Fiesta Lime Chicken Avocado (Printable View)
Lime-marinated chicken with creamy avocado, tomato, and cilantro for a bold Mexican-inspired dish.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken & Marinade
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
02 - 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
03 - 2 tsp lime zest
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 ½ tsp chili powder
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Avocado Topping
11 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
12 - 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
13 - ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
14 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - 1 tbsp lime juice
16 - ¼ tsp salt
→ Garnishes
17 - ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
18 - Lime wedges
19 - Extra fresh cilantro
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, whisk together the lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken breasts and turn to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, up to 2 hours.
02 - Preheat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
03 - While the chicken cooks, combine the diced avocados, tomato, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a bowl. Gently toss to combine without mashing the avocado.
04 - Transfer the cooked chicken to serving plates. Sprinkle shredded cheese over each breast while hot so it melts slightly.
05 - Spoon a generous portion of the avocado mixture over each chicken breast. Garnish with lime wedges and extra cilantro. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The lime marinade does something magical to chicken, making every bite taste like it came from a restaurant kitchen
- The cool avocado topping is the kind of thing you will want to eat with a spoon on its own
02 -
- Over-marinating chicken in lime juice beyond two hours can actually start breaking down the protein and turn the texture mealy
- Letting the chicken rest for even two minutes before topping it keeps the juices from running onto the plate
03 -
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before grilling so it sears instead of steams
- Make the avocado topping right before serving because it does not sit well for more than about 30 minutes