Zippy, garlicky, and bursting with fresh herby flavor, this cilantro lime chicken is an easy dinner you’ll make on repeat!
It’s a blessing that this recipe is so easy, as it is one of my family’s most requested dinners. While many cilantro lime chicken recipes rely on an overnight marinade, I’ve found that a bold spice blend brings so much flavor that you don’t need to plan ahead!
It’s the same trick I use for my Balsamic Chicken, Garlic Dijon Chicken, and beyond. Here, paprika, nutmeg, and garlic powder give the chicken thighs a sweet-savory depth that perfectly balances the zing of fresh lime.
Everything comes together in one pan, which means fewer dishes and richer flavor. The savory chicken drippings mix with white wine, lime juice, and cilantro for a pan sauce is so tasty you’ll want to eat it by the spoonful. The chicken thighs simmer in the sauce until they’re juicy and fall-apart-tender. Incredible!
- Tip: Turn them into a tasty lunch the next day! Shred the chicken and toss with black bean and corn salad for a protein-packed power lunch, or make a zippy healthy chicken salad.
Table of Contents
Cilantro Lime Chicken Ingredients and Substitutions
Fresh cilantro and lime juice are a perfect duo that may call to mind Mexican cuisine, but they are also gloriously used in Mediterranean cooking, where we balance the lime’s zing with fragrant warming spices. You’ll need:
- Chicken: I love juicy, crispy-skinned chicken thighs, but you can use any cut of chicken you have. Just adjust the cooking time so the chicken registers at 165°F at the thickest part.
- Extra virgin olive oil: There’s no substitute for good Mediterranean olive oil! Use a high quality extra virgin variety for the best flavor.
- Garlic: Adds that addictive sweet-savory quality. If you avoid garlic, substitute with shallot or green onion.
- Limes: Add a sharp zing. Lemons will work too, just keep in mind they tend to be slightly sweeter.
- White wine: Dry white wine adds a rich depth of flavor, and most of the alcohol cooks off. If you avoid alcohol, swap with more chicken stock or broth and an extra squeeze of lime.
- Chicken broth: Use homemade stock or broth if you have it, or go for a low sodium store bought option.
- Cilantro: Both the stems and leaves add loads of flavor. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, this recipe is delicious with parsley.
- Spices: Spanish paprika, garlic powder, and nutmeg bring a warming, cozy quality to balance the zing of the lime. Salt and pepper perk everything up.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken
It’s a blessing that this cilantro lime chicken is so easy, as it is one of my family’s most requested dinners. Here’s how it’s done:
- Get ready. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Roughly chop 6 garlic cloves. Chop 1 bunch of cilantro, discarding and tough stems.
- Season the chicken. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Pat 8 bone in, skin on chicken thighs dry, then season all over with the spice mix. Be sure to season underneath the skin as well. Let the chicken thighs sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes while your oven heats.
- Brown the chicken. Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken thighs with the skin side down and wait until the skin releases from the pan and turns golden, 5-7 minutes. Flip and wait until the second side is golden, about 4 minutes. Remove the chicken from skillet and set aside briefly.
- Make the cilantro lime chicken sauce. Lower the heat to medium low and add 1 cup white wine to deglaze the skillet. Let cook for a few minutes to reduce, then add 2 cups of chicken broth. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Stir in the cilantro (save a little for garnish) and garlic, then juice in 2 limes.
- Simmer the chicken in the cilantro sauce. Return the chicken to the skillet and bring to a simmer once more. Simmer for about 5 minutes or so.
- Bake the chicken. Cover the skillet with the lid (or foil if you don’t have one). and transfer to the heated oven for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with more cilantro, if you like.
What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken
When you’re planning what to serve with cilantro lime chicken thighs, your number one goal is to take full advantage of the incredible pan sauce. A hunk of crusty bread more than does the trick. I also love the chicken on a bed of rice, with plenty of the sauce spooned over top. Round out the meal with something fresh and crunchy, like a mini sweet bell pepper salad.
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Ingredients
- 8 bone in, skin on chicken thighs
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 bunch cilantro, leaves and tender stems chopped
- 2 limes juiced
- 6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
For the Spice Mix
- 1 teaspoon sweet Spanish paprika (or hot paprika, if you like)
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Get ready. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Season the chicken. Mix the spices in a small bowl. Pat the chicken thighs dry, then season all over with the spice mix. Be sure to season underneath the skin as well. Let the chicken thighs sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes while your oven heats.
- Sear the chicken. Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken thighs with the skin side down and wait until the skin releases from the pan and turns golden, 5-7 minutes. Flip and wait until the second side is golden, about 4 minutes. Remove the chicken from skillet and set aside briefly.
- Make the cilantro lime sauce. Lower the heat to medium low and add the white wine to deglaze the skillet. Let cook for a few minutes to reduce, then add the broth. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Stir in the cilantro (save a little for garnish), lime juice, and garlic.
- Simmer the chicken in the cilantro lime sauce. Return the chicken to the skillet and bring to a simmer once more. Simmer for about 5 minutes or so.
- Bake the chicken. Cover the skillet with the lid (or foil if you don’t have one). and transfer to the heated oven for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with more cilantro, if you like.
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Notes
- Shop this recipe: Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients, including the olive oil and spices used in this recipe.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The pan sauce may solidify in your fridge; simple reheat over low heat. Alternatively, shred the chicken and into a healthy chicken salad, wrap, or as a topping for Caesar salad.
- 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).
Nutrition
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Help! I don’t have a cast iron skillet or a slow cooker, and I live in a place where neither of these items are available! Can I cook on the stove top in a normal frying pan or saucepan and then transfer to an oven proof Pyrex dish with a lid?
Hi, Salwa! Sure! That’ll work :).
I have made this recipe several times, and it’s always a hit! For those not wanting to use wine, I’ve found replacing it with 3/4 cup chicken broth works well. It doesn’t reduce quite as much, but it still produces delicious results!
Hi! Wondering if enameled cast iron will work as well as cast iron. I have both but have a lid for the enameled pan.
Sure, Mike. I think that would be just fine here.
This recipe is just amazing—the chicken is bold and tender. The sauce light but flavorful. I will definitely make this again for friends :).
Yay! I love hearing that! Thank you!!
Can I use regular paprika with this recipe?
Sure! Enjoy!
Prepared this for dinner last night. Wow! So delicious. Served it with a salad and crusty ciabatta rolls to mop up the sauce. Heaven. Trylu outstanding flavors.
Can you out the wine. what would be a substitute.
Hi, Alison! I have substituted more broth for the wine before. A little different taste, but still delish!
How big is your cast iron skillet, I feed 4 men and myself and I’m always cooking big healthy meals.
Hi, Carolyn! I typically use a 12″ cast iron skillet for my family of 4.
How much do you reduce the sauce before adding the chicken broth? The chicken thighs seemed to be swimming in the wine/lime juice/chicken broth sauce.
Thanks for all of your wonderful recipes!
Hi, Eileen. Unfortunately, I’ve never measured it exactly… it’s something I just eyeball. This recipe does make a lot of sauce, so that is normal.
Awesome recipe. Chicken so flavorful and tender.
So tasty and delicious!
I SOOOOO love your recipes & thank you from the bottom of my heart. A question… in some of your recipes I can successfully substitute skinless chix breasts successfully then again some aren’t as successful. Can I sub skinless in this recipe? Is there a rhyme or reason when substitution wouldn’t work?
I thank you, my family thanks you and my guests thank you for all you share!
Hi, Kathy! I have substituted chicken breasts in this recipe and found that it worked. Just keep an a close eye on the cooking time so the chicken doesn’t dry out.
THIS was fantastic! Easy to make. Only thing different I did was add some corn starch to the sauce to thicken it up after I took out of the oven. My son even said it was the best chicken he has ever had. Thank you!
Wonderful!! Thanks, David!
Could I transfer the chicken/sauce to a baking dish prior to baking? I currently don’t have a pan I can put straight into the oven.
Yes, Maria! That should work just fine.
Love your recipes ! ! !
Thanks, Nancy!
This dish was excellent! I didn’t add the wine, just more chicken broth and mixed some fresh chopped parsley with the cilantro. I also made the Greek Lemon Rice but switched out the lemon juice for lime juice! Really outstanding! Big winner dinner at my house. Will be making this again. Thanks for your wonderful, flavorful recipes!
Thanks for sharing, Lisa!!
Hi there!
Absolutely love this recipe but I find that that sauce comes out with almost a watery consistency. Am I doing something wrong or should I just use less white wine?
Thanks!
Hi, Madhav! I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. The sauce typically doesn’t thicken that much. You could try using less wine if you prefer.