I will admit that of all my chicken recipes, this cilantro lime chicken marinade is one of my all-time favorites. Perfect for spring or summer grilling, the chicken marinade is fresh, bright, zesty, and refreshing. And while this dish is super easy to make - only requiring chicken breasts, lime juice, agave, cilantro, and a few pantry spices - it still elevates any meal!

Whether you need an impressive dish for guests or you are just craving some family time, this is the recipe for you!

Cilantro lime chicken marinating in a bowl.

When I make a recipe that is both easy to make and flavorful, I know I have done something right!

To make this simple yet flavor-packed cilantro lime chicken, you just need to combine all marinade ingredients and the chicken breasts in a bowl, let the chicken soak-in all of the flavors for at least 30 minutes, and then grill for 5 to 7 minutes on each side. It is that easy!

The star ingredients in this marinade (which is the base for my easy, homemade mexican street corn chicken) are the lime juice and the cilantro. Using fresh juice from two limes and freshly chopped cilantro makes the chicken perfectly flavorful and refreshing! The lime is tangy and tart with just a hint of sweetness and the cilantro is bright and fresh. If you like to switch up your marinades, my fool-proof and easy-to-throw-together greek yogurt chicken marinade and my basic, go-to cast iron chicken marinade are a great way to add variety!

Another thing I love about this recipe is just how versatile it is! The chicken breasts can be served as is, or they can be sliced after cooking for tacos, fajitas, burritos, bowls, and salads. The chicken pairs so well with fresh, homemade street corn salsa and light, fluffy coconut lime rice that cooks up in just 30 minutes!

Ingredients

Instructions

Cilantro lime chicken marinade in a glass bowl.

Step 1: Add chicken to a large bowl. Top with olive oil, fresh lime juice, agave, chopped cilantro, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Mix until the chicken is fully coated. Set aside for at least 30 minutes, but no more than 24 hours.

Step 2: Preheat your grill to 425 degrees F.

Cilantro lime marinated chicken on a grill.

Step 3: Add marinated chicken to one side of the grill and the corn to the other side. Cook, untouched with the grill closed, for 5 to 7 minutes, then flip and cook on the other side, another 5 to 7 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

⭐️ Quick Tip! Cook the cilantro lime chicken with the grill closed so that the ambient temperature helps cook the chicken until tender and juicy. Relying solely on the heat from the grill grates may cause the chicken to dry or burn on the outside before the inside cooks all the way through.

Grilled cilantro lime chicken with fresh cilantro and limes on top of it.

My Top Tips!

⭐️ I like to butterfly the chicken breasts in half so they absorb more of the marinade. However, this means that they are thin, so will cook quickly and will only need about 10 to 15 minutes total on the grill!