Mexican Chicken Marinade
This Mexican chicken marinade is a quick and easy recipe that packs your dinner full of flavor! Use it for making the easiest, most flavorful dinner ever. This is one easy chicken marinade you'll want to keep on repeat.
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Mexican Chicken Marinade Recipe
I love that this marinade lets me throw together a healthy dinner with maximum flavor in no time at all. It's become one of my favorites for busy weeknights because it's so quick to make and the flavor is always a hit.
This Mexican chicken marinade has saved me on more than one occasion. After breakfast or during my lunch hour (or honestly, sometimes right after work), I'll throw this marinade together and let the chicken sit in it 'til I'm ready to make dinner.
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Then I just make an easy side like sauteed zucchini or grilled veggie skewers and dinner is ready to go! This easy marinade means that a few minutes of prep turns into a dinner the whole family will be excited about.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
The best part about this recipe is that it comes together in just a few minutes. Easy peasy!
You can cook the chicken in a skillet, in the oven, or on the grill - whatever works best for you. So this recipe works for all seasons, too.
Packed full of cilantro and lime, the flavor of this marinade makes chicken that works well for salads, tacos, and bowls.
Ingredients
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a homemade Mexican marinade that will blow any store-bought option out of the water. All you need are fresh cilantro, fresh limes (you'll use both the zest and the juice), olive oil, honey, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
Instead of honey, you can use agave nectar or maple syrup. You can omit the sweetener completely, but I wouldn't. It adds a hint of sweetness to balance the zesty lime flavor.
Despite its name, most chili powders are pretty mild. If you'd like, you can use a spicier one, like ancho chili powder, to give it a little kick.
As for the chicken, I usually use boneless chicken thighs (or bone-in) and drumsticks when I make this recipe because they're so juicy. You can absolutely use boneless skinless chicken breasts or even wings if you like.
Don't have olive oil on hand? Avocado oil makes a nice substitute.
Not in the mood for chicken? This recipe also works great for seafood! Try it as a shrimp marinade or for larger pieces of fish like cod or tuna.
How to Make Mexican Chicken Marinade
This easy chicken marinade comes together so fast! It only requires a few simple steps and basic ingredients you likely already have on hand. Here's what to do:
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full step by step instructions! ⬇️
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- In a large bowl, combine the cilantro, zest from one of the limes, olive oil, lime juice, honey, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Blend everything together using an immersion blender (affiliate). If you don't have one, just use a food processor or regular blender.
- Place your chicken in a big zip top bag and pour the marinade in, making sure it's fully covered. Or, you can use your original mixing bowl. Just cover it with a lid or plastic wrap and place it in the fridge. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Even in that short window, you'll get tons of bold flavor in the chicken.
Always start grilling recipes with a clean grill.
If you need some guidance on cleaning methods, check out my post on how to clean a grill.
- When you're ready to cook, heat up your grill and give the grates a good clean, then spray with grill spray so nothing sticks. Remove the chicken from the bag and place it directly on the grill, discarding the leftover marinade. Grill the chicken until it's cooked through and reaches a safe internal temperature, flipping partway through so both sides get that nice char.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving, then sprinkle on the remaining lime zest, a little extra chili powder, and some chopped cilantro for a fresh finishing touch.
Madison's Tips for Success:
I've tested this recipe and have successfully made it many times. Use these tips to ensure that it turns out perfectly for you, too!
- Want even more flavor? Let the chicken marinate for 2 to 8 hours instead of just 30 minutes, and you can go up to 24 hours, but no longer than that. Meal prepping? You can mix the marinade in advance and just pour it over the chicken on the day you plan to cook it.
- This marinade isn't just for the grill! You can also bake the meat in a 350°F (177°C) oven or sear it in a skillet on the stovetop. Just be sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer either way, since cook time will vary by method.
- Never use leftover marinade that has had raw chicken sitting in it. If the raw chicken has touched it, it needs to be thrown out.
Mexican Chicken Marinade FAQs
Absolutely! This chicken marinade can be made a few days ahead of time if you need to get some meal prep done. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge and give it a good shake before using.
Don't leave your chicken in this marinade for more than 12 hours. After that, the acid in the lime juice can start to break down the meat and make the chicken mealy.
Transfer cooled chicken to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months and then thaw completely before reheating.
Yes! This is a great meal prep trick. Place the raw chicken and marinade together in a freezer bag, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight and the chicken will finish marinating as it defrosts.
Serving Ideas
This Mexican chicken marinade makes the easiest chicken taco marinade for tacos, but it's just as good shredded into burrito bowls or sliced over a salad.
Try it with grilled corn salad or traditional Mexican rice for a complete meal, or top it with pineapple cilantro salsa for something fresh.
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Mexican Chicken Marinade
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ bunch cilantro roughly one cup, stems and leaves
- 2 medium limes zested and juiced
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons chili powder plus extra for sprinkling
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, thighs, legs, or wings
Instructions
- Using an immersion blender (affiliate), combine ½ bunch cilantro, half of the lime zest, ½ cup olive oil, 0.5 medium limes, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons chili powder , ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Clean and trim the chicken, then place it into a gallon-size Ziploc bag.
- Cover the chicken with the marinade and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 24 hours).
- Heat the grill to 350°F (177°C). Once hot, clean the grill grates and spray with grill spray.
- Remove the chicken from the bag using grill tongs and place it on the grill over direct heat. Discard the remaining marinade.
- Grill for about 18 minutes, flipping every 6 minutes (one side of the thighs will be grilled twice), or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Garnish with the remaining lime zest, a teaspoon or so of chili powder, and more chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 12 hours for maximum flavor.
- No grill? You can bake this in a 350°F (177°C) oven or sear it in a skillet on the stovetop.
- Leftovers keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Other Chicken Marinade Recipes
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Tried this marinade on the grill and the cilantro lime flavor was the star for me. Love how fresh and zesty this marinade is! Will definitely make another batch for my salads and tacos.
This added SO MUCH FLAVOR! Easy and a great way to use up that excess bunch of cilantro in my produce bin!
This marinade is so flavorful without being overpowering. I used it for a salad and the marinade added freshness and some citrusy kick. A quick and easy solution for a delicious meal.
I love the combination of cilantro, lime, and honey. It transforms ordinary chicken into a very delicious meal.
This is a perfect go-to recipe for homeschooling moms like us! The ingredients were easy to find, and the marinade came together quickly. I marinated the chicken and then cooked it on the grill. I loved the smoky flavor it gave. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Ooo this is like a simplified version of chimichurri sauce and I love having it in our fridge. Last night we used it on Sous Vide Steaks and it was SO yummy. Great recipe!
I buy cilantro every week to make this marinade. It's so good and the chicken comes out absolutely delicious grilled after soaking up all the lime flavor. Love it on salads for lunch during the week!
We made our chicken in the oven and thanks to this recipe, they were simply awesome! Thank you for the recipe!
A few years back I planted a lime tree in my yard, and now I have more limes than I know what to do with. I was searching around for ideas and came across this marinade. I absolutely love it. Now I am glad to have an almost endless supply of fresh limes. I'll have to convince some of my neighbors to start making it too so they can help me keep up with my tree.