These Cilantro Lime Hen Tacos are one in every of our summer time favorites! There’s simply one thing about grilled hen tacos that hits completely in the course of the hotter months. Barely blackened hen flavored in a brilliant and zippy citrus marinade and piled into heat tortillas, then piled with contemporary toppings … it actually doesn’t get any higher than that.
Whether or not it’s summer time (otherwise you simply actually actually need it to be summer time), these grilled hen tacos are calling your identify. Tremendous fast marinade, huge, brilliant taste, grill marks!? Sure, please!
We love these cilantro and lime hen tacos for thus many causes, not the least of which is that the marinating time is tremendous quick–simply half-hour! However due to the lime and ideal combo of seasonings, the flavour is brilliant and vibrant. This hen tastes prefer it marinated all day.
We like to make cilantro lime hen tacos as one in every of our campfire meals once we’re out tenting, however we make them simply as usually at residence, too.
They’re additionally tremendous simple to scale up for once you’re feeding a bunch. However whether or not you’re making them for 2 or 20, these grilled hen tacos are a type of super-simple, low-stress dinners that everybody loves.
Components
- Hen: We like to make use of boneless, skinless hen thighs for these tacos—the additional fats makes such tender, juicy items of grilled hen. However you need to use hen breasts in case you desire.
- Cilantro: Only a small handful, chopped, is all you’ll want for the marinade.
- Limes: You’ll use each the zest and juice from two limes. When zesting your limes, remember to keep away from the pith, or white half, which might be bitter. Stick with solely the inexperienced outer layer of the rind.
- Salt: A teaspoon for the marinade, and one other pinch or two for sprinkling over the grilled hen when you’ve sliced it.
- Chili powder: Use delicate or spicy chili powder, relying in your warmth desire.
- Cumin: Floor cumin provides smoky, earthy taste.
- Garlic powder: A simple means so as to add garlic taste with out having to peel and cube contemporary garlic.
- Floor coriander: Coriander seeds are a part of the cilantro plant. We love the enhance of brilliant taste it provides.
- Olive oil: Oil within the marinade each makes the hen juicy and helps the flavors higher permeate the hen.
- Tortillas: Use both street-taco-size flour tortillas or corn tortillas, whichever you like.
- Toppings: Pico de gallo, salsa, cilantro, crumbled Cotija cheese, and an additional squeeze of lime are all nice! However seize no matter taco toppings you like—the sky’s the restrict.
Learn how to Make Cilantro Lime Hen Tacos — Step by Step
First, you’ll need to marinate the hen. Juice and zest your limes right into a small bowl, then add the olive oil, spices/seasonings, and salt. Combine it collectively.
Place the hen into an hermetic container or sealable bag, pour the marinade excessive, and blend/shake to ensure the hen is effectively coated. Marinate the hen for at the very least half-hour, however not more than two hours (place the hen within the fridge or your cooler in case you’ll marinate for longer than an hour).
Subsequent, put together your campfire or grill. Place the marinated hen on the grill grate over direct warmth. Resist turning the hen too quickly; you need to depart it in place till a light-weight char varieties. Ensuring it has cooked sufficient earlier than trying to show it’ll additionally assist it to launch simpler from the grill.
As soon as one aspect is blackened to your liking, flip, repeat, after which transfer the hen to oblique warmth to complete cooking.
When the meat is completed cooking, pull it from the grill and let it relaxation for five minutes.
Whereas the hen rests, heat your tortillas by grilling them for one or two minutes on each side till warmed by.
Subsequent, it’s time to thinly slice your hen. If you happen to can establish the grain, slice in opposition to it. If not, don’t fear about it! Then sprinkle a little bit little bit of salt over the slices for a lift of taste.
Now, it’s time to assemble your tacos! Lay a few hen items in every warmed tortilla and pile in your favourite toppings.
Suggestions for Making
- Don’t marinate the hen for longer than two hours. After the 2 hour level, the acid within the lime juice can begin to have an effect on the feel of your hen.
- If you happen to’re cooking over wooden, you need it to be burnt all the way down to embers. This implies you’ll want to begin the hearth an hour earlier than cooking. To be sincere, we typically have a tough time remembering to do that, so we deliver hardwood lump charcoal as insurance coverage.
- Put together your toppings whereas the hen marinates. Then, as soon as the hen is completed cooking and resting and your tortillas are heat, you get proper to having fun with your tacos!
- Suggestions for with the ability to inform when the hen is completed: If you happen to occur to have a meat thermometer with you, insert the probe into the thickest a part of the meat. If it reads 165°F (74°C), it’s completed. Different methods to inform when the hen is completed is to press the hen together with your tongs. If it’s not cooked all the best way, it’ll really feel squishy. Then, as soon as the meat corporations up, take it off the grill and slice it in half to make sure it’s cooked by (the hen will not be pink).
- Resting is essential. Don’t skip it! After you pull the hen off the grill, let it relaxation for 5 minutes. This helps the hen reabsorb the juices for probably the most moist and juicy items.
Make-Forward Tip
- Combine the marinade forward of time. However don’t add the hen but! Maintain the marinade in your fridge or your cooler, then wait till you’re inside two hours of cooking your tacos earlier than including the hen.
Serve it with…
- With vibrant veggies and spicy jalapeño, this grilled corn salad recipe is a contemporary aspect that pairs completely with these grilled hen tacos.
- Spoon some selfmade fire-roasted salsa excessive for much more taste!
Cilantro Lime Marinade:
- 4 boneless skinless hen thighs, about 1 lb
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 2 limes, juice + zest
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon floor coriander
- 1 tablespoon oil
Taco Meeting:
- tortillas
- pico de gallo
- cheese
- cilantro
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Put together the marinade: Combine the oil, lime juice + zest, cilantro, and spices collectively in a small bowl (this may be completed at residence). Place the hen into an hermetic container or sealable bag and pour the marinade over, shaking to make sure that the hen is coated evenly. Marinate for at the very least half-hour (an hour is healthier), or as much as two hours.
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Put together a grill or campfire for grilling.
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Take away the hen from the marinade and place it on the grill. Prepare dinner till the inner temperature reaches 165F, turning as wanted to make sure even cooking (approx 5-8 minutes on either side). Take away from the warmth and chop into bite-sized items.
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To assemble the tacos, layer hen, pico de gallo, cheese, and contemporary cilantro into tortillas (warmed over the grill in case you’d desire!) and revel in.
Serving Dimension: This may serve 4 with a aspect. For hungrier campers plan on this recipe feeding 2.
This submit was first revealed 2/2020 and refreshed 11/2024. The recipe as written stays the identical!
