Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

Cilantro lime chicken taco topped with salsa and guacamole.

4.80 from 5 votes

These Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos are the perfect easy weeknight dinner. The chicken is marinated in a mix of seasonings, spices and lime juice for maximum flavor. Serve up on warm tortillas layered with your favorite toppings!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Marinating Time30

Total Time1

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Servings: Servings

Calories: 245.31kcal

Author: Sarah Hill

Equipment

Knife
Cutting board
Skillet

Ingredients

1-1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lime juiced
salt and black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cumin
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
6-8 flour or corn tortillas
lettuce for serving
salsa for serving
avocado or guacamole for serving

Instructions

Marinate chicken thighs in olive oil, lime, salt, black pepper, paprika, cayenne, onion powder, cumin, garlic cloves and cilantro. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Heat a large skillet or cast-iron pan on medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add chicken thighs and cook for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F. Cook longer for larger chicken thighs. Remove the chicken from the pan and let it sit for 10 minutes.
While the chicken rests, heat the tortillas. Heat each tortilla over an open flame for approximately 30 seconds per side, in a skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side, or place the tortillas between 2 slightly damp paper towels and warm in the microwave for 1 minute.
Next, cut the rested chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
Assemble the tacos by placing 2-3 pieces of lettuce on a tortilla and top with about ⅓-1/2 cup of chicken, salsa and avocado or guacamole. Serve with a lime wedge and more cilantro and enjoy!

Notes

Heat the tortillas. There are several ways to heat tortillas. Here are my favorites:

Heat each tortilla over an open flame for approximately 30 seconds per side.
Heat tortillas in a skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side.
Place the tortillas between 2 slightly damp paper towels and warm in the microwave for 1 minute.

To ensure extra juicy chicken, don't skip the 30-minute marinating time!

The chicken will last about 3-4 days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. You can also freeze the chicken in a freezer-safe container or bag for about 3 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.

Nutrition