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Mexican Chicken Marinade

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This MEXICAN CHICKEN MARINADE creates the most flavorful and juicy chicken! You can use this marinaded chicken for so many dishes or enjoy it on its own.

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This Mexican Chicken Marinade can made in either a food processor, blender, or even by hand if you feel like doing the chopping yourself!

Ingredients for Mexican chicken marinade:

  • olive oil
  • limes
  • garlic cloves
  • cilantro leaves
  • cumin
  • chili powder
  • onion powder
  • salt
  • sugar

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How to make Mexican chicken marinade:

This is such an easy recipe. Everything (except the chicken of course) gets added to a food processor or blender. You’ll want to blend it just until the garlic and cilantro is broken down. You can add the marinade to a zip-top bag along with the chicken.

mexican chicken marinade, grilled mexican chicken, mexican chicken, easy chicken marinade, chicken marinade

How long should chicken sit in the marinade:

Chicken should marinade in the in the fridge for at least 3 hours or preferably over night. You should not marinade for more than the 24 hours or the chicken can start to break down and the texture will be mushy and inedible.

There’s something that’s so delicious about marinated chicken isn’t there? It’s so much juicier and more flavorful! 

Tip: A favorite of mine is to make a big batch of this Mexican chicken, then cut it up, and make a quesadillas or tacos with it later!

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mexican chicken marinade, grilled mexican chicken, mexican chicken, easy chicken marinade, chicken marinade

Mexican Chicken Marinade

Coco and Ash
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 or 4)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • juice from 2 whole limes
  • 3 large garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves (packed tightly)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Instructions
 

  • Place all of the ingredients (except chicken) in a food processor or blender and blend until there are no large chunks of garlic left. It will be a thick liquid. 
  • Pound your chicken breasts so that they are uniform in size. I usually like to keep them around 1/2 inch thick so they cook evenly. 
  • Place the chicken in a zip-top bag and refrigerate overnight or for at least 3 hours. (Over night is preferred for the best flavor!)
  • Heat your grill or grill-pan over medium heat and cook the chicken for about 5 minutes per side or until cooked throughout. 
  • Allow the chicken to rest for about 10 minutes before cutting. I just place it on a plate and cover it with foil. 

Notes

Tip: If you feel like the outside of your chicken is getting too dark but the inside isn't done yet, Just pop the chicken in the oven at 350 for 15 minutes and you should be good to go!  (Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165)
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment!

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30 Comments

  • Reply
    Maggie Unzueta
    August 27, 2018 at 9:26 am

    It looks delicious! I wish this were in front of m right now.

    • Reply
      Coco and Ash
      August 27, 2018 at 1:08 pm

      Thank you Maggie! I hope you get to try it!

  • Reply
    Danielle
    August 27, 2018 at 2:05 pm

    All of my favourite flavours right there! This would be great on chicken skewers too.

    • Reply
      Coco and Ash
      August 27, 2018 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks so much Danielle! Chicken skewers sound great!

    • Reply
      Jenny Fournes
      November 10, 2020 at 8:51 pm

      I love this recipe,thank you for sharing.

  • Reply
    Tara
    August 27, 2018 at 2:06 pm

    Oh my goodness this looks DELICIOUS!

    • Reply
      Coco and Ash
      August 27, 2018 at 4:33 pm

      Thanks Tara!

    • Reply
      Ken Woods
      January 26, 2020 at 9:32 pm

      Absolutely delicious. I gave it my own twist because that’s what I do. Extra garlic, 1.5 jalapeno’s 1.5 chipotle peppers and 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce. Skewers for super bowl for sure.

  • Reply
    Vicky
    August 27, 2018 at 2:24 pm

    I love this marinade! I think I will also try it on grilled steak. It is very versatile and I am always looking to add a little excitement to chicken.

    • Reply
      Coco and Ash
      August 27, 2018 at 4:33 pm

      Thanks Vicky! I think trying it on steak is a great idea!

  • Reply
    Krissy Allori
    August 27, 2018 at 2:57 pm

    I’ve been looking for a good way to make chicken lately, and I think I’ve just found it! This looks so good!

  • Reply
    Claudia
    August 27, 2018 at 3:18 pm

    We love mexican food… its a favorite and the flavors in this chicken are over the top great I cant wait to make this maybe tomorrow’s dinner!

    • Reply
      Coco and Ash
      August 27, 2018 at 4:32 pm

      Thank you Claudia!

      • Reply
        Bonnie
        April 8, 2021 at 4:55 pm

        Have made this with chicken several times,
        everyone loved it. Has anyone tried it with fish? I was going to try it with salmon.

  • Reply
    Cindy
    February 15, 2019 at 3:11 pm

    Am I able to bake this instead? if so what temp and time?

    • Reply
      Coco and Ash
      February 19, 2019 at 10:42 am

      You can definitely bake the chicken. Heat the oven to 400 and place on a greased pan and bake for 25 minutes or until temperature reaches 165°F.

  • Reply
    Shelly Housel
    August 18, 2019 at 9:39 pm

    Made this for a dinner with friends and it was delicious! Served it along with a Mexican salad, grilled marinated vegetables & sweet potatoes and rice. I only had have one chicken breast for leftovers and wishing I had made more! It was moist, with great flavor. Thanks you for such an amazing chicken recipe.

  • Reply
    The 25 Best Chicken Marinades to level up your cooking - MealPrepify
    November 15, 2019 at 1:13 pm

    […] 3. Mexican Chicken Marinade […]

  • Reply
    Juicy Steak Marinade - Coco and Ash
    January 22, 2020 at 4:34 pm

    […] stands up to some hearty meat so if you’re looking for a marinade better suited for chicken, try this one, or for shrimp you can try this […]

  • Reply
    Yummy Grilled Mexican Chicken Recipes
    March 28, 2020 at 1:16 pm

    […] For more details and steps to make it, please visit this link: Grilled Mexican Chicken Recipes […]

  • Reply
    Chelsea
    June 3, 2020 at 7:56 pm

    This looks so tasty! I’ve never thought of putting cilantro in a marinade. I can’t wait to try this now that it’s grill season again. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this!

  • Reply
    Cindy
    July 16, 2020 at 4:56 pm

    Is the cilantro in the marinade? It eats to put all the ingredients in the food processor but the picture looks like the cilantro was sprinkled on at the end?

    • Reply
      Coco and Ash
      July 16, 2020 at 9:39 pm

      Yes, the cilantro is blended into the marinade. I just added a little extra on my chicken after cooking.

  • Reply
    Creamy Avocado Sauce - Coco and Ash
    July 21, 2020 at 4:54 pm

    […] goes great on basically anything you want! My favorites are tortilla chips, this Mexican Marinated Chicken, these blackened shrimp lettuce wraps, these Mahi fish tacos, or any sort of tacos or […]

  • Reply
    Joe Everett
    March 9, 2021 at 8:20 pm

    My wife and I made this last week. We are making it again this week. Oh so good!

  • Reply
    Maribeth
    March 29, 2021 at 12:52 pm

    This marinade is so easy and so delicious! It’s my go to for grilled chicken and always make extra for enchiladas or quesadillas. Rave reviews from everyone!

  • Reply
    Christina Porto
    August 2, 2021 at 1:08 pm

    the night I made this I placed the chicken in the freezer over night as it was going to be one of our dinners while camping. I made it 2 nights after freezing, placed it on my camping flat top and sliced it into pieces after cooked and it was so amazing. the meat was tender and juicy and soooo much flavor. I will use it always!!

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