This bold, saucy cilantro lime chicken takes on a delicious Mediterranean twist with a special spice mixture and a zesty, garlicy sauce. Word to the wise, make every use of the tasty sauce!
You can make this cilantro lime chicken in the oven or your slow cooker. Be sure to grab my tips watch the video for how to make it. I also share lots of side and salad ideas to serve it with.
It seems I’m always fussing over one more chicken dish. One can never have enough good chicken recipes, can we?!
Of the many tasty chicken recipes I have shared with you, this cilantro lime chicken is on my family’s often-requested list. And when I’m looking for a comforting, unpretentious, tasty dish that is still company-worthy, I often turn to this one.
Leafy cilantro and fresh lime juice are the perfect duo. And, I know many associate them with Mexican cuisine, but they are also gloriously used in Mediterranean cooking–often combined with garlic and a host of warm spices (wait till you taste these chicken thighs!)
If you’re a fan of these flavors, you’ll want to also check out this grilled shrimp recipe with roasted garlic cilantro, and my spicy cilantro pesto–I’ve been adding this pesto on my soups and labneh cheese a lot lately.
Let’s get to the gist of this Mediterranean-style cilantro lime chicken recipe…
About this Cilantro Lime Chicken
This cilantro lime chicken recipes is all about bold, comforting flavors…and a million-dollar sauce! Clearly, the star flavor makers in this chicken recipe are cilantro and lime. But, even before these two come into play, we hit up our chicken thighs (or pieces of choice) with a bold Mediterranean spice mix including warm spices like sweet paprika and nutmeg.
Important tips here:
1. Apply spices all over the chicken pieces and even underneath the skin (so, yes, lift up the skins and get under there with a bit of the spice mixture.)
2. Sear or Brown the Chicken. I know that searing chicken thighs here might seem like an extra annoying step. But I think it’s totally worth it. Not is this step helpful in creating beautiful crispy skin, but browning, or caramelizing, the fat adds great flavor to this dish.
3. Now, once chicken has been flavored and properly browned, it finishes cooking in the oven (or slow cooker) in a tasty sauce of white wine, lime juice, broth, loads of garlic and fresh cilantro.
Word to the wise, this recipe makes a ton of sauce and it is LIQUID GOLD! So much flavor, you’re going to want to use it on top of rice or sop it up with a great crusty bread.
Oven Baked or Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
So, once the chicken has been browned and the delicious, sauce is ready, you can finish cooking in the oven or in the slow cooker.
1. Oven Baked Cilantro Lime Chicken
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Bring the sauce to a simmer, add lime juice, then nestle chicken in along with fresh cilantro. Let simmer for another 5 minutes, then cover and transfer the oven-safe pan to the heated oven. Bake for about 45 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked through (internal temperature should register 165 degrees F.)
2. Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
Once you’ve browned the chicken and prepared the sauce, transfer the sauce to the bottom of a large slow cooker or crockpot. Nestle the chicken into the sauce and add the fresh cilantro. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours (internal temperature should register 165 degrees F.)
My preference for this cilantro lime chicken is the oven, but both methods will work well.
What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken
Like I mentioned earlier, make sure to use it up! Lebanese rice makes a perfect bed for this saucy chicken thighs recipe, or, try couscous or plain orzo pasta. Whenever I have homemade Challah, I love dipping it in the sauce.
As far as cilantro lime chicken sides and salads, there are so many options I can recommend. Here are a few:
Sides: Greek potatoes; Baked Zucchini; Olive Oil Fried Brussels Sprouts; Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Salads: Greek green bean salad; Mediterranean Three Bean Salad; Tabouli
Watch the Video for How to Make this Cilantro Lime chicken Recipe:
More Recipes to Try
Sheet-Pan Rosemary Chicken and Vegetables
Mediterranean Wine Braised Lamb Shanks
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Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 pieces 1x
Description
All-star cilantro lime chicken recipe, prepared Mediterranean-style with a special spice mixture and cooked to tender perfection in a tasty garlic and lime sauce. You can cook this in the oven (my preference) or in the slow cooker (see notes for instructions.)
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on
- Private Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 limes, juice of
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 bunch cilantro, stems removed, chopped; more for garnish
Spice mix:
- 1 tbsp seasoned salt like this one
- 1 tsp sweet Spanish paprika (or hot paprika, if you like)
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, mix the spices. Pat the chicken thighs dry, and season each thigh on both sides with the spice mix. Be sure to season underneath the skin as well. Let the chicken thighs sit in room temperature for about 15 minutes.
- When ready, heat 1-2 tbsp of olive oil in a cast iron skillet with a lid like this one. Brown the chicken thighs deeply on both sides in the heated oil. Remove from skillet and set aside briefly.
- Lower the heat and deglaze the skillet with the white wine. Let cook to reduce and then add the broth.
- Bring the liquid to a simmer then add lime juice and garlic.
- Now return the chicken to the skillet; and toss in the cilantro. Bring to a high-simmer for about 5 minutes or so.
- Cover and transfer to the 375 degree F-heated oven for 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with more cilantro, if you like.
Notes
- Cook’s Tip: Do not skip step #3. Browning the chicken thighs here provides more appealing crispy skin and adds great flavor.
- Slow Cooker/Crockpot Instructions: Once you’ve browned the chicken and prepared the sauce, transfer the sauce to the bottom of a large slow cooker or crockpot. Nestle the chicken into the sauce and add the fresh cilantro. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours (internal temperature should register 165 degrees F.)
- Recommended for this Recipe: our Greek Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil and all-natural paprika and ground nutmeg.
- Visit Our Online Store to browse our olive oil bundles and our spice bundles, including Ultimate Mediterranean Spice Bundle
- Category: Entree
- Method: Braised or Baked
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Cilantro Lime Chicken, Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs, Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
*This post first appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2015 and has recently been updated with new information and media of readers’ benefit.
Just so yummy. Seriously still thinking about it and I made it last week.
★★★★★
So glad, Juliet! Thank you.
This is one of my favourite poultry recipes on your site. As I am making it for a second time, I thought I would like to suggest one slight step change in the recipe. I find that a better timing for preheating the oven is around after deglazing the pan.
Thanks so much for sharing Brendon! So glad to hear it.
Hi Suzy, this chicken recipe was a big hit with my family. The chicken was flavorful and juicy 😋😋. I served it with your Greek lemon rice recipe and I thought it paired well it.
Happy cooking in California 👩🏼🍳
★★★★★
Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing
This is by far my husband’s favorite! I make it at least once (even twice) a week. I mostly use boneless, skinless chicken thighs (30 minutes in the oven), but sometimes get a great price on chicken quarters (45 minutes in the oven). Either cut works great. Love all of your recipes.
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Elaine!
I’m looking forward to trying this recipe! I have a cast iron skillet with no lid. Do you recommend I use foil with the cast iron, or can I use my Le Crueset Dutch oven for the same results?
I have only made this in a cast iron skillet, but I think the dutch oven would work, as well!
Can this be made with a cast iron skillet without a cover? Can it just go into the oven uncovered?
The cover is needed, Sid. You can use foil to cover it for a time.
This is one of the best chicken recipes ever! However, I cut off excess fat and remove the skin prior to seasoning and frying. Turns out perfect every time.
★★★★★
Thank you so much! So glad
Very tasty, every family member loved it.
★★★★★
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing
I plan on making this dish what dry white wine do you recommend?
I typically go with sauvignon blanc, but really anything goes, here.
Family raved about this one. Full of lime flavor, tender, juicy. I’m salivating just describing it. Yum!
I’m keeping this recipe in my forever collection, loved it sooo much! I used drumsticks and it was amazing!!
★★★★★
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Ashley!
Absolutely delicious. My husband said it was the best chicken I’ve ever made!
★★★★★
Sounds like a win, Judy! So glad to hear it.
Hi,
the recipe looks good but what would be the best alternative to the white wine, something Non. Alcoholic
★★★★
Hello! You can either just totally omit it, or replace it with some chicken stock.
Thanks for this great recipe. Just a couple notes. The video is missing. There are no specific times for how long to brown the chicken or what to do with the extra oil in the skillet, which would be helpful.
★★★★★
Thanks for the heads up, Brian! We’ll check on those things!
Any tips for doing this recipe with skinless chicken thighs?
It is best with bone-in chicken. You can use boneless thighs, simply watch the cooking time…it will cook far quicker.
Hi – I remove the skin from the chicken thighs prior to seasoning and frying and it’s delicious.
★★★★★
Awesome, Kathy! Thanks for sharing
Chicken thighs are a hit or miss with my family , this dish was a major hit! My son and husband were elbowing each other to get more!
This has been a saving grace during these times , many thanks to you.
Yay!!! So glad y’all loved them!
I left you a msg on Instagram. Fabulous recipe!!!! I loved the seasonings.
★★★★★
Thank you so much, DeCarla!
I made this recipe twice this week and it is delicious. I love the sauce and lime flavor with all the wonderful spices. It is easy to substitute other spices and ingredients and still have a wonderful dish. The second time I made it, I didn’t have cilantro so I added basil and a little mint instead. Amazing. Also, I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs to eliminate some of the fat. It is still so delicious.
★★★★★
Thanks so much for sharing your variations, Ann! So happy to hear you love this one!
This is definitely one of my many favorite recipes of yours. This last time I made this I added vegetables on top of the
chicken and it was delicious. I love the limey juice that comes with this dish.
Excellent!!!
★★★★★
Great idea! Thanks so much, Shelly!