Description
Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs are a vibrant, juicy, and flavorful dish combining fresh lime juice and zest with fragrant cilantro. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, delivering a refreshing taste with tender, moist chicken thighs, all made using simple, everyday ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 6 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
Marinade
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a mixing bowl, whisk together fresh lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, olive oil, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. This mixture will coat each piece of chicken with vibrant flavors.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Make sure each piece is well coated, then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for deeper flavor infusion.
- Preheat the Pan: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a splash of olive oil to ensure a nice sear without sticking. The hot pan will give the chicken skin a crispy, golden crust.
- Cook the Chicken Thighs: Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the skillet and cook without moving for about 6-7 minutes until the skin is thoroughly crisped. Flip and continue cooking for another 6-8 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let it Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest 5 minutes to lock the juices in. This step is key for tender, moist chicken. Serve garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges for extra zest.
Notes
- Use bone-in chicken for juiciness and flavor retention.
- Do not skip resting the chicken after cooking to enhance tenderness.
- Marinate for longer, up to 4 hours, for more intense flavor.
- High heat searing ensures a crispy skin and pleasant texture.
- Chop cilantro just before adding to the marinade to preserve its fresh, bright aroma.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: cilantro lime chicken, chicken thighs recipe, quick chicken dinner, fresh lime chicken, easy chicken thighs
