Chili Lime Chicken Marinade

Liven up grilled or roasted chicken with this easy Chili Lime Marinade. It captures the spicy and sweet-tart flavors of chili powder, fresh garlic, and lime.

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a plate of chili lime chicken.

In addition to this chicken lime marinade, we also love this Coconut Curry Marinade and this baked Honey Mustard Chicken.

The glaze you see glistening on the chicken is from this lime chili marinade.

a plate of chili lime chicken.

IN THIS POST: Everything you need to make chicken with lime marinade

Ingredients for this recipe

  • olive oil – or use your favorite oil
  • lime juice – grab some lime zest for garnish!
  • garlic – minced fine
  • chili powder
  • sea salt + pepper
  • chicken – my fave is boneless skinless chicken breasts

Of course, the star of the show for chicken marinade with lime is the fresh lime!

small pile of limes.

How to prepare the Chili Lime Marinade

This recipe takes very little prep time.

Start by squeezing the juice into a small mason jar.

Second add the olive oil, chili powder, minced garlic, and of course sea salt and pepper all to the mason jar and give it a really good shake.

olive oil, garlic and seasonings in a glass mason jar

Next, place your chicken in a glass container and pour the chili lime seasoning over it. Then use your hands and rub the marinade into the chicken.

a hand shaking marinade in a glass jar

Cover with a tight-fitting lid and let it sit in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes if you want it tonight and up to overnight if you are prepping for tomorrow.

a covered glass container in the fridge

FAQ’S, Tips + Substitutions

  • Can you use this marinade for other meat? Yes! We also love chili lime shrimp, as well as fish like salmon.
  • How do you cook the chicken? Roast in the oven, fire up the BBQ, heat up a grill pan, or oil up those grill grates. Cook until the thickest part reads at least 165 Fahrenheit on a meat thermometer.
  • TIP! The best way to get the most juice out of your fruit is to give it a roll with the palms of your hands. This loosens the juice from the pulp.
  • This recipe is perfect for healthy meal prep! Store it in an airtight container and it will be ready to stir into soups or use in sandwiches and wraps. I also add leftovers into weeknight casseroles like this popular Mexican Rice Bake. So good!
  • This Cilantro Lime Brown Rice is a perfectly paired side dish with chili lime grilled chicken. Just add a simple salad and dinner is served.
  • Whip up this Red Cabbage Slaw, grab some whole grain tortillas, avocado, salsa, guacamole, and all the fixings, and have chicken tacos! Simply shred the chicken with a fork once it’s cooked.
  • This recipe uses chicken breast but you could easily substitute chicken thighs, wings, and, drumsticks.
a plate of chili lime chicken.

 

MORE HEALTHY GLUTEN FREE CHICKEN RECIPES:

**This recipe was originally posted on April 19, 2013, and updated on July 27, 2020, and again on June 19, 2022, with recipe notes, writing, and new photos.**

If you’ve tried my lime and chili marinade, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!

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a plate of chili lime chicken.

Chili Lime Chicken Marinade – Tangy + Spicy Recipe

Sharon Rhodes
Liven up grilled or roasted chicken with this easy Chili Lime Marinade. It captures the spicy and sweet-tart flavors of chili powder, fresh garlic, and lime.
4.93 from 13 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Marinating time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Marinade
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 476 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 limes *juiced
  • 1 clove garlic *minced
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • sea salt + pepper to taste
  • 1 lb chicken

Instructions
 

  • Shake all ingredients, except chicken, together in a small mason jar.
  • Place chicken in an oven proof glass container and pour marinade over. Massage well.
  • Leave in the fridge, covered, for a minimum of 30 minutes, up to overnight.

TO BAKE IN THE OVEN

  • Bake in the oven at 375 for 35-40 minutes or until the thermometer reads at least 165 f. I use the same dish I marinate in and baste every 10 minutes.

Video

Notes

  • Can you use this marinade for other meat? Yes! We also love chili lime shrimp, as well as fish like salmon.
  • How do you cook the chicken? Roast in the oven, fire up the BBQ, heat up a grill pan, or oil up those grill grates. Cook until the thickest part reads at least 165 Fahrenheit on a meat thermometer.
  • TIP! The best way to get the most juice out of your fruit is to give it a roll with the palms of your hands. This loosens the juice from the pulp.
  • This recipe is perfect for healthy meal prep! Store it in an airtight container and it will be ready to stir into soups or use in sandwiches and wraps. I also add leftovers into weeknight casseroles like this popular Mexican Rice Bake. So good! 
  • This Cilantro Lime Brown Rice is a perfectly paired side dish with chili lime grilled chicken. Just add a simple salad and dinner is served.
  • Whip up this Red Cabbage Slaw, grab some whole grain tortillas, avocado, salsa, guacamole, and all the fixings, and have chicken tacos! Simply shred the chicken with a fork once it’s cooked.
  • This recipe uses chicken breast but you could easily substitute chicken thighswings, and, drumsticks

Nutrition

Serving: 2Calories: 476kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 49gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 144mgSodium: 329mgPotassium: 982mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1285IUVitamin C: 22.7mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2.1mg
Keyword chili lime chicken marinade, gluten free chicken recipe
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44 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is going to be delicious on our. chicken tonight. I’m going to BBQ a whole chicken with this marinade, yum!

  2. 5 stars
    Don’t get me wrong, I do like sweet marinades and sauces, but I’m glad you let the the chili and citrus combination shine on its own here! It’s a great pairing, and a fantastic marinade (especially with that bit of garlic in the mix – can’t go wrong with garlic). Cheers!

    1. I agree, sometimes I do like a bit of sweetness but in this case, it truly doesn’t need it anything more. Thanks, Sean!

  3. Just perfect Sharon, I have some chicken breasts and this marinade will come in handy! Great idea to keep it for multiple usage.

  4. can you use this marinade for shrimp? and instead of plain chili powder can i used crushed chipotle powder?

    1. Hey Richard! I haven’t used this marinade for shrimp, but I’m sure it would work fine. I also think chipotle powder would be awesome! I love chipotle anything. 🙂

  5. This was a brilliant, brilliant marinade. Thank you so much for sharing! We grilled chicken wings and thighs on the bbq pit, and even beef and it was absolutely delicious! We did add some sprigs of fresh rosemary for the beef… and it tasted superb. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

    1. Thank you so much Amber. 🙂 I’m with you on this recipe, big time! We probably have it once a week. It tastes really good as cold chicken, too. FYI. Great for sandwiches. Have a happy New Year!

  6. Hi, and a big big BIG thank you for a simple but brilliant tasting Lime and Chilli marinade recipe.
    Now a weekly feature meal in our house! (We butterfly cut the Chicken breasts, marinate for 24 hours and oven bake. Takes about 20 -25 minutes guarantees cooked through AND moist)

    1. Thank YOU Tim for the nice comment. Muchly appreciated. 🙂 And, it is a favourite, weekly occurrence in our house too. Great idea about butterflying the chicken to cut sown on cooking time!

  7. Made this last weekend. We grilled them…this is the best marinade I have ever had! Having it again this weekend when the kids come home. Thank you for sharing this!

  8. Hi!
    Found this on Pinterest and made it tonight for me and my husband and it was SO GOOD! Loved the lime flavor! We will definitely make it again it was so easy 🙂 thank you for sharing it

    1. Hi Lois:) I cook my chicken for 40 minutes at 375. Check to make sure there is no pink in the centre.

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