Made with a bright, citrus marinade that screams fun and explodes with flavor, this recipe for Tequila Lime Chicken will have you more excited about Tequila Tuesday than ever before. Pair it with my Southwestern Brussels Sprouts and Classic Margarita for the ultimate photo-worthy meal!
This recipe has not only become a staple in my kitchen, but a favorite among my friends and family as well. I’ve brought my Tequila Lime Chicken to dinner parties, summertime barbecues, and birthdays, always with the same resounding response: ‘We want more!’ This is one of my favorite recipes to share with people who think chicken breast is boring, because trust me; this Tequila Lime Chicken is anything but boring.
What will I need to make tequila lime chicken?
To make Tequila Lime Chicken, you will need boneless and skinless chicken breasts, freshly squeezed lime juice, the tequila of your choice (I use silver), sugar or erythritol, fresh garlic, fresh cilantro, olive oil, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Don’t worry about the alcohol content in the tequila, the alcohol burns off as the chicken cooks, so you’re left with nothing but delicious flavors and the dish is family-friendly.
The only kitchen tools you’re going to need are a large bowl or ziploc bag for your marinade and a grill to cook up your delicious chicken on! If you don’t have a grill, you can pan-sear, bake, or air-fry this Tequila Lime Chicken. Any of these methods will work just fine, but I’ve found that the grill renders the juiciest and most flavorful results.
How to Make Tequila Lime Chicken
- Prepare the marinade by combining the lime juice, tequila, sugar, garlic, cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a ziploc bag or large bowl.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste, then add them to the marinade.
- Marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight in the fridge.
- Heat your grill to medium high. Remove your chicken from the marinade and grill for about 5-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
- Transfer from the grill to a plate, then cover with foil and let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with lime wedges and fresh cilantro for garnish.
Recipe
Tequila Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb chicken breast boneless and skinless
- ½ cup lime juice fresh squeezed
- ¼ cup tequila 1800 Reposado
- 1 tablespoon Erythritol
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
- 2 teaspoons cumin ground
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
Instructions
For the Marinade
- Combine all ingredients in a ziplic bag with the chicken.
- Marinate for at least 4 hours but up to overnight in the refrigerator.
To Make the Chicken
- Turn on grill to medium high heat. I have a fancy indoor grill that has a "chicken" setting.
- If using a traditional outdoor grill, cook for 5-6 minutes on each side. If using an indoor grill, grill it until it tells you its done 🙂
- Remove from the grill and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Servings and Substitutions
These are some of my favorite serving styles and substitutions for Tequila Lime Chicken:
- If you don’t have chicken breasts, boneless and skinless chicken thighs work great in this recipe as well.
- The grill is my favorite way to cook Tequila Lime Chicken because of the flavor it lends and the gorgeous grill marks it makes, but you can also pan-sear or bake the chicken if you don’t have access to a grill.
- Save a few extra lime wedges and fresh cilantro for garnish, it makes for a stunning presentation that is guaranteed to impress.
- For a meal that is both healthy and delicious, my Southwestern Brussels Sprouts make the perfect side dish for this Tequila Lime Chicken.
Make Ahead Ideas
This Tequila Lime Chicken recipe makes for a fantastic make ahead meal. You can leave your chicken breasts in the marinade overnight if you want to prep it the night before cooking. Additionally, once your chicken is in the marinade bag you can store the bag (make sure it’s airtight) for up to 8 weeks in the freezer. You’ll just need to take it out a day or two prior to cooking to let it thaw out in the fridge. I love planning ahead and this makes it super easy for easy cooking later on.
If you want to prep several meals at once to eat throughout the week, this recipe is fantastic in large batches for meal prep. Cooked Tequila Lime Chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I’m a little obsessed with this marinade, so I love freezing my leftovers to use in the following weeks for quick and delicious meals.