Lime Chicken

Our Lime Chicken is made with a “secret” ingredient called Tajín. Tajín is a Mexican chili-lime seasoning that is on pretty much anything and everything. It takes this chicken recipe to a whole new level, and we hope you give it a try. You can find Tajín online or at most local grocery stores. It’s a staple in our house and we love it sprinkled on our Mango Lime Salsa dusted on Watermelon Fries coating Mexican Street Corn (Elote), and so much more. Here, it adds tang, zestiness, and a little bit of fiery heat to this crispy chicken.

What stands out

This Lime Chicken only takes a few minutes to prepare, making it suited to weeknight meals or meal prep. PLUS, it can be made in the oven or in an air fryer, the option is yours. The magic happens by cooking the chicken under the oven’s broiler for just a few minutes at the end. You’ll get an crispy crackly crust on the chicken, while it stays moist inside.

How to Prepare

Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).

Add the chicken to a baking dish making sure the chicken does not overlap.

Add a generous drizzle of oil and then season with salt, pepper Tajin and paprika.

With clean hands, massage the chicken to evenly distribute the seasoning.

Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 60 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a piece of chicken registers 165F (74C).

With 1 to 2 minutes left to cook, put the oven on broil to crisp up the chicken skin. Please keep an eye on the chicken as it can burn quickly.

Enjoy the chicken with lime wedges and serve with rice, salad, or veggies, or pull apart the meat and serve in tacos.

Kitchen tip

You can find T ajín online or at most local grocery stores. If you don’t have Tajín we recommend adding chili seasoning instead with some fresh limejuice and zest.

Swaps

1. You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, but they will not get as crispy without the skin, and they will cook a bit faster than bone-in cuts of chicken. We prefer bone-in and skin-on, as it stays juicier throughout cooking.
2. If you are using chicken breast please make sure you bake it for 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the size, as chicken breast cooks faster than thighs and should not be overcooked. We prefer bone-in, skin-on chicken, as it has more flavor.
3. If you don’t have Tajín we recommend adding chili seasoning instead with some fresh lime juice and zest.

Serve it with

• This recipe pairs perfectly with any of our green salads, like our Bulgarian Yogurt Salad or Simple Green Salad.
• Serve this Lime Chicken with a side of vegetables such as our Crispy Parmesan PotatoesGreen Beans Grilled Zucchini Recipe or Roasted Bell Peppers.

Questions

how can we make this Lime Chicken in the air fryer?

You can make this recipe in an mark air fryer, but make sure to check your air fryer settings and the temperature suggestions in the owner’s manual.

what can we use instead of tajin?

If you don’t have Tajín we recommend adding chili seasoning instead with some fresh lime juice and zest.

can we make this Lime Chicken on the bbq?

Yes, you can grill the chicken thighs instead. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and cook the thighs for about 6-8 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Ingredients

Makes 6 thighs

• 6 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon Tajín seasoning, to taste
• lime wedges for serving

Equipment

• Measuring Cups + Spoons
• Baking Dish
• Meat Thermometer

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
2. Add the chicken to a baking dish large enough so that the chicken does not overlap. Add a generous drizzle of oil, season with salt, pepper, Tajin, and paprika. With clean hands, massage the chicken to evenly distribute the seasoning.
3. Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 60 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a piece of chicken registers 165F (74C).
4. We like to put the top broiler on for 1 to 2 minutes at the very end of cooking, to crisp up the chicken skin. Please keep an eye on the chicken as it cooks, as it can burn quickly.
5. Enjoy the chicken with lime wedges and serve with rice, salad, or veggies, or pull apart the meat and serve in tacos.