This Asian inspired marinade makes chicken extra flavorful thanks to the cilantro, lime, ginger, and fish sauce. A little bit of mayonnaise in the marinade keeps the chicken juicy and tender.
- Prep Time:
10 mins - Cook Time:
20 mins - Total Time:
30 mins *
* Plus marinating time
It’s mid-January. Is everyone still trying to eat healthy? Given that 2020 was, well, 2020, I’m making no resolutions of any kind when it comes to food. Enjoying great food has always been my life plan! Fortunately, with this recipe for cilantro lime chicken, you don’t have to choose. You can eat healthy and enjoy a delicious meal all in one.
It’s probably no surprise that I have an affinity for Vietnamese dishes and could probably live on vermicelli noodle bowls indefinitely. However, sometimes I’m not in the mood to put together all the components for a noodle bowl (even an easy one like the lemongrass beef). This recipe delivers all the bold Asian flavors I often crave but with less work.
Tips for Making Flavorful and Juicy Chicken
- Use chicken thighs. Chicken thighs may have more fat than chicken breasts but they also have more flavor and stay juicier when roasted. You can swap in boneless, skinless chicken breasts if you really want. Depending on the thickness of the breasts, you may need to increase the cooking time 5-10 minutes.
- Fish sauce is key. I know many people are put off by the smell of fish sauce but nothing adds the same flavor. The marinade will smell really pungent when the chicken is seared but it will mellow out after it’s cooked.
- Don’t skip the mayo. Mayonnaise may seem like an odd ingredient but it helps distribute the flavors in the marinade and helps the chicken brown nicely according to Kenji López-Alt (who knows his food science).
Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes (plus marinating time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasted
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Asian inspired marinade makes chicken extra flavorful thanks to the cilantro, lime, ginger, and fish sauce. A little bit of mayonnaise in the marinade keeps the chicken juicy and tender.
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 small shallot, cut into quarters
- 1 inch piece of ginger, cut in half
- 1 teaspoon chili paste (like sambal oelek)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Chopped cilantro, for serving
Instructions
- Make the marinade. In the bowl of a food processor, purée all the ingredients except the chicken until well blended and mostly smooth.
- Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken in a clean bowl and pour the marinade over the chicken. Using tongs, toss the chicken in the marinade until all the pieces are well coated. Cover the bowl and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (or up to 8 hours).
- Prep. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over high heat until it starts to shimmer. Add half of the chicken and brown on both sides (2-3 minutes per side). Transfer the chicken to a small baking sheet and repeat with the remaining oil and chicken. Roast the chicken in oven until it is cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Food and Wine, August 2020.
Amy B says
This was great! I am pretty sure my kids licked their plates clean! Thanks for all of the great ideas!
Taming of the Spoon says
Thank you so much, Amy! Any dinners that keep the kids happy is a winner for me. And thank you for coming back to leave a comment and 5-star review.