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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

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Cilantro Lime Hen – The Nation Cook dinner


Prepared in beneath 40 minutes, this Cilantro Lime Hen is a brand new household favourite dinner! Juicy, marinated rooster thighs baked to perfection within the oven!

FLAVORFUL CHICKEN THIGHS IN UNDER 40 MINUTES

Tender rooster thighs shortly marinated in a cilantro lime marinade and cooked till golden brown – doesn’t that sound SO good?! I get requested for extra rooster thigh recipes on a regular basis – and I get it – they’re a extra inexpensive reduce of rooster and so they pack quite a lot of taste. This Cilantro Lime Hen is a straightforward weeknight dinner that packs quite a lot of punch with out quite a lot of effort. It’s a easy dinner that goes nice as a most important dish, however can be utilized as a part of one other meal as properly (I believe the rooster could be fabulous in a Hen and Rice bowl!)

Looking down closely on a few Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs in a cast iron skillet.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: 

Can I take advantage of bottled lime juice as a substitute?

Technically sure however I don’t suggest it. Belief me, the recent lime is required. You want that lime not only for the recent squeezed juice, however the lime zest. The bottled lime juice gained’t provide the similar style. To me, it simply tastes like straight up acid and never like true lime juice .That little ingredient goes a good distance and is absolutely needed on this recipe. We wish a extremely good, pure lime taste right here.

Can I take advantage of rooster breast as a substitute of rooster thighs?

I suppose you possibly can swap the thighs out for rooster breasts, however take into account that this recipe was examined utilizing bone-in rooster thighs with the pores and skin on. For those who swap them out for rooster breasts, particularly boneless, it will change the cooking time required for it to be completed. I haven’t personally examined the recipe this fashion, however, if I have been going to, I’d keep watch over the rooster utilizing my meat thermometer out and take a look at the inner rooster temperature to verify it hits 165F earlier than eradicating them from the oven. Hen breasts (as a result of they’re chicken) cook dinner just a little sooner than darkish meat so bear that in thoughts. All the time go by inner temperature for doneness, not essentially cooking time.

Can I marinate the rooster in a single day?

The marinating bit is the vital half to present that rooster time to essentially take in the flavors. I wouldn’t do it any longer than 2-3 hours as a result of the juice from the limes mainly begins “cooking” the outside of the rooster by breaking down the rooster’s muscle fibers and you find yourself with mushy rooster. So, for those who plan on marinating in a single day for greater than 3 hours, I’d say that’s a no except you simply don’t add the lime juice.

Does the honey make this a candy dish?

Really, the sugars from the honey caramelize to present these nice coloration. It doesn’t make it actually candy. I suppose you possibly can skip utilizing the honey but it surely actually helps to steadiness out the opposite flavors properly for my part.

Can I make Cilantro Lime Hen on the grill?

I haven’t personally examined this on the grill. But when I have been to strive it out, that is what I’d do. Marinate the rooster as written. Preheat the grill to about 400F levels after which grill rooster for 10-14 minutes with the pores and skin facet down over direct warmth. Use tongs and flip the rooster over and grill for a further 4-10 minutes relying on how thick the rooster thighs are. All the time use a meat thermometer to make sure meat reaches a protected temperature (165F levels) earlier than serving. Go by temperature and never essentially by time. Understand that rooster thighs proceed to cook dinner just a little after you take away them from the grill. So, for those who pull these off when the inner temp reaches 160F, they might proceed to cook dinner to succeed in 165F whereas cooling. Typically I pull the thighs out just a little early so I don’t over cook dinner them and dry them out. Letting the rooster thighs relaxation additionally provides the thighs an opportunity to redistribute the juices to maintain it moist.

You actually must keep watch over the temperature of grills although. That warmth can get away from you fairly shortly for those who aren’t cautious and you’ll find yourself burning the skin whereas the within remains to be uncooked. I prefer to have a “cool zone” on my grill. Principally it’s one facet the place there isn’t a or very low warmth beneath. That approach if the temperature will get too sizzling on the lively facet of the grill, I can transfer the meat to that cooler facet whereas I get it beneath management. It continues to cook dinner however at a a lot decrease temperature till I get the warmth corrected.

What to serve with Cilantro Lime Hen?

So this rooster could be served as a most important dish along with your favourite sides like Garlic Butter Rice, your favourite steamed or grilled greens, a giant recent inexperienced salad, a Baked Potato or Candy Potato, some Mexican Avenue Corn, or some crimson beans or black beans. Or you should use it as an addition to different meals, like as a topper on a Taco Salad, sandwich, or utilized in Hen Tacos, Burrito Bowls, inside burritos, Chimichangas, Enchiladas, and so on.

The way to retailer leftover Cilantro Lime Hen Thighs?

Retailer leftover rooster thighs in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4-5 days. You possibly can freeze them in a freezer protected container for as much as 3 months. Reheat within the oven or microwave.

A skillet with Cilantro Lime Chicken with fresh lime slices and cilantro.A skillet with Cilantro Lime Chicken with fresh lime slices and cilantro.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • limes (together with the zest) – recent limes for this y’all – don’t skimp and by any bottled lime juice. the lime is a star on this present (plus, you’ll have to zest too and you’ll’t get that from a bottle).
  • recent chopped cilantro– that is an non-obligatory ingredient. For those who don’t like cilantro, strive utilizing flat leaf parsley as a substitute or simply skip it. I do know cilantro is a love/hate factor.
  • recent garlic – for those who completely should use the jarred garlic however I believe recent garlic in marinade works greatest however with garlic – you gotta go along with your desire.
  • floor cumin
  • crushed crimson pepper – that is an non-obligatory ingredient that may carry just a little warmth if desired.
  • chili powder – that is non-obligatory however I believe this together with the cumin provides you that barely extra of that Tex Mex taste but when that isn’t your factor, simply skip it.
  • honey– this doesn’t make this a candy dish, that is used to steadiness out the flavors. It additionally provides stunning golden coloration to the rooster pores and skin.
  • salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder – at all times my customary seasoning combo. I do know garlic powder and recent garlic would possibly look like overkill but it surely actually isn’t. They each carry barely totally different flavors to the desk. However you probably have a seasoning mixture you like and also you assume it will work properly with these different flavors, then go for it.
  • rooster thighs – I am going with a bone-in and pores and skin on rooster thigh right here (additionally, the extra inexpensive alternative as properly). You might use boneless however it’s possible you’ll want to regulate your cooking time. See my above Steadily Requested Query part if you wish to use a special reduce of rooster.
Chicken thighs, limes, cilantro, garlic, cumin, red pepper flakes, chili powder, honey, salt, pepper, olive oil, onion powder, and garlic powder. Chicken thighs, limes, cilantro, garlic, cumin, red pepper flakes, chili powder, honey, salt, pepper, olive oil, onion powder, and garlic powder.

HOW TO MAKE CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN:

Zest 2 limes and place in medium dimension mixing bowl that’s massive sufficient to include your rooster thighs). Then slice limes in half and squeeze juice into bowl. 

A lime being zested and  being added to a bowl.A lime being zested and  being added to a bowl.

Chop 1/4 cup cilantro and add to the bowl. Chop just a little additional for garnish, and put aside. Chop garlic and add to bowl.  

Chopped cilantro on a cutting board and some garlic being chopped up.Chopped cilantro on a cutting board and some garlic being chopped up.

Add cumin, crushed crimson pepper, chili powder, honey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, and stir collectively. Add rooster thighs to marinade and stir to make sure rooster is fully coated.

A bowl with lime zest, garlic, cumin, crushed red pepper, chili powder, honey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder and then chicken marinating in the mixture.A bowl with lime zest, garlic, cumin, crushed red pepper, chili powder, honey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder and then chicken marinating in the mixture.

Cowl bowl with plastic wrap and place in fridge to marinate for 45-60 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 levels F. Place massive skillet or oven-safe pan on stovetop on medium-high warmth. When it’s heated, pour in olive oil, and permit to warmth up for 1 minute. Place rooster thighs in pan, pores and skin facet down, and sear for roughly 5 minutes.

Chicken marinating in a bowl covered with plastic and marinated chicken in a cast iron skillet.Chicken marinating in a bowl covered with plastic and marinated chicken in a cast iron skillet.

Then flip them over and cook dinner for roughly 3 extra minutes. Be sure that rooster pores and skin is golden brown on each sides. 

Chicken thighs being flipped over in a cast iron pan.Chicken thighs being flipped over in a cast iron pan.

Place skillet in oven and bake rooster for 15-17 minutes, till completed, and inner  temperature reaches 165 levels F.  When rooster is completed baking, take away from oven. Garnish rooster in skillet or transfer to a heat-safe serving dish, and sprinkle with chopped cilantro and lime slices. Serve sizzling, along with your favourite facet dishes. Get pleasure from!

A pair of tongs holding a Cilantro Lime Chicken Thigh.A pair of tongs holding a Cilantro Lime Chicken Thigh.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES? 

A few pieces of Cilantro Lime Chicken in a cast iron skillet.A few pieces of Cilantro Lime Chicken in a cast iron skillet.

Forestall your display from going darkish

  • Add zest and juice of two recent limes right into a mixing bowl that’s massive sufficient to carry all of the rooster thighs. Observe: You might additionally use a big Ziploc bag too.

  • Add 1/4 cup recent chopped cilantro (if utilizing) to the bowl.

  • Then roughly chop 3 cloves recent garlic and add to the bowl.

  • Add 1/2 teaspoon floor cumin, 1/8 teaspoon crushed crimson pepper (if utilizing), 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 2 Tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder and 2 Tablespoons olive oil and stir collectively.

  • Add 6 bone-in, skin-on rooster thighs to marinade and stir to make sure rooster is fully coated.

  • Cowl bowl with plastic wrap and place within the fridge to marinate for 45-60 minutes.

  • After rooster has marinated the total time, preheat oven to 425 levels F. Place massive oven-safe skillet on stovetop on medium-high warmth. When it’s heated, pour in 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil, and permit to warmth up for about 1 minute.

  • Place rooster thighs in pan, pores and skin facet down, and sear till golden brown. Then flip them over and cook dinner for roughly 3 extra minutes. Be sure that rooster pores and skin is golden brown on each side.

  • Place skillet in oven and bake rooster on the center for 15-17 minutes, till completed, and inner temperature reaches 165 levels F. Please notice: oven instances range so cooking time is an estimate. All the time go by inner temperature of the rooster (165 F levels).

  • When rooster is completed baking, take away from oven. Garnish rooster in skillet or transfer to a heat-safe serving dish, and sprinkle with extra chopped cilantro and lime slices then serve.

  • Please consult with my FAQ’s (Steadily Requested Questions) and ingredient record above for different substitutions or for the solutions to the most typical questions.

Course: Dinner, Foremost Course

Delicacies: American

Energy: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 35g | Fats: 25g | Sodium: 486mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 6g

“The Nation Cook dinner” shouldn’t be a dietician or nutritionist, and any dietary data shared is an estimate. If calorie depend and different dietary values are vital to you, we suggest working the elements by way of whichever on-line dietary calculator you like. Energy and different dietary values can range fairly a bit relying on which manufacturers have been used.

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