Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken
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Also known as “margarita chicken,” this tequila lime chicken is loaded with bright Southwestern flavor.
Tequila Lime Chicken, a.k.a. Margarita Chicken, is one of those dishes that just screams fun. The marinade is a combination of tequila, lime, garlic and spices, and it’s loaded with bright Southwestern flavor. Contrary to what you might think, this recipe is family friendly. The tequila is mild and the chicken isn’t too spicy. Pair it with my black bean salad, restaurant-style salsa, cornbread muffins, and margaritas for a Southwestern-themed cookout.
“Made this for friends last weekend along with your black bean salad with corn, avocado u0026 lime vinaigrette and cornbread muffins. The whole meal was a huge hit! Thank you!”
What You’ll Need To Make Tequila Lime Chicken
- Olive oil: Serves as the base for the marinade, helping to blend the flavors and ensure the chicken stays moist and tender during cooking.
- Tequila: Gives the chicken a hint of boozy agave flavor that’s unmistakably tequila. It’s what makes this dish a little special and a lot delicious.
- Lime zest: Provides a bright, citrusy note that complements the tequila. Contrary to popular belief, acidic ingredients like lime juice don’t tenderize lean boneless chicken breasts but can actually “cook” the exterior, leading to a leathery texture. Using just the zest ensures the chicken remains succulent, capturing the lime’s flavor while maintaining its tenderness.
- Garlic: Lends robust flavor to the marinade.
- Ancho chile pepper, coriander, oregano: This spice blend contributes warmth, earthiness, and a hint of herbal brightness, giving the chicken a Southwestern flavor profile.
- Honey: Balances the acidity, salt, and heat with its natural sweetness.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Pounded to an even thickness, these cuts absorb the flavors well and cook up beautifully tender and juicy.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
How To Make Tequila Lime Chicken
Step 1: Pound the Chicken
Place the chicken breasts in a 1-gallon freezer bag and pound to an even ½-inch thickness. This both tenderizes the meat and ensures even cooking. Left in their natural shape, the thin side of the fillet dries out while the thicker side finishes cooking.
Step 2: Make the Marinade
Begin by zesting the limes with a fine or Microplane grater. Simply rub the lime in one direction against the blades, turning the fruit as you go. Be sure to remove only the green part; the white pith underneath is bitter.
Mix all of the ingredients except for the chicken together in a 1-gallon zip-lock bag (go ahead and use the same one you used for pounding if it is still in good shape). Add the chicken breasts to the bag and massage the marinade into the meat until evenly coated.
Step 3: Marinate
Seal the bag and place in a bowl in the refrigerator (the bowl protects against leakage); let the chicken marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Step 4: Grill
Preheat the grill to high heat and cook, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Be careful not to overcook; when pounded thin, chicken breasts cook very quickly.
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Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons tequila
- 1 tablespoon lime zest, from about 2 limes
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1¼ teaspoons ground ancho chile powder
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1¼ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs/908 g), pounded to an even ½-in (13-mm) thickness
- 1 lime, sliced into wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients except for the chicken breasts in a 1-gallon freezer bag. Close the bag and squish the marinade around to mix. Add the chicken breasts and massage the marinade into the meat until evenly coated. Seal the bag and place it in a bowl in the refrigerator (the bowl protects against leakage); marinate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Clean the grill and preheat to high. Lightly dip a wad of paper towels in vegetable oil and, using tongs, carefully rub over the grates several times until glossy and coated. (Alternatively, you can spray the grates with a non-flammable cooking spray.) Place the chicken breasts on the grill and spoon any remaining marinade from the bag over top. Grill, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes per side (turning only once). Serve immediately with lime wedges.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Great recipe! Made it for nine..all gone!
This was so delicious! Put it over some black beans heated up with chicken broth. Had some cut up tomatoes, avocado, a smidge of cream, little Colby jack cheese, corn and small amount of tortilla chips. (Sort of a copy cat of Chili’s margarita chicken, but SOOOOO much better!). The chicken was so flavorful and juicy! Marinated overnight! It was perfect! Thank you!
I was not able to make the guacamole as `I did not have the ingredients. I will absolutely make it next time. This is the best grilled chicken I have ever had. Thank you so much!
What’s the best tequila to use in this recipe?
Hi Rachel, I use 1800 Silver tequila for this, but any decent tequila will work. 🙂
Made this for a friend who said she liked it. I had never had it before. I forgot to pound the chicken so it was blackened a bit by the time the breasts were done, but everyone loved it! I can’t wait to try it prepared properly. Thank you for sharing this.
Absolutely the best marinade ! The chicken was so juicy and flavorful. I marinated for about 5 hours. I patted them dry and sprinkled with them with grape seed oil before grilling.
Impeccable. Love this recipe. My family’s favorite.
I cannot find Ancho Chile powder. Any suggested substitute? Thank you.
Hi Sheryl, You can use regular chile powder here instead. Enjoy!
Could you use this marinade on salmon? Or would it cook the salmon too much?
You could, but I’d limit the marinating time to a few hours. Please LMK how it turns out with salmon!
Mariano’s sell it or look in the Mexican food aisle & grind whole dried peppers using coffee grinder.
Can I bake this dish? Also can I use bone in thighs?
Thanks!
Edythe
Hi Edythe, Yes, I think you could use bone in thighs here but I’d add the juice of one lime to the marinade. If you want to bake them, I’d bake them I’d put them in a 400-degree oven for 55 minutes give or take. Please LMK how they turn out!
Hi Jenn,
This recipe sounds delicious. Could I use chicken tenderloins and if so, what adjustments would I need to make. Thank you.
Sure, but you won’t need to pound them out. Other than that, no modifications needed. Enjoy!
Made this for a get together with friends, last night, after not seeing each other since March 2020. What a hit! The chicken turned out moist and tasty. Served with the black bean and corn salad, and a spinach salad. And margarita’s, of course.
Recipe goes on the keeper list – like almost everything on your blog, Jen!