Easy and Delicious Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Thighs

Heat up the grill and make these Chili Lime Chicken Thighs for dinner tonight!

Using mostly pantry ingredients, you can make the chili lime simple marinade for these chicken thighs quickly.

They’re perfect with your favourite summer salad, grilled vegetables or made into delicious tacos!

I love a quick and tasty summer meal like this Easy Green Summer Chopped Salad and this Easy Summer Tortellini Pasta Salad.

And, delicious chicken on the grill is definitely a go-to of mine in the summertime, it’s grilling season after all! This chicken thigh recipe is super versatile and something the whole family will love. You can enjoy them in a variety of ways – as chicken tacos and burrito bowls and much more!

Why you’ll love these grilled chicken thighs

• They’re easy to make; cooking chicken thighs on the grill is so simple and quick!
• Prep them as a quick weeknight dinner or make them for a weekend barbeque with friends.
• You only need simple ingredients to make this tasty main dish.
• These chicken thighs are super versatile! See my tips below for serving suggestions.
• Easily made for meal prep lunches during the week!

Ingredients needed

Chicken: use boneless, skinless chicken thighs with this recipe for the quickest cooking time on the grill! Alternatively you can use skin-on bone-in chicken thighs or chicken breasts but they will require longer cooking times.

Olive oil: since you’re using boneless, skinless chicken thighs you’ll need olive oil to ensure they are juicy chicken thighs

Limes: you’ll need two fresh limes, the lime zest and fresh lime juice from both limes will be used; you can also use extra lime wedges for garnish

Seasonings: ground chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, kosher salt and ground black pepper are the core marinade ingredients needed for these chili lime chicken thighs

Honey: honey adds just a touch of sweetness to balance out the other flavours; if desired you can use maple syrup instead

Fresh herbs: I like to use fresh cilantro for garnish!

How to make this grilled chili lime chicken

Step 1: Whisk chicken marinade in a large bowl (3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 2 limes, zested and juiced; 2 tbsp ground chili powder; 1 tsp ground cumin; 2 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp ground pepper; 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup).

Step 2: Add the chicken thighs to the bowl of marinade, ensuring all of the chicken is covered with the marinade. Marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours in the fridge.

Step 3: When ready to grill, preheat the barbecue grill to medium-high heat, about 400-425F.  Oil the grill well.

Step 4: When the barbecue grill is heated, remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and place on the grill, cooking for 8 minutes to start. Then flip the chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F.

Step 5: Garnish with fresh cilantro and squeeze fresh lime over top before serving.

Expert tips for making this chili lime chicken recipe

• For best results, make sure to oil the grill grates well so the chicken doesn’t stick when grilling.
• You can marinate the chicken up to 2 hours ahead of time.
• Use this chili lime marinade on any of your favourite protein types like chicken breasts, shrimp or even salmon.
• Meal prep these chicken thighs and keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

How to serve chili lime chicken thighs

• Chicken tacos: serve chili lime chicken sliced up with grilled tortillas, avocados, salsa, fresh cilantro, cabbage coleslaw mix and cilantro.
• Chicken bowls: serve the grilled chicken with rice, pickled red onions and cilantro.
• Serve with grilled veggies and your favourite grain.
• Make lettuce wraps with these chicken thighs by using butter lettuce and your choice of taco toppings.
• Chicken burrito bowls: serve with brown rice, black beans, chopped romaine lettuce, corn, avocado and shredded cheese.
• Make these barbecue chicken nachos with this chili lime chicken for an extra boost of flavour!

Common questions

Are there other types of chicken I can use this marinade with?
You can use bone-in skin-on chicken thighs or skinless boneless chicken breasts, however, they will require more cooking time on the grill. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is cooked through, 165F.

Can I make this chicken in a frying pan instead of on a grill?
Yes! You’ll can use a large non-stick skillet / frying pan, large cast iron skillet or grill pan. Make sure there’s space between the chicken thighs so they cook properly; if the pan is too crowded they will take longer to cook. You may want to cook them in batches and then keep in a 300F oven to keep warm while you cook the next batch.

Can I bake these chicken thighs?
You can bake these chicken thighs, you just won’t get the same kind of char that a barbecue provides. However, they will still be super tasty and will be perfect for meal prep too! Bake at 350F for about 30-35 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through to 165F.

How to store these chicken thighs

Store these chicken thighs in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat for about 30 seconds in the microwave or enjoy cold meal prepped as a part of a favourite salad or bowl.

More tasty summer recipes from the blog

Blueberry Basil Summer Green Salad with Goat Cheese

Easy Chili Lime Baked Salmon with Mango Salsa

Easy Grilled Brie Cheese Appetizer with Fresh Berries

Grilled Peaches with Oat Crumble & Vanilla Ice Cream