Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

Sabrina June 2, 2024

These juicy cilantro lime chicken tacos are the epitome of warm weather, and you'll find yourself wanting to make them time after time. They have the perfect amount of tanginess and are just so delicious and fresh. Although these juicy tacos are lovely topped with pico de gallo and avocado crema, you can top them with any of your favourite toppings!

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Juicy and Refreshing Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

Summer’s right around the corner, which means it’s time for fresh flavours and quick meals! These cilantro lime chicken tacos definitely check those boxes and make the perfect summer dinner. Juicy cilantro lime chicken pieces smothered with your favourite sauce and toppings — totally irresistible.

Not only are these cilantro lime chicken tacos simply delicious, but they require simple ingredients that you may already have on hand. This makes it a pretty convenient meal to make. To add to this, you can marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours, which is great to start prepping ahead of time; it will also help save you some time the day of.

One of my fave things about this recipe is that it doesn’t take much time at all to put this recipe together. Aside from the marinating portion of this recipe, cooking the chicken, prepping the toppings, and assembling everything is a breeze! This chicken tacos recipe is perfect for a weeknight when you need something quick and tasty!

Ingredients Needed

Fresh and simple ingredients are needed to make these scrumptious cilantro lime chicken tacos. You may likely have these ingredients on hand.

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs: I urge you to get your hands on chicken thighs, rather than chicken breasts. The thighs are much juicier, flavourful, and more tender–perfect for these chicken tacos.
Corn tortillas: This is what holds all of that juicy chicken, sauces, and toppings. You can also use flour tortillas if preferred. They are both delicious in this recipe, but the corn tortillas pair really well with the cilantro lime flavour, I feel.
Cilantro: It wouldn’t be cilantro lime chicken without the cilantro. Cilantro lends a peppery-lemon taste to the chicken and the perfect amount of freshness.
Lime: And it wouldn’t be cilantro lime chicken without the lime. Lime gives the chicken a beautifully tart flavour. You can squeeze as little or as much as you’d like over the tacos when they’re finished, as well!
Spices: A few spices are used to bring all the flavours together, including salt, black pepper, ground cumin, garlic powder, and paprika.

How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

Making these tacos is a pretty straightforward process. Follow these simple instructions:

In a large bowl or ziploc bag, mix together all of the marinade ingredients until thoroughly combined.

Add your chicken to the marinade and mix together, making sure every piece of chicken is coated with the marinade. You can use your hands to ensure the marinade is rubbed in thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.

*If marinating for more than 30 minutes, cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge.

**While this is marinating, it would be the perfect time to start prepping your desired toppings, sauces, etc.

Once the chicken has finished marinating, heat a pan over medium high heat. Cook the chicken pieces for 3-4 minutes on each side. The chicken should develop a nice browning. The chicken thighs shouldn’t be too thick, so it shouldn’t take too long to cook through. Remove the chicken from heat onto a plate, cover, and let it rest for about 5 minutes (this will keep the chicken moist and juicy).

Once it’s rested, cut the chicken into small bite sized pieces.

Now it’s time for the fun part! It’s time to assemble your tacos. You start with a warm corn tortilla, fill with the cilantro lime chicken, and drizzle over your favourite sauce + toppings. Done!

The Best Toppings for Chicken Tacos

These tacos go so well with pretty much ANY toppings you love. Here are some ideas that you can try:

diced tomatoes
diced onions
shredded cheese
sour cream
salsa
avocado crema
cilantro lime sauce
diced avocado
shredded lettuce
lime juice
cilantro
hot sauce

My favourite toppings for this particular chicken taco is pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, avocado crema, sour cream, and a squeeze of lime…YUM!

Storage

To store these cilantro lime chicken tacos, do not assemble. Store the cooked chicken in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reheat on stovetop and assemble tacos when ready to eat.

You can also freeze the cooked chicken in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge and reheat on stovetop when ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use chicken thighs for this recipe?

I strongly suggest using thighs as it results in juicier, more flavourful tacos. However, if you prefer, you can use other cuts of chicken, like breasts. Be sure to not overcook the chicken breasts and let it rest before cutting it into small pieces to retain as much juice as possible.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes you can! You can prepare the chicken and start marinating it up to 24 hours before you cook it. Be sure to keep it tightly covered in the fridge. Remove it from the fridge about an hour before cooking to allow to come up to room temperature.

You can also cook the chicken, cut it up, let cool, and then refrigerate in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days. When ready to use, reheat chicken and prepare the tacos as instructed.

Prepping the toppings ahead of time doesn’t hurt either. You can prepare sauces and vegetables ahead of time.

What should I serve cilantro lime chicken tacos with?

You can serve these tacos with a variety of side dishes. Mexican rice, beans, corn on the cob, and salad all make really good side dishes for these tacos. You can also just serve these tacos on they’re own, they make a pretty filling meal!

Are these tacos spicy?

No, they are not spicy. If you would like them spicy, add chili powder, to taste, to the marinade ingredients. You can also top your assembled taco with some hot sauce!

Looking for more chicken recipes? Look no further. Try our Chicken Tikka Sliders, Marry Me Chicken Meatballs, Roasted Cajun Chicken with Potatoes, and Marry Me Chicken Pasta

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