We here in California LOVE Mexican food. It is a staple. And if you can keep it simple and make it at home then why not? This Spicy Lime Chicken is unbelievably easy to make, delicious and Whole 30/Paleo compliant!
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The Chicken:
I use bone in, skin on thighs for this recipe. If you prefer to toss in a couple of breasts you may, just know they won’t be as tender and juicy as the dark meat. If you choose to use breasts, make sure they are as close to the size of the thighs as you can get and again, they should be bone in, skin on. I know a lot of you shy away from skin on, I urge you not to. The best way to get moist, tender chicken is to keep the bone in and skin on. Besides, all the flavorful herbs and spices are on the skin! Drizzle with fresh lime juice and sprinkle with red pepper flakes….amazing.
If You Want to Bump it Up a Notch:
If you want to take an already amazing recipe and make it even more so, top this delicious chicken with my mango salsa! (<---recipe) OR serve alongside my Mexican Chopped Salad!
The Recipe: Spicy Lime Chicken
Tips: I recommend using bone in skin on thighs for this recipe. If you choose to use breasts be sure to get bone in, skin on and get them as close to the size of the thighs as you can. Sometimes you just can’t find small chicken breasts, if you use chicken breasts that are considerably larger than thighs, place them in the oven ten minutes before adding thighs to the broiler pan. This recipe is dairy free, gluten free, Whole 30/ and Paleo compliant.
Spicy Lime Chicken
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 6 -8
An easy to make spicy chicken dish! I serve it with my mango salsa, recipe link posted above. Note: I recommend using bone in skin on thighs for this recipe. If you choose to use breasts be sure to get bone in, skin on and get them as close to the size of the thighs as you can. Sometimes you just can't find small chicken breasts, if you use chicken breasts that are considerably larger than thighs, place them in the oven ten minutes before adding thighs to the broiler pan.
Ingredients
- You will need: A broiler pan and foil.
- 6 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on (see notes for using breasts above)
- Olive oil
- Ground coriander
- Ground cumin
- Sea salt
- Garlic powder
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Red pepper Flakes
- 2 Limes quartered
- 1/4 cup Cilantro (for garnish), chopped
Instructions
- Turn oven to broil and place oven rack in center position. Line the inside of broiler pan with foil and replace top.
- Brush both sides of chicken with olive oil and sprinkle evenly and generously with sea salt, pepper, coriander, cumin and garlic powder.
- Place prepared chicken skin side down on broiler pan and place in oven for 18 minutes. Turn skin side up and cook for 12 more minutes or until juices run clear. If skin starts to get too brown before chicken is done, cover with foil or move to the lowest oven rack the last few minutes of cooking.
- When chicken is done, remove from oven and drizzle with fresh lime juice. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes to taste and garnish with cilantro if desired. Serve with mango salsa and watch people be very, very happy.
Courses Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
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Can’t wait to make this! Adding to my meal plan this week. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Kristen! We love it. I teach it in my “Yo Quiero Mas” class and several of my clients have told me their kids ask them to make “The El Pollo Loco Chicken”…so I guess it tastes like El Pollo Loco 🙂 (but I am confident it is better)
Looks amazing! Pinning this so I can make it later 🙂
Thank you so much! I appreciate it:)
I am 29 and the only food I really make is chicken on the grill so I don’t know much, id like to surprise my wife with this!! What temperature does the oven go to for this?? thank you!!
Jeff you just set the oven on broil. Usually ovens just have one setting for that, but some offer you a high or a low. If that is the case set it on high. My brand new oven is one of the few with a broil option that allows a temperature setting, I use broil at 425. Good luck!
Hi Linda,
I just wanted to let you know that I love your recipe
http://www.theorganickitchen.org/spicy-lime-chicken/
I put together a list of some of my favourite recipes, in a recent post, and included your’s in it – http://bit.ly/31CleanEatingRecipes
Might be worth a mention on your blog
Either way, I love your site, keep up the great work!
Cheers
Ana Maria
Thank you Ana! I scheduled it for share on Facebook and Twitter. Great post!
I made this chicken last night for a dinner party with friends. They could not stop gushing about it. The mango salsa is INSANELY delicious, and the chicken was very moist. I’ll definitely be making this again, especially that salsa. It would be good with all kinds of things.
Well yay, yay, yay! I love hearing that. Thanks for taking the time to tell me. You made my day.
is it just me or are there measurements for the amount of spices?
Nope, it’s not you, I just say “sprinkle evenly with spices”. It’s pretty straight forward and I have never followed an amount and it’s always good!
WOW this chicken looks amazing! So flavorful, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!
I need these in my life! They look divine!
Thanks so much Daniela!
🙂 🙂