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Lime Chicken Recipe

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on May 10, 2022, Updated Apr 15, 2025

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My Lime Chicken Recipe is made with a “secret” ingredient called Tajín . Tajín is a Mexican chili-lime seasoning that is absolutely incredible on pretty much anything and everything. It takes this chicken recipe to a whole new level, and I hope you give it a try. You can find Tajín online or at most local 🛒 grocery stores. It’s a staple in my house and I love it sprinkled on my 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.

  • Why You’ll Love This Lime Chicken Recipe
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip 🍋‍🟩
  • Variations and Substitutions for this Lime Chicken Recipe
  • Similar Recipes
  • Best Served With
  • Common Questions
  • Lime Chicken Recipe Recipe
Close-up of a dish featuring well-seasoned, grilled chicken thighs with charred skin, garnished with fresh green leaves. A halved lime is placed beside the chicken, adding a zesty touch to the presentation. - 3

Why You’ll Love This Lime Chicken Recipe

This 🍋‍🟩 Lime Chicken Recipe only takes a few minutes to prepare, making it perfect for 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 incredible crispy, crackly crust on the chicken, while it stays super 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.

Nonna’s Tip 🍋‍🟩

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

Lime Chicken Recipe - 4

Variations and Substitutions for this Lime Chicken Recipe

  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. I 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. I prefer bone-in, skin-on chicken, as it has more flavor.
  3. If you don’t have Tajín I recommend adding chili seasoning instead with some fresh 🍋‍🟩 lime juice and zest.

Similar Recipes

Close-up of grilled chicken thighs garnished with chopped parsley and lemon slices on a speckled plate. The chicken appears golden and well-seasoned, with a backdrop of fresh parsley leaves. - 5 Close-up of grilled chicken thighs garnished with chopped parsley and lemon slices on a speckled plate. The chicken appears golden and well-seasoned, with a backdrop of fresh parsley leaves. - 6

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

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A plate of Lemon Pepper Chicken thighs garnished with fresh basil and herbs, served with a halved lemon seasoned with black pepper on the side. - 7 A plate of Lemon Pepper Chicken thighs garnished with fresh basil and herbs, served with a halved lemon seasoned with black pepper on the side. - 8

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Lemon Yogurt Chicken

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A plate of herb marinated chicken pieces garnished with fresh herbs and served with lemon wedges, bathed in natural sunlight. - 13 A plate of herb marinated chicken pieces garnished with fresh herbs and served with lemon wedges, bathed in natural sunlight. - 14

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Ajvar Chicken Recipe

45 mins

Best Served With

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

Common Questions

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

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

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).

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Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Baking Dish
  • ▢ Meat Thermometer

Ingredients

  • ▢ 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

Instructions

  • ▢ Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
  • ▢ 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.
  • ▢ 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).
  • ▢ I 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.
  • ▢ Enjoy the chicken with lime wedges and serve with rice, salad, or veggies, or pull apart the meat and serve in tacos.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Lime Chicken Recipe

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Baking Dish
  • Meat Thermometer

Ingredients

  • 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

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • I 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.
  • Enjoy the chicken with lime wedges and serve with rice, salad, or veggies, or pull apart the meat and serve in tacos.

Video

Nutrition

Lime Chicken Recipe https://themodernnonna.com/lime-chicken-recipe/ May 10, 2022