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Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos Recipe
John

Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

Juicy cilantro lime marinated chicken tucked into warm tortillas and loaded with fresh toppings for an easy, flavor-packed taco night.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 tacos
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 318
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Marinated Chicken
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded to even thickness if needed
  • 2 limes juiced
  • 0.25 cup avocado oil
  • 0.25 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
  • salt and black pepper to taste
Tacos & Toppings
  • 8 small corn or flour tortillas
  • shredded lettuce or cabbage for topping
  • diced onion, salsa, avocado, sour cream, queso fresco, extra cilantro optional toppings
  • lime wedges for serving

Method
 

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the lime juice, avocado oil, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, honey, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper until the marinade looks well combined.
  2. Place the chicken breasts in a shallow dish or resealable bag and pour the marinade over the top, turning the chicken so every surface is coated. Cover or seal and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
  3. When you are ready to cook, preheat a grill, grill pan, or large skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates or pan if needed.
  4. Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting the excess drip off, and discard any remaining marinade. Cook the chicken for about 4–6 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  5. Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for a few minutes, then slice it into thin strips or bite-size pieces.
  6. While the chicken rests, warm the tortillas on the grill or in a dry skillet for a few seconds per side until soft and lightly charred.
  7. To assemble the Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos, fill each tortilla with sliced chicken and add shredded lettuce or cabbage, onion, salsa, avocado, sour cream, queso fresco, extra cilantro, and a squeeze of lime, as desired.

Notes

Do not marinate the chicken for longer than 4 hours or the lime juice can start to affect the texture. If the chicken pieces are very thick, gently pound them to an even thickness so they cook quickly and evenly. A meat thermometer is the easiest way to be sure the chicken is done without overcooking.