, serve this with Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
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Mushroom Rice – because this goes with everything!
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Lemon Potato Salad (bright lemon flavours!) – or everybody’s favourite creamy Bacon Potato Salad
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Sweet/savoury Fondant Sweet Potato for contrast against the citrusy chicken
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Super Quick Couscous Salad – great emergency side with leftovers for lunch!
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Leafy greens with French Dressing or Balsamic Dressing
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Warm crusty rolls slathered with butter, Garlic Bread or Quick Cheesy Garlic Bread
Enjoy! ~ Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Lime Marinated Grilled Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- 600-750g / 1.2 - 1.5 lb chicken breasts (4 pieces) or boneless thigh (Note 1)
- Zest of 1 lime (zest before juicing)
- 4 tbsp lime juice (1 - 2 limes)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro/coriander (optional)
- 1 tbsp fish sauce (OR 2 tbsp soy sauce) (Note 2)
To Cook
- 1 - 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Use fist (or rolling pin!) to pound fat end of chicken breast to about 1.7 cm / 2/3" thickness (not required for thigh).
- Place chicken and Marinade in a ziplock bag, massage to distribute marinade evenly. Place on a plate or bowl and refrigerate for 24 hours (min 12 hrs, max 48 hrs - Note 3)
- Remove chicken, discard Marinade. Cook using one method below.
To Cook (cooked internal temp 165F/75C)
- STOVE: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook chicken for 3 minutes on each side or until caramelised and golden brown (see video!).
- BBQ: Brush grills with oil and heat to medium high (or medium if your BBQ is strong). Cook chicken for 3 minutes on each side until caramelised (see video!).
- OVEN: Preheat oven to 425F/220C. Bake 15 minutes, then flick broiler/grill on high and grill for 3 minutes to caramelise surface & finish cooking.
Rest and Serve:
- Transfer chicken to a serving plate, cover loosely with foil and rest for 3 minutes.
- Garnish with extra coriander/cilantro, lime wedges and chilli if desired, then serve!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Lime Chicken originally published 20 April, 2016. Updated with new photos, brand new video, new writing, and step photos. No change to recipe – readers love it as is!
More great chicken marinades
LIFE OF DOZER
He’s thanking his lucky stars that the largest one was still too small for him…. I couldn’t do it up around his chest. It was stretched so tight, the buttons almost popped off! 😂
Arpita says
Oh my my!! I love lime flavour and this chicken looks absolutely yummy..
Nagi says
Thanks Arpita! N x
Roslyn NORRISH says
Hi Nagi..take Dozer to Horseland they will custom fit some fantastic coats for your boy..my girls look great.
Nagi says
GENIUS IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carol says
Love the photo of Dozer with his raincoat on. I once tried that plus rain boots for my small dog who promptly sat down and would not move until I took all the gear off.
Nagi says
Ba ha ha! I can just imagine! Pretty sure Dozer would not know how to walk if I put boots on him 😂 N x
Jack Bender says
Keep up the good work, I love your recipes.
Nagi says
Thank you Jack, I’m glad you are enjoying them! N x
anita says
Does your marinated chicken spatter when cooking on the stove top? I love cooking marinated chicken but I seem to spatter every time 🙁
Nagi says
Hi Anita! No more than other recipes 🙂 Have you got a splatter guard?? N x
Carol says
Can’t wait to try. How much fiber in the nutritional values. I do Keto and would like to know “net carbs”.
Nagi says
Hi Carol! I’m afraid the calculator I use does not provide that 🙂 Sorry! N x
ALLISON ROMANG says
Would it be worth it to use parsley and not cilantro or to leave out the cilantro? Can not abide the stuff. Thanks!!
Ali
Nagi says
Definitely! It’s the lime flavour that’s the star here, I think I even wrote that cilantro is optional in the recipe! N x
Dan says
without a doubt, this was the best marinated chicken recipe ever. Really! Used BLSL thighs.
Followed marinade recipe exactly as written. Thank yoy, Nagi.
Nagi says
Wahoo, that’s great Dan!
Mike says
There should be a law against this website – every time I think I’ve found what I want to cook next I see something even better! Do you ever sleep or do you just cook 24/7?
Nagi says
😂 sorrynotsorry Mike!!
Mike says
😀
Laura says
Easy and delicious, kids ate every bit on their plate, thanks Nagi!
Nagi says
Winner winner!! That’s awesome Laura!
Natalie says
Was looking for a chicken marinade that was not spicy as I was also making your jerk chicken. This was quick & easy however I did use fresh lemon juice as I didn’t have limes and chicken thighs. I was surprised how tasty and juicy the chicken was and love the idea of freezing the marinated chicken. What a great time saver.
Nagi says
Woohoo! So glad you loved it Natalie
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
I knew you’d have the recipe for me. We have chicken thawing out and I need to use up my lime. The chicken looks wonderful and I can’t wait to make it. Dozer looks so adorable!!!!!
Nagi says
Awww! Hope you LOVE IT Marisa! N xx
Brenda says
Could I use this marinade on a salmon steak?
Nagi says
Yes! but only for 20 minutes or so otherwise it will “cook” the salmon. 🙂
Lorraine says
Thanks Nagi, I’d love to try this on salmon I’m having this weekend.
Nagi says
YES. So good on salmon! I will write a list of great marinades for salmon in the coming weeks using marinades for other recipes on my site! N x
Sandy says
This was just yum. Thanks
Nagi says
Fantastic! I’m so glad you enjoyed this Sandy, thanks for letting me know! N x
Lisa Kelly says
I made this last night for my daughter and I. I had prepped and frozen it a few weeks ago and last night was a busy night so it was the perfect time to pull this out of the freezer and try it. The flavours were so fresh and delicious. We both loved it. This will become a regular dish for sure.
Gloria | Food Oh Glorious Food says
Made this most delicious delicious dish tonight. From J Daddy: “This is really good. Can you make up more portions and fill our freezer with this marinated chicken? I want this dinner more often!” This is the ultimate 10-minute dinner. That’s how long it took me from start to finish to cook and plate this amazing dish. It almost took me longer to toss through some salad dressing on the greens! I most certainly will be making up a few more portions for the freezer! Yum yum yum!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFBdbiRqyRX/
Nagi says
Awwww!!! Thank you Gloria, I am SO GLAD he enjoyed it!!! PS Notice that I started putting Marinating Time at the top of recipe?! For YOU!! 🙂
Gloria | Food Oh Glorious Food says
Love it long time! Keep up the great work – I made the Spicy Beef Hokkien Noodles tonight using the rest of my jar of Charlie. Oh oh oh soooooo good. I’ll comment on that post in a bit. Oh, and I have THREE bags of this glorious chicken in my freezer!
Vikki says
Absolutely delish! Made this with chicken thighs in the Webber Q & it was a hit! (who thought we’d still be barbequing at the end of April!) Super easy, great flavours and the ultimate compliment from the husband “hon, you can make this any time you want!” Thanks Nagi you’ve made week day cooking so much more enjoyable!
Nagi says
Isn’t this weather insane Vikki??? I took Dozer to the beach at 5pm this afternoon and even I was swimming!! So glad you enjoyed this Vikki!
Sarah says
That looks delicious! Looks like a great way to add flavour to chicken!
Nagi says
Thanks so much Sarah! N x
Keith @ How's it Lookin? says
I gotta try this. Lime marinated sounds pretty amazing, thanks a lot
Nagi says
Hope you do try it Keith!!! It really is SO DELICIOUS!!
Susan in PDX says
So excited to try this. I do something similar with lemon instead of lime except I pound my chicken flat. Lime and the addition of fish sauce sound heavenly. Yes there is such a thing as artisnal fish sauce AND soy sauce. You must try them both!! I get them from Amazon.
Nagi says
I was tut tutted by a friend for not knowing about aged fish sauce! I’m getting some tomorrow, heading into a Chinese grocery store area to stock up!! When you make yours, do you use fish sauce with lemon?? I must admit I haven’t tried that! I’m so used to lime with fish sauce, classic South East Asian combo 🙂 Happy weekend Susan! N x
Susan in PDX says
I had this last night for dinner. Amazeballs!! I used chicken thighs because I had them on hand. I love the lime, fish sauce, Brown sugar combo. The chicken was such a beautiful bronze color. I did add a little liquid smoke to the marinade because I only have a gas grill and since it was skinless, boneless chicken, I knew there wouldn’t be enough drippings to create smoke.
Okay, next time I’ll venture into lemon and fish sauce land…maybe. 🙂
Nagi says
WOAH!!! WOO HOO!!! Stamp of approval from Susan! 🙂 I need to get some kind of marker to stamp recipes that are Tried and Tested by you!!! N x
Susan says
Lol. You’re so funny and sweet. Loving your recipes. I only follow two blogs and you’re one of them. ?
Susan in PDX says
You know…I never use fish sauce with lemon. Why is that? Maybe I need to try it. That’s why I was excited about your marinade with lime and fish sauce. They are just a natural together. I don’t think I use lemon and soy sauce together either.
I pound the breasts with my handy flat meat pounder between two sheets of plastic wrap, stick them in a bag to marinate for at least an hour and sometimes longer. There’s no juice in the marinade, so it can sit overnight if you want. My marinade is just olive oil, lemon zest (I save the juice for the salad dressing), garlic, salt and pepper. Sometimes I use fresh thyme.
Nagi says
Me too Susan! I am pretty sure I’ve never used lemon with marinade… 🙂 I guess because fish sauce is south east asian and it’s all about limes there! Your lemon marinade is a classic, I use similar quite often and I like your tip re: salad dressing!