These grilled chipotle-lime chicken breasts are fragrant, spicy, delicious, and easy to prepare. Enjoy them straight off the grill with your favorite sides, or use them in salads, tortas, and tacos.

These simple, brightly flavored grilled cilantro-lime chicken breasts are great for make-ahead meals, and they are my favorite go-to healthy option. If you are looking for a clean, low carb protein, these flavorful chicken breasts will do the trick!

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Fresh-squeezed lime juice (about 3 limes)
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
• Honey
• Garlic
• Cilantro ( If you are not a fan of cilantro, you can substitute it with flat-leaf parsley)
• Ground cumin
• Salt and black pepper

Chipotle-lime marinade 

The chipotle-lime marinade is the first building block of flavor for these chicken breasts. It contains delicious ingredients that pack a flavorful punch! To make it a little smokier, add 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika. See below for marinade instructions.

• Add the ingredients into your blender or food processor, and blend the mixture.
• Place the chicken in zip-top bag, and pour the marinade over top. Gently toss chicken with tongs to coat.
• Seal the bag, place it in the refrigerate to marinate for 2-4 hours or up to 6 hours if needed.

Prepping

We recommend flattening the chicken breasts or this recipe. This will allow the chicken to absorb the marinade well and cook evenly on the grill. It’s best to flatten the chicken breasts a little less than half of its original thickness.

• To flatten, place a 10″ piece of plastic wrap on your counter.
• Place 1-2 chicken breasts on top and cover with another 10″ piece of plastic wrap.
• Using the flat side of a kitchen mallet, lightly strike the chicken breast(s) from the center, moving outward to create a uniform shape. Aim for an even ¾” thickness.
• Repeat the process with the remaining breasts.

Grilling

• Place the marinated chicken breast on a 375-degree preheated grill.
• Close the lid, and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Remember to have a reliable meat thermometer handy!
• Adjust cooking temp as needed.
• Once cooked, transfer grilled chicken breasts from the grill and place them on to a clean cutting board or platter. Garnish with chopped cilantro and a few lime wedges.

Storing leftover grilled chicken

Store the leftover grilled chipotle-lime chicken breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days after preparation. 

All our Easy Chicken Recipes for the Grill or Smoker!

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Grilled Chipotle-Lime Chicken Breasts

Fragrant, juicy, and delicious, these grilled chipotle-lime chicken breasts are sure to please. Serve them straight off the grill with your favorite sides, or use in salads, sandwiches, and tacos.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Fusion, Mexican

Keyword cilantro-lime chicken breast, grilled chicken, Grilled Chicken Breasts

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 14 minutes minutes

Marinating Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 29 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 323kcal

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice about 3 limes
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce increase amount for spicier chicken
• 1 tablespoon adobo sauce add more if preferred
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped (reserve 1 tablespoon for garnish)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt adjust to suit your tastes
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

• Using your blender or food processor, blend the lime juice, olive oil, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, minced garlic, and 3 tablespoons of chopped cilantro, ground cumin, salt, black pepper, and honey until smooth.
• If the mixture is too thick, add a little water or more lime juice. Taste the mixture and adjust it to your liking.
• Place the 4 chicken breasts in a large zip-top bag or a shallow dish.
• Pour the chipotle-lime marinade over the chicken, making sure each piece is well coated.
• Seal the bag or tightly cover the dish with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours.
• Preheat your grill (or pellet grill) to medium-high heat or 375 degrees F. If you are using a pellet grill, use apple, cherry, or maple wood pellets.
• Remove the marinated chicken from the bag (or dish) and place it on the grill. Close the lid and grill the chicken for 6-8 minutes per side or until the internal temperature at the thickest part of the breast reaches 165 degrees F.
• Once cooked, remove the chipotle-lime chicken from the grill and place it on a serving platter. Let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes.
• Garnish with reserved chopped cilantro and lime wedges.

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 648mg | Potassium: 837mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg

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