Simple and scrumptious Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos garnished with zesty coleslaw and homemade avocado crema are the ultimate EASY summer dish! Brimming with fresh tastes and nutritious components!
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Let’s chat about the grilling season! When summer rolls around, I immediately envision barbecues, pool gatherings, and igniting the grill, and these cilantro lime chicken tacos are an excellent flavorful dish to enjoy with your loved ones this season. With all these fresh tastes and lively hues, I assure you your friends will express their gratitude! Just don’t forget to include a margarita or two.
Why You’ll Adore this Recipe
- A nutritious and flavorful meal that can be prepared in under 30 minutes!
- The cilantro lime marinade is SPECTACULAR and imparts tremendous flavor to these tacos.
- You’ll also enjoy the rich avocado crema and zesty coleslaw, but feel free to incorporate any toppings you prefer!
Ingredients Required
- chicken – you will need 1 1/2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs for this dish.
- olive oil – this will be used to coat your shrimp and vegetables; I recommend a quality olive oil that’s not too pricey; just ensure it’s cold-pressed and organic for maximum flavor.
- limes – fresh lime juice and zest are necessary for this marinade. The lime brings such a bright, fresh flavor to the tacos, so make sure to utilize fresh lime juice instead of bottled varieties.
- honey – adds a hint of sweetness and balances those tangy flavors; you could also substitute with maple syrup or another natural sweetener.
- garlic – fresh garlic yields the best flavor, but you can use one teaspoon of garlic powder if that’s what you have available.
- cilantro – contributes an aromatic fresh taste to the marinade
- tortillas – I opted for flour tortillas for these tacos, but corn tortillas work if you prefer gluten-free or have a favorite style.
- toppings – we will be garnishing these yummy tacos with creamy avocado crema and zesty coleslaw (recipes are listed below!), but you could also add fresh pico de gallo, guacamole, crumbled cotija cheese, and even extra fresh cilantro.
The creamy avocado crema is one of my tried-and-true recipes, featured in this salad here. It’s one of my favorite dressings and pairs wonderfully atop these tacos! I added just a bit more hot sauce than usual because I wanted these tacos to have a delightful kick, but feel free to adjust it to your liking.
How to Prepare Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos
- Create the marinade. In a small bowl, mix the lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, garlic, honey, and cilantro until well blended.
- Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken in a large ziplock bag and pour the marinade on top, ensuring thorough coverage. Cover and let it marinate for approximately 4 hours to overnight.
- Prepare the coleslaw. While the chicken is marinating, mix cabbage, carrots, green onions, and cilantro in a large bowl. In a separate smaller bowl, whisk lime juice, olive oil, honey, and salt, then combine with the slaw mixture.
- Prepare the avocado crema. In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine the avocado, garlic, cilantro, yogurt (or sour cream), lime juice, sriracha, and salt/pepper, and pulse until blended. With the machine running, gradually add olive oil and water until smooth and you achieve your desired consistency.
- Grill the chicken. Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan on medium heat and add the marinated chicken breasts. Sprinkle with a touch of salt and grill the chicken for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side until the juices are clear. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing. This helps keep it juicy!
- Assemble the tacos. Slice the chicken (or shred with two forks) and serve with tortillas, coleslaw, and avocado crema, along with your preferred toppings.
Why You’ll Enjoy this Coleslaw
Let’s delve into this incredibly easy-to-make coleslaw! It’s crunchy, tasty, and adds vibrant color to the tacos, making it a MUST in this dish. Now, if you’re in search of a creamy coleslaw, this may not be what you want, but I kept it healthier by tossing it with a bit of olive oil, lime juice, and zest, along with a splash of honey, letting the flavors meld just before serving. Simple, quick, and scrumptious! This is also my go-to slaw for topping burgers and sandwiches or even adding to salads for a delightful crunch.
How to Serve
These cilantro lime chicken tacos are fantastic on their own, but here are some of my favorite sides (and drinks) I love to serve alongside, especially when entertaining friends!
How to Store Leftovers
Keep any leftover chicken in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. Store leftover toppings in separate containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat the chicken in a skillet on the stove or in the microwave until warm.
Additional Taco Recipes
Additional Mexican Recipes
I hope you all relish these Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos! If you adore this recipe as much as we do, please leave me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I love seeing all your delicious recreations!
For the marinade:
For the coleslaw:
For the avocado crema:
Place the chicken in a large ziplock bag or bowl.
To create the marinade, mix together lime juice, zest, olive oil, garlic, honey, and cilantro until well combined, then pour over the chicken until fully coated. Cover and marinate for about 4 hours to overnight.
To make the coleslaw, mix cabbage, carrots, green onions, and cilantro in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, combine lime juice, olive oil, honey, and salt, and toss with the slaw mixture.
To prepare the avocado crema, combine avocado, garlic, cilantro, yogurt, lime juice, sriracha, and salt/pepper in a food processor and pulse until blended. With the motor running, gradually add olive oil and water until you reach the desired consistency.
To cook the chicken, preheat the outdoor grill or grill pan on medium-high heat and add marinated chicken breasts. Sprinkle a bit of salt and cook the chicken for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until the juices run clear. Move the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing. This ensures they stay juicy!
To assemble the tacos, place the chicken in a tortilla and top with slaw and a drizzle of the avocado crema. Serve with a fresh squeeze of lime and enjoy!
Serving: 2tacos | Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 60.8g | Protein: 31.8g | Fat: 20.4g | Saturated Fat: 5.5g | Sodium: 1.182mg | Fiber: 3.1g | Sugar: 4.3g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, therefore should only be considered an estimate.