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This cilantro lime grilled chicken recipe has a delicious Thai-inspired coconut red curry marinade with just five ingredients! It’s bright, simple, and grilled to perfection.
Try these Honey Mustard Chicken Skewers or Easy Grilled Pork Chops next.
Why you’ll love it
It’s hard to believe this easy grilled chicken has so few ingredients since it tastes just so dang good. It’s no secret that I adore Thai flavors, and they work so well when grilling! This fun twist is tasty and vibrant, yet it’s still a family-friendly meal the kids will enjoy too.
The marinade takes only 10 minutes to prepare, making this chicken recipe a no-brainer for a quick summer meal or easy entertaining. Just pop it in the fridge and forget it until it’s time to fire up the grill. The chicken comes out super juicy, flavorful, and tender!
What you’ll need
- Chicken thighs – I used boneless/skinless
- Coconut milk – my usual brand is Thai Kitchen full-fat coconut milk. I wouldn’t recommend using anything with a lower fat content.
- Lime juice – freshly squeezed lime juice adds brightness and acidity
- Red curry paste – the star ingredient that sets this recipe apart from all the other cilantro lime chicken recipes out there. I find that Thai Kitchen brand has rich, deep flavor.
- Brown sugar – a little sugar ties the marinade all together and balances it with a hint of sweetness
- Cilantro – fresh cilantro is a staple in Thai cooking, and it goes perfectly here
Tips for success
- I used boneless skinless chicken thighs. If you use bone-in/skin-on ones, cooking time may increase, and it may be best to cook them slower over a lower heat so the skin doesn’t burn.
- Chicken thighs tend to be more moist and forgiving than chicken breasts. If you want to swap for chicken breasts, adjust cooking time as needed, and be careful not to overcook them.
- I recommend marinating the thighs for 8+ hours (up to 24 hours) so they get the most flavor and become more tender!
How to make cilantro lime chicken
This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Make the Thai marinade by adding the coconut milk, red curry paste, brown sugar, lime, and cilantro to a bowl. Whisk together.
- Add chicken thighs to a large ZipLoc and pour the marinade in. Massage to ensure it’s saturated with marinade, and then refrigerate for at least 8 hours up to 24 hours. Overnight is best.
- Preheat your grill to high heat, then grill over medium-high heat for 7 minutes/side or until it’s cooked through and has nice grill marks!
Do I need to use a grill?
- I used a gas BBQ to grill the chicken thighs since the charred bits are amazing, but you could try using a grill pan or even browning them in a cast iron skillet and finishing in the oven.
- Keep in mind that cooking time may need to be adjusted as needed. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165F.
Substitutions and variations
- This marinade is meant to be quick, easy, and accessible, but you can definitely jazz it up a bit more. Try adding a couple teaspoons of grated ginger, some minced garlic, lime zest, a few chopped Thai chilis for heat, or even a splash of fish sauce!
- Keep in mind that Thai red curry paste generally already includes ginger and garlic, but you’re welcome to add as much extra as you crave.
- Don’t like cilantro? Just use parsley.
What to serve with these chicken thighs
- This easy Black Bean Corn Avocado Salad with Rice is really refreshing and pairs so well! Plain jasmine rice with a little lime juice would be great too.
- You could even make these into a sandwich in a toasted bun or serve as a lettuce wrap.
- Or serve along with other BBQ favorites like Cajun Grilled Corn on the Cob, my zesty Best Coleslaw, and Sweet Tea.
Leftovers and storage
- Leftovers of this chicken will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days as long as it’s in an airtight container.
- You could freeze leftovers if you like for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, I’d recommend microwaving until warmed through. You could also toss in the oven at 350F in a baking dish.
If you made this Thai-style grilled chicken, please leave a star rating and review below! You can also tag me on Instagram if you made this or any S&L recipe.
Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken thighs boneless skinless
- 1 (8.5 ounce) can coconut milk full-fat
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup Thai Red Curry Paste
- 1 tablespoon (packed) brown sugar
- 1 cup (loosely packed) fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Add the marinade ingredients to a bowl and whisk together until smooth.
- Place the chicken thighs in a large ZipLoc (or add them to the same bowl as you made the marinade in), and then pour the marinade over and toss until coated. Place the chicken in the fridge and marinate for 8 hours (up to 24 hours).
- Preheat BBQ to high heat (you may want to oil the grate but I find the coconut milk is oily enough to skip that step).
- Place chicken on grill and then reduce the heat to medium-high. Cook for 7 minutes then flip and cook for another 7 minutes or until it's cooked though.
- Let chicken rest for a few minutes prior to serving. Season with extra salt & pepper if needed (Thai red curry paste usually contains salt).
Notes
- Serves 4-6 depending on how much people eat.
- I used Thai Kitchen brand coconut milk and red curry paste.
- I recommend marinating overnight (or even longer) if possible. The longer marinating time really helps infuse more flavor.
- All BBQs/grills/grill pans vary as does the size of each chicken piece, so timing may need to be adjusted to ensure chicken is safely cooked.
- Chicken thighs are quite forgiving and won’t dry out as easily as chicken breasts, so I recommend using those if possible for this recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Awesome recipe! I also had rice noodles and zucchini as my side. Thanks so much for sharing.
You are very welcome!