Chipotle Lime Chicken
Zesty chipotle-lime marinated chicken thighs grilled to golden, slightly charred perfection.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2–2.5 lb boned, skin-on chicken thighs about 900 g–1.1 kg total
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime zest
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves roughly chopped
- 1 jalapeño finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder or more to taste
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
- lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Remove the bones from the chicken thighs while keeping the skin on by cutting two slits along each side of the bone; rinse under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, chopped cilantro, jalapeño, chipotle chili powder, minced garlic, honey, and salt until well combined.
- Add the chicken thighs to the bowl and toss to coat evenly in the marinade; reserve a small amount of marinade for basting.
- Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat and oil the grates or pan lightly.
- Brush the chicken with some reserved marinade and grill until golden brown with char marks, about 4–6 minutes per side depending on thickness, until an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) is reached.
- Transfer to a plate and let rest briefly, then serve with lime wedges.
Equipment
- Large Bowl
- Whisk or fork
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Grill or Grill Pan
- Tongs
- Paper Towels
Notes
- You can bake the chicken at 400°F for about 20 minutes until golden and charred.
- A cast-iron grill pan or regular skillet works if you don’t have an outdoor grill.
- Marinating at least 2 hours improves flavor.
- Reserve some marinade for basting; do not use raw marinade as a sauce unless boiled.