Mexican Chicken Marinade Recipe

Overhead view of chicken on a blue plate with rice off to the side.

Course: Chicken, Main Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Mexican Chicken Marinade Recipe

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 15

MARINADE TIME:: 30

Total Time: 55

Servings: servings

Calories: 249kcal

Author: Malinda Linnebur

This Mexican Chicken Marinade adds mouthwatering flavor to chicken breasts or thighs. It uses simple, budget-friendly ingredients and makes perfect chicken for tacos, burritos, fajitas, and more.

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Ingredients

1-2 pounds (453g-907g) chicken (breasts, thighs, or drumsticks)
3 tablespoons oil, divided
1 teaspoon lime zest
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
¼ cup (60ml) orange juice
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon honey
2 cloves garlic, minced

Instructions

For chicken breasts: Slice each breast in half horizontally and pound with a rolling pin to an even thickness.
For chicken thighs: remove skin and bones and pound to an even thickness.
In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of oil and the remaining ingredients.
1 teaspoon lime zest, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 teaspoon orange zest, ¼ cup (60ml) orange juice, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon honey, 2 cloves garlic, minced
Add chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes but up to 24 hours.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Once the skillet is hot, add the chicken and cook for 4 minutes per side or until nicely browned. Chicken is done when it reads a an internal temperature of 160℉.
Remove from skillet and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Notes

STORAGE: Store cooled leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
FREEZER-FRIENDLY: Place raw chicken along with marinade ingredients in a freezer-safe ziploc bag and massage to coat chicken. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Grill version found in the post. Also, drumsticks work best on the grill.
NUTRITION: Nutrition is calculated using chicken breasts. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the information shown is just an estimate. This website is not intended as nutritional advice, or a diet or health plan. Readers of this website are ultimately responsible for all decisions pertaining to their health.

Nutrition