Tequila Lime Chicken is a citric entrée that’ll brighten up any dinner!
Tequila, lime, garlic, and plenty of spices make this chicken dance—metaphorically speaking, of course. This is an easy recipe that is packed with flavor. Despite the tequila and spices, this is a dish that the whole family can enjoy! The alcohol from the tequila will mostly be cooked off, so all you’re left with is a delicious flavor. And the recipe contains so little alcohol that you won’t have any actual boozy effects.
Made from the sweet agave plant, tequila is a Mexican alcoholic spirit that can have citrusy notes that are a perfect blend with the lime. Different types of tequila can have different flavors, and this depends on where the agave is grown. For example, agave that grows in mineral-rich earth has an earthier and spicier flavor. Some tequila is aged, and some isn’t. Use the type that you like best for whichever earthy, mild, rich, sweet, herbal, or citrusy notes are your preference!
With the infusion of tequila, lime, and delicious spices, the taste is a blast. Cumin, in particular, is one of my favorite spices to use, so I’m always happy when I see it popping up in a recipe! It’s just enough to taste good but not overpower the dish, and it goes great with zesty citrus and sweetness.
Tequila Tender
Marinating your chicken will make it not just juicy and full of flavor but also tender. The tequila will tenderize your chicken as it gets infused, so I recommend marinating for 4 hours rather than the minimum of 30 minutes. You can even marinade overnight! I always err on the side of “the longer, the better” when it comes to marinade times. That said, since there’s a significant amount of lime juice in this recipe, you don’t want to marinate more than overnight, as over-marinating in lime will leave your chicken with a bit of a bitter taste.
How to Make Ahead and Store?
If you want to marinate your chicken but not cook it when the marinating is done, pop it into the freezer in some airtight bags or containers. When you’re ready to cook, just let it thaw first, and you’ll be good to grill.
To store it once you’ve already cooked your chicken, it’ll be good for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in your refrigerator.
Pound Away!
To get your chicken ready before you marinate, I recommend using the flat end of a meat mallet to pound it nice and thin so that the chicken isn’t any more than 1 inch thick (or even ½ of an inch). This will help when it’s time to grill, as you’ll be able to cook it more evenly along the whole surface rather than some thinner spots getting overcooked and the thicker parts risking being undercooked. Alternatively, instead of a meat mallet, you can slice the chicken into thin slices of equal thickness, though using the meat mallet will contribute to the tender quality.
Serving Suggestions
Tequila lime chicken is great as an entrée, but it needs some sides! Complement your Mexican-inspired chicken with Esquites (Mexican Street Corn Salad) or Fried Corn and top it with some pico de gallo. You can also have some Black Bean Cakes with Corn Salsa and Avocado Sauce or a side of something sweet like Mango Avocado Salad!
Tequila Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup tequila
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together tequila, lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, oregano, and chili powder.
- Place chicken breasts in a large resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and ensure all pieces are well coated.
- Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for deeper flavor.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Remove chicken from the marinade and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill chicken for about 6-7 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the juices run clear.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.
- Serve the tequila lime chicken with your choice of sides, such as grilled vegetables or a fresh salad.
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