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Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos have fantastic flavor and the entire dish comes together in minutes. Skillet dinners are so easy and this is one of our favorites.

Close up image of cilantro chicken tacos
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Take your tacos to the next level with these Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos. The chicken is marinated and then grilled to perfection. The cilantro lime flavor makes the chicken a family favorite.

We make these tacos for Cinco de Mayo every year because of how easy they are to make. You may even like this Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe, Crock Pot Birria Tacos or Chicken Tostadas Recipe.

Table of Contents

Why We Love This Recipe

These chicken taco make the perfect weeknight meal. The marinade is made with simple ingredients and you can easily cook the chicken on the grill or on the skillet.

Add your favorite toppings and serve with your favorite side dish recipes.

Ingredients

Cilantro Lime chicken tacos ingredients - chicken, limes, avocado oil, cilantro, garlic powder, honey, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, tortillas
  • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
  • Limes
  • Avocado Oil
  • Cilantro
  • Garlic Powder
  • Honey
  • Ground Cumin
  • Chili Powder
  • Salt and Black Pepper
  • Corn Tortillas or Flour Tortillas

Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and recipe.

Variations Ideas

  • Chicken – We made this chicken with chicken breast but you can also use skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders.
  • Cilantro Lime Marinade – We used simple seasoning to marinade the chicken in. Feel free to add Homemade Taco Seasoning or a cilantro lime vinaigrette for a delicious variations.
  • Oil – We like using avocado oil for the flavor, but you can substitute it with canola oil or olive oil.

How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

Combining the marinade ingredients together in a bowl with a whisk

Step 1 – In a bowl, whisk together lime juice, avocado oil, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, honey, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.

Marinating chicken in a glass dish

Step 2 – Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring it is well coated. Seal or cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.

Cooking chicken on an indoor grill

Step 3 – Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it on the hot grill. Discard the remaining marinade.

Slicing chicken on a cutting board with a knife

Step 4 – Grill the chicken for 5 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing into thin strips.

  • Step 5 – Warm the tortillas on the grill or in a skillet.
  • Step 6 – Assemble the tacos by placing a few slices of grilled chicken on each tortilla.

Recipe Tips

  • Marinating Chicken – We like making this recipe because you can marinate the chicken ahead of time. Marinate the chicken no more than 4 hours as it could cause the chicken to be mushy.
  • Shred Chicken – Feel free to slice the chicken or shred the chicken with a stand mixer.
  • Cooking Chicken – Cooking time will vary when cooking chicken. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is fully cooked.
close up image of cilantro chicken tacos

Serving Suggestions

When we make these chicken tacos we love to serve with cilantro lime rice, refried beans and black beans. Chips and queso are always on the menu and we even like to make this Homemade Pico de Gallo to top the tacos.

Close up image of cilantro chicken tacos

Topping Ideas

Not only is it so delicious but toppings are just fun. Set up a topping bar and let everyone choose their favorites.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store Leftovers

Store your leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. The leftovers will last about 4-5 days.

How to Reheat

Reheat the leftovers in the microwave or in the oven until heated through.

More Easy Chicken Tacos Recipes

More Easy Taco Recipes

If you make these Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos Recipe, please leave a comment or a star review. We love hearing from you.

Review Pin Print

Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

5 from 5 votes
Cilantro lime chicken tacos have fantastic flavor and the entire dish comes together in minutes. Try this for your next taco night.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Cuisine Mexican
Course Main Course
Calories 318
Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 limes (juiced)
  • 1/4 cup Avocado Oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
  • 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 8 small Corn or flour tortillas
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Instructions

For the Marinade:

  • In a bowl, whisk together lime juice, avocado oil, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, honey, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring it is well coated. Seal or cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.

Grilling:

  • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
  • Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it on the hot grill. Discard the remaining marinade.
  • Grill the chicken for 5 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing into thin strips.

To Assemble:

  • Warm the tortillas on the grill or in a skillet.
  • Assemble the tacos by placing a few slices of grilled chicken on each tortilla.

Recipe Notes

Marinade Time: For best results, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but no more than 4 hours. Longer marinating times can cause the lime juice to start breaking down the proteins in the chicken, affecting its texture.
If your chicken breasts are thick, consider pounding them to an even thickness for more uniform cooking on the grill.
Be sure your grill is preheated to medium-high. This helps in getting a good sear on the chicken, locking in juices and adding a nice charred flavor.
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should reach 165°F to ensure it’s fully cooked and safe to eat.
Allow the grilled chicken to rest for a few minutes after cooking. This helps redistribute the juices throughout the meat, making it more tender and flavorful when sliced.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 318kcal, Carbohydrates 29g, Protein 15g, Fat 17g, Saturated Fat 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat 3g, Monounsaturated Fat 10g, Trans Fat 0.01g, Cholesterol 36mg, Sodium 95mg, Potassium 361mg, Fiber 4g, Sugar 3g, Vitamin A 180IU, Vitamin C 11mg, Calcium 63mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

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5 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Annie says:

    5 stars
    Used as base inspiration I guess! 1lb ground turkey in oiled crock pot, this recipe’s measurements halved of taco seasoning, cilantro, and lime juice; 1/2-3/4C chicken broth – 8hrs low including Xhrs without lid just to evaporate broth. It came out so delicious!

  2. Donna Woods says:

    I’m going to try this one, how would the ground turkey be instead of chicken