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Fire up the grill for this Honey Lime Cilantro Marinated Grilled Chicken – it’s so flavorful thanks to the delicious marinade of honey, lime, cilantro, olive oil, fresh garlic, and seasonings. Make this marinated grilled chicken for an easy weeknight dinner (that won’t heat up the kitchen) or a weekend BBQ.
For another marinated chicken breast recipe, this one cooks in the oven, try my Sheet Pan Cilantro Lime Chicken (Cilantro Lime Marinade).
Grilled Chicken With Honey Lime Cilantro Marinade
There are some flavor combos that are just so classic and made for each other – honey, lime, and cilantro is at the top of my list when it comes to the best flavor combos.
Wether it’s in dinner recipes like Honey Lime Chicken Taquitos or Honey Lime Salsa Verde Ranch Chicken Tacos. Or in the perfect side dish – Cilantro Lime Rice and Honey Lime Bean Salsa – the sweet honey paired with the bright & zesty lime, and mild seasoning from the cilantro is always a hit.
The chicken breasts get so incredibly tender and packed with flavor in the marinade. The brown sugar and honey caramelize on the outside of the chicken while it grills, which creates this great texture and smokey sweet taste on the chicken.
Marinated chicken is easily one of my favorite things to make. And I love that marinades use a Ziploc bag because that means one less dish to wash at the end of the night.
And since it’s a grilled BBQ dish, it’s totally acceptable to serve in on paper plates – so this meal is basically a no dish meal 😁
Ingredients Needed
- Olive Oil : I use extra-virgin ‘light tasting’ olive oil because it has a milder taste to it which my family prefers.
- Honey
- Light Brown Sugar
- Fresh Lime Juice : You will need two limes for this recipe. I recommend using a Citrus Juicer to help squeeze out all the juice possible.
- Chopped Fresh Cilantro
- Garlic Cloves
- Kosher Salt
- Cumin
- Coriander
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
How To Make Honey Lime Cilantro Grilled Chicken (Printable Recipe Card)
Add all the ingredients, in the order listed in the recipe card, into a gallon size Ziploc bag. Securely close the bag and use your hands to press and gently shake to mix everything together.
Let marinate for at least 4 hours (or up to 8 hours for optimal flavor) in the refrigerator. Avoid marinating for too long, longer than 8-12 hours, as the acidic marinade can create a mushy texture on the chicken.
When ready to cook, grill over medium-high heat, for about 4-5 minutes per side or until the safe internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
How To Store Leftover Grilled Chicken
Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3-4 days.
Serving Suggestions For Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken
- My family loves this grilled chicken served on top of Cilantro Lime Rice and then drizzled in some of this Copycat Cafe Rio Dressing, along with some pico de gallo and Salsa Verde Guacamole.
- Make rice bowls using rice as a base, topped with some of the sliced honey lime cilantro grilled chicken, and then top it with some Fiesta Avocado Salad and whatever other taco toppings you love and a dressing you love!
- Chop the grilled chicken into cubes and make chicken tacos with it! Or use the chopped chicken inside a quesadilla for grilled honey cilantro lime chicken quesadillas.
Recipe Tips For Success
- Marinate the chicken for 4-8 hours, and 12 hours being the most. You don’t want to marinate it for too long, or else the acid from the lime will start to break down the chicken and it can create a weird texture on the chicken once grilled. I always like to make the marinade in the morning and let it sit in the fridge until dinner (so about 6-8 hours marinade time is what I do).
- I recommend trimming off any weird pieces or fat pieces from the chicken before adding it into the marinade inside the Ziploc bag. That way you end up with nice looking pieces of grilled chicken breasts.
- To get maximum juice from the lime, place the lime between the palm of your hand and the counter top. Press down on the lime with gentle pressure as you roll the lime back on forth on the counter. You will start to smell all the lime juice being released and it will be very fragrant – this way you end up with maximum lime juice from the limes.
- If you want some spice add some sliced or chopped fresh jalapeños into the marinade.
Honey Lime Cilantro Marinated Grilled Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- juice of 2 limes
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 cloves garlic (minced or pressed, garlic paste)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts trimmed
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients, in the order listed in the recipe card, into a gallon size Ziploc bag. Securely close the bag and use your hands to press and gently shake to mix everything together.3 tablespoons olive oil, 3 tablespoons honey, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, juice of 2 limes, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Let marinate for at least 4 hours (or up to 8 hours for optimal flavor) in the refrigerator. Avoid marinating for too long, longer than 8-12 hours, as the acidic marinade can create a mushy texture on the chicken.
- When ready to cook, grill over medium-high heat, for about 4-5 minutes per side or until the safe internal temperature of 165℉ is reached. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken for 4-8 hours, and 12 hours being the most. You don’t want to marinate it for too long, or else the acid from the lime will start to break down the chicken and it can create a weird texture on the chicken once grilled. I always like to make the marinade in the morning and let it sit in the fridge until dinner (so about 6-8 hours marinade time is what I do).
- I recommend trimming off any weird pieces or fat pieces from the chicken before adding it into the marinade inside the Ziploc bag. That way you end up with nice looking pieces of grilled chicken breasts.
- To get maximum juice from the lime, place the lime between the palm of your hand and the counter top. Press down on the lime with gentle pressure as you roll the lime back on forth on the counter. You will start to smell all the lime juice being released and it will be very fragrant – this way you end up with maximum lime juice from the limes.
- If you want some spice add some sliced or chopped fresh jalapeños into the marinade.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
I’d love to see it! You can share it with me on @togetherasfamilyblog and follow on Pinterest @together-as-family-blog-recipes or Facebook @togetherasfamilyblog for more!
This is a great recipe. My family loves it. The recipe I had originally included a wonderful ranch type sauce. Where did that go?
Thank you! Could this be the recipe you’re thinking of? https://togetherasfamily.com/honey-lime-salsa-verde-ranch-chicken-tacos/