The marinade in this Lime Cilantro Chicken Tenders is what really makes it special — just an hour or two of soaking in citrus and spice really imparts a multi-faceted flavor that makes the taste buds tingle.

And don’t skip the lime zest! If you’ve never used zest in a recipe, it creates an entirely different experience than just using the juices of the fruit. Lime zest carries several different flavors with it, including something that is reminiscent of vanilla.

What to serve with cilantro lime chicken?

These lime cilantro chicken tenders make a delicious entree! Don’t forget to serve with some delicious sides too! Here’s some delicious dishes to go with it!

• Pan Fried Asparagus
• Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad with Balsamic Vinegar
• Sauteed Garlic Butter Green Beans
• Garlic Broccoli in Air Fryer Recipe
• Watermelon Arugula Salad
• Cabbage and Bacon Recipe

How many calories in lime cilantro chicken?

For this Lime Cilantro Chicken Tenders recipe, each serving is about 395 calories. One serving is about a quarter pound of chicken tenders.

How to make Cilantro Lime Chicken?

Ingredients

• Juice of 1 lime
• Zest of 1 lime
• 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp ground chipotle chili pepper
• 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1.5 lbs chicken breast tenderloins

Directions

1. Combine first 9 ingredients through cumin in a small bowl and stir to combine.

1. Add chicken breast tenders to a gallon Ziploc bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Close the bag and massage to make sure that the chicken is thoroughly coated. Place the bag into the refrigerator and rotate every half hour or so. Allow chicken to marinate for 1 ½ to 2 hours, but no longer — the citrus will start to break down the chicken flesh and create an undesirable texture after 2 hours.

1. Preheat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the bag and add to the grill pan, season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes on each side until the flesh is nicely browned.

1. Serve with extra chopped cilantro as a garnish and your favorite side. I served mine with asparagus prepared in my favorite way — steamed with salt and pepper and drizzled with fresh lime juice just before serving.

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Looking for more yummy Paleo ways to each chicken? Check out our Ultimate Paleo Chicken Recipes Round-Up! 

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Yield: 6 servings

Lime Cilantro Chicken Tenders

Print

Cilantro and Lime and the blend of spices make these chicken tenders stand out! Perfect for lunch or dinner!

Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

• Juice of 1 lime
• Zest of 1 lime
• 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp ground chipotle chili pepper
• 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1.5 lbs chicken breast tenderloins

Instructions

Combine first 9 ingredients through cumin in a small bowl and stir to combine.

Add chicken breast tenders to a gallon Ziploc bag and pour the marinade over the chicken.

Close the bag and massage to make sure that the chicken is thoroughly coated. Place the bag into the refrigerator and rotate every half hour or so.

Allow chicken to marinate for 1 ½ to 2 hours, but no longer — the citrus will start to break down the chicken flesh and create an undesirable texture after 2 hours.

Preheat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat.

Remove the chicken from the bag and add to the grill pan, season with salt and pepper.

Cook for about 5 minutes on each side until the flesh is nicely browned.

Serve with extra chopped cilantro as a garnish and your favorite side.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  McCormick Table Ground Black Pepper, 16 oz
• 
  Badia Spices inc Spice, Cumin Seed Ground, 16-Ounce
• 
  Simply Organic Cayenne Pepper Certified Organic, 2.89-Ounce Container
• 
  McCormick Gourmet Organic Chipotle Chile Pepper, 2 oz
• 
  McCormick Crushed Red Pepper, 13 oz
• 
  365 Everyday Value, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 100% Mediterranean Blend, 33.8 fl oz

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1/4 lb of chicken tenders
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 240Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 135mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 36g

The nutrition information for this recipe is an approximate total per serving. Please double check the nutrition information for your exact ingredients and brands for more precise nutrition information.

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Looking for more paleo chicken recipes like these Cilantro Lime Chili Chicken Tenders? Check out all the Paleo Chicken recipes I’ve collected here!

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