Grilled to perfection, smoky chipotle chicken paired with a chunky, delightful sauce that includes pistachios, avocado, lemon, and chives! This is simply amazing!
Why Is Chunky Sauce So Entertaining?
I create many smooth, blended green sauces – but this version has a different feel altogether. It’s spoonable, chunky, and enjoyable. It’s precisely what my smoky grilled chicken was missing.
The blend of avocado, pistachio, chives, and lemon is akin to a delightful mixture of guacamole, gremolata, and springtime vibrancy—it’s SO delicious.
Some might glance at the sauce ingredients and wish for lime, but trust in the lemon. The freshness of lemon paired with chives and roasted pistachios… it’s refreshingly distinctive. You’ll love this.
What I enjoy pairing this with:
If you’re concerned about heat, substitute smoked paprika for chipotle! It provides the smokiness without the heat. Amazing.
I truly hope you enjoy this!
And if you’re organizing meals, don’t overlook my list of favorite easy dinners!
See How To Prepare This Recipe
Chipotle Chicken with Chunky Pistachio Sauce
Total Time:
30 minutesYield:
4 servings 1x
Description
Grilled to perfection, smoky chipotle chicken paired with a chunky, delightful sauce that includes pistachios, avocado, lemon, and chives! This is simply amazing!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chipotle Chicken:
Sauce:
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Trim the excess fat from the chicken thighs, if desired. Then mix the chicken with the spices and olive oil to ensure they are well-coated.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet or grill pan (affiliate link) over medium-high heat. Grill or sauté the chicken, flipping once, until well-browned on both sides with an internal temperature of 165 degrees. (Check notes for alternate cooking methods.)
- Make the Sauce: While the chicken is preparing, utilize a mini-chopper (affiliate link) or food processor to pulse the pistachios, cilantro, and chives until finely chopped.
- Finish Sauce: Combine in a bowl with avocado chunks, lemon juice and zest, olive oil, and salt. Mix well – it’ll be thick, chunky, and simply enticing.
- Serve: Dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces (to make it easier to assemble a dish and enjoy)! Season with salt. Top it off with spoonfuls of the chunky pistachio sauce. I love it along with rice and a salad. The flavors!! So incredible.
Notes
Boneless skinless chicken breasts can also be used in this recipe!
If you don’t have chipotle powder, you can chop or crush a single chipotle pepper from a can and mix it in with the chicken and taco seasoning instead! Alternatively, using 2-3 teaspoons of adobo sauce from the can works well too!
This is the grill pan I use! (affiliate link) You can also prepare the chicken on a grill or air fry it for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.
The saltiness for the chicken will depend on your taco seasoning, as they vary in salt content. I recommend waiting until the chicken is cooked to add salt! However, if your taco seasoning lacks salt, consider including 1/2 to 1 teaspoon in step 1 with the dry spices.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Keywords: chipotle chicken, chicken bowls, avocado, pistachio, burrito bowl
Commonly Asked Questions
Is it possible to use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Absolutely! It works perfectly fine.
Can fish be substituted for chicken?
Certainly, this could be delicious with salmon or even shrimp! For shrimp, likely use fewer spices overall (due to less surface area) – just enough to coat.
Are there alternative nuts to pistachios that can be used?
Toasted pine nuts would be a great option. Finely crushed almonds could make a good replacement too!
What cooking method should I use for chicken if a grill pan is unavailable?
You can grill the chicken on a standard grill, sear/sauté it in a hot pan, or air fry it for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees. If you’re considering a grill pan, this is the one I use! (affiliate link)
What vegetables can I incorporate into this dish?
You can essentially add any vegetable and just place it into the grill pan for a moment after the chicken! Alternatively, prepare air fryer broccoli, or a simple green salad, or use a bagged salad.